Regional Level Investigation of EU-Funded H2020 Collaborations via Social Network Analysis

Complex networks can often be characterized by a fundamental structure that can be described by general principles. The same holds for social networks of partnership formations. Connections arose from the H2020 R& D funding program can also be analysed this way that is hugely affected by endogenous impacts. Nevertheless, self-organization occurs naturally that results high preferential points, near scale-free connection-network and significant inequalities among partners, EU member states and regions. Albeit the goal of such programs is not to increase regional cohesion but to remove obstacles from a borderless knowledge transfer, the two fields are not sharply separable. The aim of the present study is to shed light on regional connections within the H2020 social network and its time evolution via investigation of graph centrality measures. Since long-term regional development also necessitates strategical thinking regarding resource allocation on innovative fields, results could also be utilized by corresponding policymakers.