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This article investigates how Theories of Change for transformation-oriented R&I programmes can be designed to better grasp system transformation processes and thereby set the basis for a deeper understanding of transformative impact mechanisms and programme learning. The analysis is based within the realm of the energy system, which is an area of specific concern for socio-technical transformation. It focuses on the “7th Energy Research Programme” (EFP) of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, which is the key R&I policy instrument contributing to the transformation of the energy system in Germany. The article shows how a programme theory approach can be combined with multi-level perspective innovation system thinking and the concept of transformative outcomes to increase the evaluability of complex, transformation-oriented R&I programmes.

With the funding programme Talents, the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) supports people in applied research throughout their entire career. The overarching goal is to increase the utilisation of human potential in the application-oriented, scientific and technical RTI sector. The programme objectives are 1) to inspire young people for research and development, 2) to connect researchers with the economic sector, 3)to guarantee equal opportunities for all. Within the framework of three fields of intervention, there are various programme lines: 1) Intervention field Young Talents with the programme lines Internships for Students and Talents Regional, 2) Intervention field Female Talents with the programme lines FEMtech Internships for Female Students, FEMtech Career and FEMtech Career Check for SMEs (2015 and 2016), as well as FEMtech Research Projects; and 3) Intervention field Professional Talents with the programme lines The Austrian Job Exchange for Research, Development and Innovation as well as Career Grants for Interviews, Relocation and Dual Careers in Applied Research. After an interim evaluation in 2014, a final evaluation took place at the end of the programme period (end of 2020). The programme was analysed with regard to its conception, implementation, achievement of objectives and impact. Furthermore, conclusions and recommendations for the further development of the Talents programme have been drawn. The methodological basis of the evaluation is a document analysis, secondary data analysis (FFG monitoring data), interviews with experts, online surveys of funding recipients (FEMtech Career / FEMtech Career Check for SMEs and Career Grants), case studies (FEMtech Career projects) and workshops.

Das Wirkungsmonitoring 2021 bezieht sich auf im Jahr 2017 beendete Forschungsprojekte ab einer gewissen Mindestgröße, für die kein programmspezifisches Monitoring der FFG durchgeführt wird.1 In diesem Jahr wurden zudem die Einflussfaktoren auf die wirtschaftliche Verwertung von Projektergebnissen gesondert in der Befragung berücksichtigt. Es konnten 92 % der Unternehmen erreicht werden; der Netto-Rücklauf beträgt 61 % (372 Projektteilnahmen). In diesem Berichtsjahr ist erstmals der Anteil an Projektbeteiligungen an Thematischen Programmen im Wirkungsmonitoring größer als jener der Basisprogramme. Die Projektbeteiligungen verteilen sich auf 54 % Thematische Programme, 42 % Basisprogramme, 2 % Strukturprogramme sowie 2 % Luft- und Raumfahrtprojekte. Forschungseinrichtungen (FE) werden im Wirkungsmonitoring ebenfalls berücksichtigt, weisen im Vergleich zu Unternehmen jedoch typischerweise weniger Projektteilnahmen auf. Insgesamt wurden 502 Projektteilnahmen erreicht und 344 Fragebögen ausgewertet. Dies entspricht einem Netto-Rücklauf von rd. 69 %.