H2020 in the time of COVID-19: Survey results reveal new working practices

Insights from a survey study conducted by Martel among the EC funded projects’ partners network and wider community to understand remote working practices in the context of the COVID-19 crisis are published in a new report launched today. The survey results reveal some interesting findings and encourage further discussion.

Key findings include:

1. COVID-19 significantly impairs the workflow of all

1. Remote work using off-the-shelf software is the predominant solution

1. Audience engagement and distraction are the main challenges during remote meetings

1. Face-to-face meetings cannot be 100% replaced

The massive and sudden uptake in ICT solutions for remote working caused by the COVID-19 crisis means digital communication has become a necessity. Martel’s report looks at the implications for delivery on H2020 projects in the light of the change.

The need to address the disruption caused by the current COVID-19 emergency situation has caused governments, public authorities, big corporations, NGOs, small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurs, as well as research and educational institutions to work in a more agile way.

The ability to react and adapt rapidly to the new containment conditions has not been easy for some organisations. For others, understanding the ways in which their businesses will possibly need to change further is essential, especially in the medium-to-long term.

When the Swiss Federal Government announced an ‘extraordinary situation’ in Switzerland and issued a recommendation for all citizens to stay at home, Martel already had in place all tools and processes to work effectively.

Martel coordinates operations and communications for a number of EC-funded Horizon 2020 initiatives with many partners all over Europe and beyond, therefore it is imperative to understand and adapt to how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting ICT research and innovation activities.

Martel conducted an online survey among contacts and partners in March, 2020. The results are summarised in this report.