Preparations for the work programme 2018-2020 began in 2016 with stakeholder consultations and discussions with Member States on priorities, which have been outlined in informal working documents, namely 17 thematic scoping papers and one overarching document. The adoption and publication of the work programme are expected in October 2017. 

Each thematic section organised the stakeholder consultations in the way that is best suited to the respective subject and the respective target groups.

Work has included open public consultations via 'Your Voice in Europe' in areas where also citizens could directly contribute (Societal challenge 'Food' and 'Science with and for society') as well as open consultations using other platforms for ICT related issues.

Dedicated written consultations targeted at respective stakeholder groups, European networks and international bodies as well as several specific events were organised.

The results of recent stakeholder consultations on related policy initiatives (e.g. Digital Single Market, Energy Union, 'call for ideas' for the European Innovation Council etc.) were also taken into account. 

More section-oriented information on the consultations and the preparation of the current and the next work programmes can be found for the following topics.

(N.B. Draft work programme parts are made public before the adoption of the work programme 2018-2020 to provide potential participants with the currently expected main lines of this work programme. Only the adopted work programme will have legal value.)

• Excellent Science
  • Future and Emerging Technologies, DRAFT work programme published
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions, DRAFT work programme published  
  • Research Infrastructures, including e-Infrastructures, DRAFT work programme published
• Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies, DRAFT Introduction published
  • Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology, and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing (NMBP), DRAFT work programme published
  • Information and Communication Technologies, DRAFT work programme published
  • Space, DRAFT work programme published
• Innovation in SMEs, DRAFT work programme published
• Access to Risk Finance, DRAFT work programme published
• Societal Challenges
  • Societal Challenge 1, DRAFT work programme published (Health, demographic change and wellbeing)
  • Societal Challenge 2, DRAFT work programme published (Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy)
  • Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy , DRAFT work programme published
  • Societal Challenge 4, DRAFT work programme published (Smart, Green and Integrated Transport)
  • Societal Challenge 5, DRAFT work programme published  (Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials)
  • Societal Challenge 6, DRAFT work programme published (Europe in a changing world – Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies)
• Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation
• Science with and for Society, DRAFT work programme published
• European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot, DRAFT work programme published
• Euratom, DRAFT work programme published