On 14 and 15 November 2013 the international evaluation conference „New Horizons / New Challenges: evaluation of STI policies, instruments and organisations” is organised in Vienna. It provides an open forum for evaluators, scientists, research managers, authorities and STI policy makers to debate challenging developments in STI policy and their effects on evaluation theory and practice.The next generation of STI policy evaluation designs and approaches is challenged by different developments such as the emergence of new demand-side oriented instruments, increasing complexity of appraisals, the demand for impact assessments by taking also non-economic effects into account, an amalgamation between national and European/international interventions in STI or the emphasis on new mission-oriented approaches (“grand challenges”), just to name a few.