Information note by the European Court of Auditors concerning Special Report No 8/2009 ”Networks of excellence’ and ‘Integrated projects’ in Community Research policy: did they achieve their objectives?’

European research is held to suffer from insufficient and dispersed investment. As part of the EU actions to remedy this, the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) introduced two new instruments, ‘Networks of Excellence’ and ‘Integrated projects’. The aim was, on one side, to create a substantial and lasting integration of the research activities and, on the other side, to achieve ambitious, clearly defined scientific and technological objectives of a European dimension. The audit examined to what extent ‘Networks of Excellence’ and ‘Integrated projects’ had contributed to achieve the research policy objectives set by the Treaty as well as their own specific objectives, the Commission had effectively managed the new instruments and FP6 had stimulated RTD investment.

European Court of Auditors: ECA/09/65: Press Statement by ECA Member Mr Massimo VariSpecial Report ''Networks of excellence' and 'Integrated projects' in Community Research policy: did they achieve their objectives?' http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=ECA/09/65&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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