The report of the independent Expert Group which evaluated FP6, released in mid-February, states lessons learnt from FP6, but also makes recommendations and provides a vision of the future of the EU Framework Programmes.

According to the reviewers, particular attention should be given to a simplification of project implementation and administration, the gender issue, synchronisation with national research efforts and an adequate level of industrial participation.

Their vision focuses on two action lines: 1) Project ideas to be defined through a top-down process to integrate the problems, concerns and questions of citizens (e.g. climate change, ageing society); 2) Project ideas that result from bottom-up activities initiated by researchers, universities and companies.

The full report is available here.