Five-Year Assessment of the European Union Research Framework Programmes 1999-2003

In the last semester of 2004, a high level panel chaired by Dr Erkki Ormala, Vice President, Technology Policy, Nokia Corporation and 12 other leading European figures from research policy, management and evaluation, carried out a clear and authoritative overview and assessment of the implementation and achievements of Community research activities for 1999-2003. The analysis, conclusions and recommendations provided by the high level experts are very warmly welcomed and endorsed by the Commission. The experts made a positive assessment of the implementation, results and added value of the Research Framework Programmes, notably in terms of contribution to the development of Europe's innovation and knowledge society. However, they also emphasised the need for a strengthened Framework Programme in response to some major challenges identified by the Panel. A series of recommendations for both current and future programmes were proposed by the Panel to help face these challenges. This brochure contains the full response from the Commission and its Services to the assessment, that is the Commission's communication to the other Institutions, more detailed comments from the Commission Services, as well as the executive summary of the high level Panel's report.