According to a special report published on July 12th by the European Court of Auditors and published in the OJEU on July 13th , the Design Studies (DS) scheme mainly met its objectives whereas the Construction of New Infrastructures (CNI) scheme was judged to have provided low added value.

To help resolve difficulties in the setting up of new research facilities, the European Commission proposed for the 6th Framework Programme for Research (2002-2006) an approach centred on support for high-level research facilities in Europe. Five support schemes were defined with a total budget of 715 million euro and of this 140 million euro was allocated to the DS and CNI schemes.

Design Studies (DS) Scheme Evaluation

The Design Studies (DS) scheme was positively viewed by the representatives of the research community interviewed, providing in their view critical early stage funding for infrastructure development and encouraging collaboration amongst would-be competitors in the European research field. The scheme provided an opportunity for scientific ideas to be developed in a structured way by testing the feasibility of potential future research facilities.

The scheme, with a financial involvement of the Commission of up to 50 % of total cost, was considered to be important in that it provided a framework for the development of large-scale European projects. 

Construction of New Infrastructures (CNI) Scheme Evaluation

The Construction of New Infrastructures (CNI) scheme was designed to facilitate the emergence of research facilities in Europe but in practice its impact was marginal. Although the payment of CNI support led to some technical upgrading of the investment projects concerned, most projects supported would have gone ahead with or without Community support.

In addition to funding from the framework programmes for research, the development of research facilities can also be financed through the Structural Funds, which had a research infrastructures budget of 3 billion euro for the 2000 – 2006 period.

Despite advocating the use of complementary sources of funding on various occasions, the Commission did not actively promote use of the other funding sources available for research infrastructures in Europe.

The Court recommends that the Commission should reconsider whether CNI projects should be funded from the research budget given the low degree of added value involved. Furthermore, scheme objectives should be clear and realistic. The Commission should consider what is to be achieved through the use of complementary funding sources and if it believes that synergies can be obtained to make better use of EU funds, it should take the necessary steps.

The report can be accessed for consultation or downloading on the European Court of Auditors' website, and a hard copy version of the report may be obtained free of charge on request to  the Court of Auditors, or by filling in an electronic order form on EU-Bookshop.