Evaluation of EU funding of research in the fields of nuclear fusion and aeronautics/aerospace

Regarding research funding in general, the study finds that lessons learned from FP6 have been only partially reflected in the structure of FP7, but considers the new framework as potentially more conducive to SME involvement. The share of research funding allocated to energy has declined from 66% in 1983 to 10,5% under FP7, of which a growing proportion has been allocated to nuclear fusion, and particularly the ITER programme, increasingly squeezing out funding for research on alternative energy sources. Regarding ITER, the study concludes that the organisational and management arrangements in place are insufficient to tackle the extreme riskiness of the project. Projects launched in 2006 and 2007 in the field of aerospace/aeronautics were found to be consistent with the EU's medium term goals but improved risk management in launching and implementing large research projects in this field was recommended.