Monitoring progress towards gender equality in the Sixth Framework Programme : NEST, SME activities, co-ordination of research activities, coherent development of policies, research infrastructures, research and Innovation

A series of gender monitoring studies were launched during FP6 (five lots each covering several activity areas, a separate study for DG INFSO and a coordination contract) designed to monitor progress towards gender equality and gender relevance awareness in FP6. The studies examine both the participation of women in FP6 activities and the gender dimension of the research content, the aim being to assess the success of current gender mainstreaming strategies and to provide recommendations for future activities in this field. This report presents the results of the study for cross-cutting activities aimed at integrating and strengthening the European Research Area: Research to explore new and emerging scientific and technological problems and opportunities (NEST), Horizontal research activities involving SMEs, Support for the co-ordination of research activities, Support for the coherent development of policies, and for two other activities: Research Infrastructures and Research and Innovation. The study aimed at providing an assessment of the mainstreaming of gender in the conception and management of the programme and projects, the participation of women in the programme and projects and the extent to which the EU-funded research in the abovementioned fields meets the needs of both women and men and contributes to an enhanced understanding of gender issues.