EPIRIA was a study commissioned by DG Connect and DG Research to technopolis [http://www.technopolis-group.com] and empirica. The study analysed the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the Research Infrastructures (RI) component of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), assessed its European Added Value and formulated strategic and operational recommendations for future Community RI actions.

The study addresses a total 313 projects, with total EC funding of EUR 1,357m, and 4,649 participations. Close to 1,600 organizations are involved. The final report confirms the high relevance of the FP7 RI programme, “in the sense that its objectives correspond to the policy needs” and “projects funded are largely consistent with meeting those objectives as well as with RI users’ needs.” It concludes that the “FP7 RI programme has made a significant step forward in the efficiency and effectiveness of its support to the European research infrastructure” compared to the FP6.