The Tavistock Institute as part of the EPEC evaluation consortium was commissioned to undertake an evaluation of two new instruments created for the implementation of FP6 which ran from 2002-2006 with a funding of 17.5 bn Euro.

The introduction of the Sixth Framework Programme brought the formal commitment to the development of the European Research Area and the associated objectives of increased co-operation, improved competitiveness, greater complementarity of research and improved co-ordination within the Programme and with other national and international programmes. The focus was thus on integrating, structuring and strengthening the European research effort.