The main objective of this specific contract was:
“to contribute to the monitoring of Member States’ research-related efforts in the context of the Lisbon Strategy and to support mutual learning between Member States”.

More specifically the study sought to:

• Analyse the performance of national research systems and the related policies in  a comparable manner;
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the national research systems;
• Identify policy related opportunities and threats;
• Support mutual learning in the Lisbon reform process through better understanding of success and failures in national research policies to increase R&D investments and strengthen the innovation capacity;
• Provide input for the assessment of the research part of the National Reform
• Programmes by the European Commission;
• Contribute to the improvement of the information collection and the structure of the Research Inventory.

25 European Countries (all but Germany and Spain which were covered by IPTS), were analysed in a comparable manner based on existing data and evidence.