A UK public consultation on the 7th EU R&D Framework Programme was launched in spring 2004. Copies of the consultation document were sent to a wide range of representative stakeholders and it was also available in electronic form and to order in hardcopy through OSI International. The consultation closed in July 2004.

In addition, OSI held a consultation event in London in June 2004. This involved some 180 representatives from a wide range of stakeholder organisations who discussed the issues involved in designing the next EU Framework Programme in a series of plenary and work shop sessions. The Government response to that consultation was published on 30 November 2004.

The policy outlined in the UK position paper on the initial approach to the 7th EU R&D Framework Programme reflects the outcome of the consultation. In addition, OSI commissioned two independent evidence based projects to help identify where the new programme could have greatest impact.