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1. The proposals for indirect actions covered by Article 9(1) and Article 9(2)(c) shall be evaluated according to the following criteria, where applicable:

(a) scientific and technological excellence and the degree of innovation;

(b) ability to carry out the indirect action successfully and to ensure its efficient management, assessed in terms of resources and competences and including the organisational arrangements laid down by the participants;

(c) relevance to the objectives of the specific programme;

(d) European added value, critical mass of resources mobilised and contribution to Community policies;

(e) quality of the plan for using and disseminating the knowledge, potential for promoting innovation, and clear plans for the management of intellectual property.

2. In applying paragraph 1(d), the following criteria shall also be taken into account:

(a) for networks of excellence, the scope and degree of the effort to achieve integration and the network's capacity to promote excellence beyond its membership, as well as the prospects of the durable integration of their research capabilities and resources after the end of the period covered by the Community's financial contribution;

(b) for integrated projects, the scale of ambition of the objectives and the capacity of the resources to make a significant contribution to reinforcing competitiveness or solving societal problems;

(c) for integrated initiatives relating to infrastructure, the prospects of the initiative's continuing long term after the end of the period covered by the Community's financial contribution.

3. In applying paragraphs 1 and 2, the following additional criteria can be taken into account:

(a) synergies with education at all levels;

(b) readiness and capacity to engage with actors beyond the research community and with the public as a whole, to help spread awareness and knowledge and to explore the wider societal implications of the proposed work;

(c) activities to increase the role of women in research.

4. Calls for proposals shall determine, in accordance with the type of instruments deployed or the objectives of the RTD activity, how the criteria set out in paragraph 1 are to be applied by the Commission. These criteria, and those of paragraphs 2 and 3, may be specified or complemented in the work programme, in particular to take account of the contribution of the proposals for indirect actions to improve information for and dialogue with society and to promote the competitiveness of SMEs.

5. A proposal for an indirect action which contravenes fundamental ethical principles or which does not fulfil the conditions set out in the work programme or in the call for proposals shall not be selected. Such a proposal may be excluded from the evaluation and selection procedures at any time. Any participant who has committed an irregularity in the implementation of an indirect action may be excluded from the evaluation and selection procedure at any time, due regard being had to the principle of proportionality.

6. The Commission shall evaluate the proposals with the assistance of independent experts appointed in accordance with Article 11. For some specific support actions, particularly those covered by Article 9(2), independent experts shall be appointed only if the Commission deems it appropriate. The Commission shall publish the list of the experts selected. All proposals submitted for indirect actions shall be treated confidentially by the Commission, which shall ensure that the principle of confidentiality is upheld in all procedures and that the independent experts are bound by this. Unless otherwise specified in the call for proposals, proposals shall not be evaluated anonymously.

7. Proposals for indirect actions shall be selected on the basis of the evaluation results and having regard to the Community funds available. The Commission shall adopt and publish guidelines setting out detailed provisions for evaluation and selection procedures.