t33 was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Research Service to provide an independent peer review of the study “SMEs in critical technologies: Enhancing competitiveness through Cohesion Policy Funds”. The assignment supported the Parliament’s internal quality assurance by assessing the draft study midway through its preparation and the final revised version.

Across both review rounds, t33 provided an expert appraisal of the study’s research design and methodological robustness, the clarity and coherence of the argumentation, the credibility of the conclusions, and the overall objectivity and impartiality of the analysis.

Given the study’s combined qualitative and quantitative approach, the peer review required strong expertise in Cohesion Policy and EU funding evaluation, as well as analytical and econometric skills to assess the evidence base and provide actionable feedback. The review focused in particular on how the study examined past, current and prospective Cohesion Policy support to SMEs active in critical technologies, ensuring that the analysis remained methodologically rigorous and policy-relevant.

The final deliverable included a concluding assessment explaining the extent to which the contractor had addressed the recommendations issued at draft stage, alongside an overall rating of the study against core criteria (including research design, methodology, and use of sources and literature).