The Management of System Project Development and Assessment, focusing mainly on ATM R&D issues, was established on 12 July 2005 within the Air Navigation Department of the DHMi. The Directorate's planned activities comprise the development of ATC tools such as Radar, FDPS (Flight Data Processing System), ATC Simulator and Airspace/Terminal Area/Airport capacity enhancement studies, including software support solutions where appropriate, as well as being in close connection with the European Research and Development programme SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research Programme), which is the framework R&D programme of EUROCONTROL for the next 20 years.
ATM R&D issues have recently been high on the list of priorities of the ECAC countries, for which financial or technical support has been received from EUROCONTROL and the European Council. Stakeholders take these opportunities to improve their R&D Departments, usually in cooperation with other members. The DHMi General Directorate, in this context, signed an Agreement of Cooperation with ENAV (Italian Air Navigation Service Provider) on 5 September 2006, to cooperate on R&D issues and carry out regional and global projects together where applicable.

The DHMi recently decided to become involved in ADS-B trials in the context of the CASCADE Cristal Med II Project for implementation at Trabzon Airport; and SBAS-based APV-I approach trials in the context of the METIS Project at Esenbo€a Airport, and has started studies accordingly. Contracts for both projects are about to be signed by the Parties.