COUNCIL DECISION of 15 December 1994 adopting a specific programme for the dissemination and optimization of the results of activities in the field of research and technological development, including demonstration (1994 to 1998) (94/917/EC
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130i (4) thereof (1),
Having regard to the proposal form the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas, by Decision No 1110/94/EC (4), the European Parliament and the Council adopted a fourth framework programme for Community activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) for the period 1994 to 1998 specifying inter alia the activities to be carried out in the field of dissemination and optimization of results; whereas this Decision takes account of the grounds set out in the preamble to that Decision;
Whereas Article 130i (3) of the Treaty stipulates that the framework programme shall be implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity under the framework programme and that each specific programme shall define the detailed rules for its implementation, fix its duration and provide for the means deemed necessary;
Whereas the aims of this programme are to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the results of research, to achieve optimum exploitation by encouraging, with the assistance of the various operators concerned, the conversion of the results obtained into innovations, to promote technology transfer, in particular to small and medium-sized enterprises, and to support the initiatives launched at national and regional level so as to give them a Community dimension;
Whereas the innovation process is complex and interactive and involves various types of operators, and the activities for disseminating and exploiting results must therefore be combined with those aimed at improving technology transfer;
Whereas the creation of an environment favourable to the exploitation of results and the dissemination of technologies in all sectors of industry and in all regions of the Community contributes directly to adapting the industrial fabric and increasing the competitiveness of undertakings, thereby strengthening the scientific and technological base of European industry (including SMEs) so that it can become more competitive internationally.
Whereas the amount deemed necessary for carrying out this programme is ECU 293 million; whereas the appropriations for each financial year shall be laid down by the budgetary authority, subject to the availability of resources within the financial perspectives and the conditions set out in Article 1 (3) of Decision No 1110/94/EC;
Whereas the content of the fourth framework programme for Community RTD activities was established in accordance with the subsidiarity principle; whereas this specific programme specifies the content of the activities to be carried out in accordance with this principle in the field of dissemination and optimization of results;
Whereas the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres (including the JRC) and universities and the rules governing the dissemination of research results specified in the measures provided for in Article 130j of the Treaty apply to this specific programme;
Whereas the Commission's efforts to simplify and accelerate the application and selection procedures and make them more transparent must be continued in order to promote the implementation of the programme and to facilitate the action which firms, particularly SMEs, research centres and universities have to undertake in order to participate in a Community RTD activity;
Whereas the nature of the activities to be undertaken in this programme requires close coordination with activities undertaken under other specific programmes;
Whereas it may be appropriate to engage in international cooperation activities with international organizations and third countries for the purpose of implementing this programme;
Whereas the dissemination of results to SMEs is a priority of the fourth framework programme, and this dissemination concerns SMEs participating in the specific programmes and also any undertakings likely to employ scientific knowledge or new technologies to strengthen their competitiveness;
Whereas it is necessary to develop and strengthen knowledge infrastructures to enable the results to be disseminated and exploited in the various Member States, bearing in mind that SMEs operate primarily within national boundaries;
Whereas this programme benefits, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises in the Member States and regions least involved in the Community's RTD activities and contributes to improved economic and social cohesion in the Community;
Whereas an analysis should be made of possible socio-economic consequences and technological risks associated with the programme;
Whereas progress with this programme should be continuously and systematically monitored with a view to adapting it, where appropriate, to scientific and technological developments in this area; whereas in due course there should be an independent evaluation of progress with the programme so as to provide all the background information needed in order to determine the objectives of the fifth RTD framework programme; whereas at the end of this programme there should be a final evaluation of the results obtained compared with the objectives set out in this Decision;
Whereas the JRC may participate in indirect actions covered by this programme;
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (Crest) has been consulted,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
A specific programme for the dissemination and optimization of the results of activities in the field of research and technological development, including demonstration, as set out in Annex I is hereby adopted for the period from the date of adoption of this Decision to 31 December 1998.
Article 2
1. The amount deemed necessary for carrying out the programme is ECU 293 million, including a maximum of 7,7 % for staff and administrative expenditure.
2. An indicative breakdown of this amount is given in Annex II.
3. The budgetary authority shall lay down the appropriations for each financial year, subject to the availability of resources within the financial perspectives and in accordance with the conditions set out in Article 1 (3) of Decision No 1110/94/EC, taking into account the principles of sound management referred to in Article 2 of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.
Article 3
1. The general rules for the Community's financial contribution are laid down in Annex IV to Decision No 1110/94/EC.
2. The rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities and for the dissemination of results are specified in the measures envisaged under Article 130j of the Treaty.
3. Annex III sets out the specific rules for implementing this programme, supplementary to those referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.
Article 4
1. In order to help ensure, inter alia the cost-effective implementation of this programme, the Commission shall continually and systematically monitor, with appropriate assistance from independent, external experts, progress within the programme in relation to the objectives set out in Annex I, as amplified in the work programme. It shall in particular examine whether the objectives, priorities and financial resources are still appropriate to the changing situation. It shall, if necessary, in the light of the results of this monitoring process, submit proposals to adapt or supplement this programme.
2. In order to contribute towards the evaluation of Community activities, as required by Article 4 (2) of Decision No 1110/94/EC and in compliance with the timetable laid down in that paragraph, the Commission shall have an external assessment conducted by independent experts of the activities carried out within the domains covered by this programme and their management during the five years preceding this assessment.
3. At the end of this programme, the Commission shall have an independent final evaluation carried out of the results achieved compared with the objectives set out in Annex I to Decision No 1110/94/EC and Annex I to this Decision. The final evaluation report shall be forwarded to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.
Article 5
1. A work programme shall be drawn up by the Commission in accordance with the objectives set out in Annex I and the indicative financial breakdown set out in Annex II and shall be updated where appropriate. It shall set out in detail:
- the objectives and types of activities to be undertaken,
- the implementation schedule, including dates for calls for proposals,
- the proposed financial and managerial arrangements and the general lines of measures for implementing the activities, including preparatory, accompanying and support measures,
- arrangements for coordination with dissemination and optimization activities carried out, in particular, under the specific programmes in Activity 1 of the framework programme, and, where appropriate, for ensuring improved interaction with activities carried out in other frameworks, such as Eureka and COST.
2. The Commission shall issue calls for proposals for projects on the basis of the work programme.
Article 6
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the programme.
2. In the cases provided for in Article 7 (1), the Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.
3. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 14 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote.
4. The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if they are in accordance with the opinion of the committee.
5. lf the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall, without delay, submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority.
6. lf, on the expiry of a period of three months from referral of the matter to the Council, the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission.
Article 7
1. The procedure laid down in Article 6 (2) to 6 (6) above shall apply to:
- the preparation and updating of the work programme referred to in Article 5 (1),
- the content of the calls for proposals,
- the assessment of the activities proposed for Community funding and the estimated amount of the Community contribution for each activity where this is equal to or more than ECU 0,2 million, and the assessment of all activities proposed for Area C,
- any adjustment to the indicative breakdown of the amount as set out in Annex II,
- specific modalities for the financial participation of the Community in the different activities envisaged,
- the measures and terms of reference for programme evaluation,
- any departure from the rules set out in Annex III,
- participation in any project by legal entities from third countries and international organizations.
2. Where, pursuant to the third indent of paragraph 1, the amount of the Community contribution is less than ECU 0,2 million, the Commission shall inform the committee of the activities and of the outcome of their assessment.
3. The Commission shall regularly inform the committee of progress with the implementation of the programme as a whole.
Article 8
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 15 December 1994.