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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE RAW MATERIALS SECTOR

( 1982-1985 )

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION CONCERNING A MULTIANNUAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY IN THE RAW-MATERIALS SECTOR ADOPTED ON 17 MAY 1982 BY THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE SUBPROGRAMME ON

WOOD AS A RENEWABLE RAW MATERIAL

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES IS ENTRUSTED WITH THE TASK OF CARRYING OUT A FOUR-YEAR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE RAWMATERIALS SECTOR TO END ON 31 DECEMBER 1985 .

THE FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAMME IS TO REDUCE THE EXTERNAL DEPENDENCE OF THE COMMUNITY FOR ITS SUPPLIES OF RAW MATERIALS BY INCREASING ITS SELFSUPPLY POTENTIAL AND DEVELOPING MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES .

THIS SECTORAL PROGRAMME INCLUDES FOUR SUBPROGRAMMES : METALS AND MINERAL SUBSTANCES , WOOD AS A RENEWABLE RAW MATERIAL , RECYCLING OF NON-FERROUS METALS , SUBSTITUTION AND MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY ( TECHNICAL CERAMICS ) .

THE SUBPROGRAMME WOOD AS A RENEWABLE RAW MATERIAL COVERS TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES :

1 . TO INCREASE THE PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC AVAILABILITY OF WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS ;

2 . TO REDUCE THE COSTS OF GROWING , HARVESTING , PROCESSING AND TREATMENT OF WOOD BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES ;

3 . TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS ;

4 . TO PROMOTE A MORE COMPLETE UTILIZATION OF WOOD AND WOOD RESIDUES ( INCLUDING ORGANIC FIBRES OTHER THAN WOOD FIBRES IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF IMPORTANCE ) SO AS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE ARISING DURING THE PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING STAGES AND TO MINIMIZE LOSSES DUE TO DETERIORATION AND FIRE .

WOOD PRODUCTS INCLUDE ARTICLES MADE OF WOOD FOR USE IN BUILDING , PACKAGING AND FURNITURE MANUFACTURE , AND ALSO PULP , PAPER AND BOARD , AND PRODUCTS FOR THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY OBTAINED FROM WOOD .

DETAILS OF THIS SUB-PROGRAMME ARE ANNEXED HERETO .

A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 12 MILLION ECU IS ALLOCATED TO THE SUBPROGRAMME .

THE COMMISSION WISHES TO RECEIVE PROPOSALS FOR PARTICIPATION BY MEANS OF SHARED-COST CONTRACTS ( THE MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION FROM THE EEC BEING 50 % ) . PROPOSALS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY ANY NATURAL OR LEGAL PERSON , PUBLIC OR PRIVATE BODIES , ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF A MEMBER STATE .

REPLIES TO THIS " INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS " SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMMISSION BEFORE 30 SEPTEMBER 1982 .

CONTRACTS WILL COVER A PERIOD ENDING NOT LATER THAN 31 DECEMBER 1985 .

BEFORE SUBMITTING PROPOSALS , APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE COMMISSION AT THE ADDRESS GIVEN BELOW IN ORDER TO OBTAIN :

( A ) THE FORMS REQUIRED FOR PRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSALS ;

( B ) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE TOPICS AND SUB-TOPICS COVERED BY THE SUB-PROGRAMME .

THE PROPOSALS WILL BE TREATED IN CONFIDENCE . THEY WILL BE EXAMINED AND SELECTED FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY BY THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES , WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT .

AS A GENERAL RULE THE COMMISSION , IN CONSIDERING THE PROPOSALS , WILL TEND TO FAVOUR THOSE WHICH :

( I ) OFFER SCOPE FOR APPLICABILITY ,

( II ) ARE JOINT VENTURES INVOLVING UNIVERSITIES , RESEARCH INSTITURES , INDUSTRY OR OTHER SPECIALIZED LABORATORIES ,

( III ) INVOLVE , OR OFFER PROSPECTS FOR THE INVOLVEMENT , OF MORE THAN ONE MEMBER STATE .

ADDRESS :

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XII - SCIENCE , RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ,

ENVIRONMENT AND RAW-MATERIALS RESEARCH PROGRAMMES ,

200 , RUE DE LA LOI ,

B-1049 BRUSSELS .

TEL . : 235 70 62 AND 235 40 70

TELEX : 21877 COMEU B .

ANNEX

DETAILED CONTENTS OF THE SUB-PROGRAMME

RESEARCH AREA I

WOOD PRODUCTION

1.1 . SELECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF FOREST REPRODUCTIVE MATERIAL ( 1 )

- SPECIES AND ORIGIN : EXPLORATION AND TESTING

- BREEDING AND PROPAGATION OF TREE SPECIES

- GENETIC RESOURCE CONSERVATION

1.2 . IMPROVEMENT OF GROWTH ( SYLVICULTURE )

- TREATMENT OF SITES AND STANDS

- ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF FIBRE PLANTATIONS

- CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF TREES OUTSIDE THE FOREST ( 1 )

1.3 . PREVENTION OF LOSSES

- PROTECTION AGAINST DAMAGE RESULTING FROM BIOTIC AGENTS

- PREVENTION OF FOREST-FIRES

- PROTECTION AGAINST DAMAGE RESULTING FROM OTHER ABIOTIC CAUSES

RESEARCH AREA II

WOOD HARVESTING , STORAGE AND TRANSPORT

2.1 . HARVESTING OF BIOMASS ( 1 )

2.2 . PROCESSING AND STORAGE OF CHIPS FOR INDUSTRIAL USE

RESEARCH AREA III

WOOD AS A MATERIAL

3.1 . STUDY OF WOOD PROPERTIES

3.2 . IMPROVEMENT OF PERFORMANCE AND PROTECTION AGAINST DETERIORATION

3.3 . DEVELOPMENT OF OBJECTIVE TESTING METHODOLOGY

- IMPROVEMENT OF MACHINE STRESS GRADING METHODS FOR SAWN TIMBER

- METHODS FOR EVALUATING NEW ADHESIVES

- NON-DESTRUCTIVE , COMPARABLE TEST PROCEDURES FOR WOOD-BASED PANELS

- ACCEPTABILITY CRITERIA FOR WOOD PRESERVATIVES

RESEARCH AREA IV

WOOD PROCESSING WITHOUT MODIFICATION OF ITS BASIC STRUCTURE

4.1 . DEVELOPMENT OF MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS

4.2 . ADHESIVES AND JOINTS

4.3 . CONSTRUCTIONAL USE OF WOOD

- MORE EFFICIENT USE AND RE-USE OF WOOD IN TEMPORARY WORKS

- GREATER ECONOMY IN USE THROUGH IMPROVED DESIGN

- LOAD DURATION EFFECTS

RESEARCH AREA V

PROCESSING OF WOOD AND RELATED ORGANIC MATERIALS INTO FIBRE PRODUCTS

5.1 . PROCESS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN THE PULP INDUSTRY

5.2 . BETTER USE OF RECYCLED WASTE PAPER , CEREAL STRAW AND OTHER FIBRES ( 2 )

5.3 . IMPROVEMENT OF PAPER AND BOARD MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

RESEARCH AREA VI

WOOD AS A SOURCE OF CHEMICALS

6.1 . DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESSES FOR THE CHEMICAL SEPARATION OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF MATERIALS CONTAINING LIGNO-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCES

6.2 . UTILIZATION OF LIGNIN , HEMICELLULOSES AND CELLULOSE

6.3 . RECOVERY OF BY-PRODUCTS FROM CHEMICAL FIBRE PROCESSING .

( 1 ) THE PRODUCTION AND HARVESTING OF BIOMASS FOR USE ESSENTIALLY AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY ARE ENVISAGED IN THE COMMUNITY'S ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ( 1979-1983 ) ( OJ NO C 243 , 28 . 9 . 1979 ) .

( 2 ) THE INCREASED USE OF WOOD AND PAPER WASTES AND RESIDUES BY MEANS OF THERMAL TREATMENT , FERMENTATION AND HYDROLYSIS IS ENVISAGED IN THE COMMUNITY'S RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ( 1979-1982 ) FOR THE RECYCLING OF URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE ( OJ NO L 293 , 20 . 11 . 1979 ) .