No C 275/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 10.86 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning the framework programme of Community 
activities in the field of research and technological development (1987 to 1991) 
COM(86) 430 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 1 August 1986) 
(86/C 275/03) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43, 75 
and 235 (l) thereof, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Scientific and 
Technical Committee, 
Whereas Article 2 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community assigns to the 
Community, inter alia, the task of promoting throughout 
the Community a harmonious development of economic 
activities, a continuous and balanced expansion and an 
accelerated raising of the standard of living; 
Whereas in order to encourage the development of the 
international competitiveness of European industry, it is 
necessary to promote scientific research and 
technological development at Community level in order 
to strengthen the scientific and technological basis of its 
industry; 
Whereas it is necessary to encourage undertakings, 
including small and medium-sized undertakings, research 
centres and universities in their research and 
technological development activities as well to support 
their efforts to cooperate with one another, aiming, in 
particular, at enabling undertakings to exploit the 
internal market potential to the full; 
(') When the Single European Act enters into force, this legal 
basis 'Article 235' will have to be replaced by the new Article 
130 Q (1) of the EEC Treaty, introduced by the said Act. Whereas it is appropriate to promote a balanced 
development of science and technology within the 
Community in order to strengthen its economic and 
social cohesion; 
Whereas it is necessary to associate the implementation 
of the Community strategy for science and technology 
with the completion of the internal market; 
Whereas the Community, in order to present as 
comprehensive an overall view as possible of its science 
and technology strategy, including the nuclear field, 
intends to adopt multiannual framework programmes 
laying down the scientific and technical objectives of its 
activities, defining their respective priorities, setting out 
the main lines of the activities envisaged, estimating the 
necessary amount and drawing up detailed rules for 
financial participation by the Community in the 
programme as a whole and the breakdown of this 
amount between the various activities envisaged; whereas 
nevertheless, the Commission is undertaking autonomous 
activities in the coal and steel sector which are not 
financed by the Budget of the European Communities; 
Whereas on 25 July 1983 the Council adopted a first 
four-year framework programme 1984 to 1987 (2), to be 
reviewed during the course of its execution; whereas a 
five-year period running from 1987 to 1991 appears, in 
the light of experience, more appropriate for the second 
framework programme; 
Whereas the framework programme must be 
implemented through specific programmes developed 
within each line of activity, the methods, duration and 
finance deemed necessary being open to a decision at the 
time of adoption of those programmes; 
Whereas it may be appropriate to allow for some of 
these programmes to take the form of supplementary 
programmes; 
Whereas, in the same spirit, provision should be made to 
allow the specific and supplementary programmes to 
include a Community contribution to research and 
development programmes undertaken by several Member 
States and cooperation on research and technological 
development with third countries or international organi­
zations; 
(2) OJNo C 208, 4. 8. 1983, p. 1. 
31. 10.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 275/5 
Whereas the detailed rules for implementing the 
framework programme provided for above should not 
rule out the possibility of Community cooperation with 
third countries or international organizations with a view 
to pursuing the scientific and technical objectives 
established by the framework programme; 
Whereas the adoption of a five-year framework 
programme does not in any way preclude amendments 
or additions to the programme on the basis of the 
continually-changing scientific and technological 
context; whereas in any event it would seem desirable 
that the Commission should carry out an evaluation of 
the execution of the programme and a general review 
from the third year of execution; 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research 
Committee (CREST) has been consulted; 
Whereas the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community does not provide for the specific powers 
necessary for the adoption of this Regulation at least as 
far as fields other than agriculture and fisheries and. 
transport are concerned, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
1. The framework programme for Community 
activities in the field of research and technological 
development covers the period 1987 to 1991. 
2. It provides for the following eight activities: 
(1) Quality of life, 
(2) Towards an information society, 
(3) The life blood of the large market, 
(4) Application of the new technologies to the moderni­
zation of industrial sectors, 
(5) Continuation and updating of activities in the energy 
sector, 
(6) Biotechnology: a new technological crossroads, 
(7) Exploitation of the seabed and use of marine 
resources, 
(8) A Europe for research workers. 
3. The total amount deemed necessary in terms of 
appropriations to be entered in the General Budget of 
the European Communities for Community participation 
in the execution of the framework programme 1987 to 
1991 is fixed at seven thousand seven hundred and 
thirty-five million ECU. 4. The breakdown of the amount deemed necessary 
between the various activities envisaged is set out in 
Annex 1. 
5. The main lines of the activities envisaged and their 
scientific and technical objectives are set out in Annex 2. 
Article 2 
The framework programme shall be implemented 
through specific programmes, falling within each of the 
lines of activity adopted. It may also be implemented, 
where necessary, by supplementary programmes. The 
specific and supplementary programmes may provide for 
Community participation in activities undertaken by 
certain Member States and Community cooperation with 
certain third countries or international organizations. 
Each specific programme shall define the detailed rules 
for implementing it, fix its duration and provide for the 
means deemed necessary. 
Specific programmes relating to the Euratom Treaty 
shall be adopted by the Council, acting by a qualified 
majority on a proposal from the Commission, after 
consulting the European Parliament. 
Article 3 
The detailed rules for financial participation by the 
Communities in the framework programme as a whole 
shall be those provided for in Article 87 of the Financial 
Regulation applicable to the General Budget of the 
European Communities, without prejudice to the 
charging to the Budget of any contributions from the 
Communities to national or multinational activities or 
projects. 
Article 4 
During the third year of execution of the framework 
programme, the Commission shall assess its progress. It 
shall examine, in particular, whether the objectives, 
priorities, activities envisaged and financial resources are 
still appropriate to the changing situation. In the light of 
this review it shall make proposals for the revision of the 
framework programme. 
Article 5 
This Regulation shall enter into force of the third day 
following its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and 
directly applicable in all Member States. 
Nr. C 275/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 31.10. 86 
ANNEX 1 
FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF RESEARCH 
AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT (1987 TO 1991) 
Breakdown of the amount deemed necessary between the various activities envisaged 
Million ECU 
1. Quality of life 575 
1.1. Health 150 
1.2. Environment 425 
2. Towards an information society 2 050 
2.1. Information technologies 2 050 
3. The life blood of the large market 1120 
3.1. Telecommunications 800 
3.2. Integration of telecommunications technologies with information and 
broadcasting technologies into new services of common interest 300 
3.3. Transport 20 
4. Application of the new technologies to the modernization of industrial sectors 1 110 
4.1. Technologies for manufacturing industry 500 
4.2. Science and technology of materials and raw materials 370 
4.3. Technical standards, measurement methods and reference materials 240 
5. Continuation and updating of activities in the energy sector 1 890 
5.1. Fission 580 
5.2. Fusion 1 100 
5.3. Non-nuclear energies and national use of energy 210 
6. Biotechnology: a new technological crossroads 450 
6.1. Biotechnology, management of agricultural respurces, agro-industrial 
technologies, science and technology for development 450 
7. Exploitation of the seabed and use of marine resources 80 
7.1. Marine science and technology 80 
8. A Europe for research workers 460 
8.1. Implementation of a Europe for research workers 460 
Total: 7 735 
31. 10.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 257/7 
ANNEX 2 
MAIN LINES OF THE ACTIVITIES ENVISAGED AND SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL 
OBJECTIVES 
1. QUALITY OF LIFE 
1.1. Health 
The general objective will be to coordinate medical and health research in Europe, and develop 
predictive medicine and novel therapy by applying modern biotechnological tools in their most 
advanced aspects to the medical field and, in particular, to very early diagnosis and treatment of 
hitherto incurable diseases. 
Coordination of medical and public health research will focus on major health problems common to all 
Member States, by including as new targets cancer and AIDS and by continuing work on age-related 
(including disabilities) and environment- and life-style related health problems. Moreover, work will 
continue on the improvement and efficient use of health resources, encompassing both medical 
technology R&D and health services research (research on health care delivery and organization). 
Development of predictive medicine and novel therapy will mainly be oriented towards better 
knowledge of the human genoma, immunity technology (applicable to cancer, auto-immune diseases, 
infections), genetic engineering techniques for the repair of DNA defects (e.g. in congenital diseases 
of genetic origin), and development of diagnostic test kits (e.g. for AIDS). 
A special aspect of health is radiation protection. Work on radiation protection will concentrate on 
efficient and cost-effective measures to control radiation risks (of natural, medical or industrial 
origin), on research relevant to 'Basic Safety Standards' and their implementation, and on the 
radiological consequences and preparedness for possible accidents. Measurement methods will be 
calibrated on a Community scale, including compilation of relevant data. 
(ECSC work on occupational medicine is oriented towards health problems and occupational diseases 
associated with the specific environments of steelworks, coking plants, and coal and iron mines.) 
1.2. Environment 
The objectives of Community research in this activity are 1. to solve immediate problems for the 
preparation or implementation of Community environment policy, 2. to identify and study environ­
mental issues which will emerge in the foreseeable future (e.g. the atmospheric 'greenhouse effect'); 3. 
to develop basic understanding of ecological processes and the climate system and 4. to create or 
preserve healthy living conditions in relation to certain industrial or individual activities. On this basis, 
research during the period 1987—1991 will be carried out in the fields of environmental protection, 
protection of the cultural heritage and climatology and natural hazards, and technological hazards. 
Research in the area of environmental protection will deal with detection, measurement, analysis and 
monitoring techniques (including remote sensing), effects of pollution on health and ecosystems, 
assessment of chemicals, effects of human activities on environmental quality, study of basic principles 
of environmental processes and the functioning of ecosystems, waste management, development of 
technologies for the reduction and prevention of pollution and restoration of damaged environments. 
Remote sensing from space is under rapid development and applications for environmental protection 
will receive increased attention. 
Research on the cultural heritage will focus on the investigation of the mechanisms of deterioration, on 
establishing methods for damage prevention, elimination of the man-made increment to natural decay 
and an investigation of methods for the restoration of irreplaceable cultural objects. 
No C 275/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 31.10.86 
Research on climatology and natural hazards will focus on efforts to understand the mechanisms which 
govern the phenomena concerned, e.g. by developing powerful models capable of forecasting such 
phenomena on time and space scales useful for planning and prevention, by refining our ability to 
assess impacts upon specified segments of EEC geography, society and economy, and by establishing a 
sound scientific basis for any preventive or corrective measure. 
Research on major technological hazards will be oriented towards understanding, preventing and 
mitigating the consequences of large chemical/petrochemical accidents. 
Work on fire safety in buildings of all types will be directed towards risk analysis, fire development and 
growth, and damage mitigation measures. 
The activity includes research on remote handling technology applicable in environments incompatible 
with or dangerous to man such as places contaminated by radioactive or biologically active materials, 
or subject to extremes of pressure and/or temperature. 
Research on reduction of risks in private life will emphasize protection of consumers against 
dangerous products, accidents due to introduction of new technologies and new types of domestic 
equipment, special products for the elderly, the disabled, children, etc. 
(ECSC work on occupational safety is oriented towards problems of ergonomics, safety and hygiene 
in the specific environment of steelworks, coking plants, and coal and iron mines). 
2. TOWARDS AN INFORMATION SOCIETY 
2.1. Information technologies (IT) 
The objectives of the activity are: 
— to provide European IT industry with the basic technologies to meet the competitive requirements 
of the 1990's; 
— to promote European industrial cooperation in precompetitive R & D in IT; 
— to contribute to the development of international standards. 
The activity comprises precompetitive R & D in microelectronics, peripheral technologies, information 
processing systems, the integration of IT into application systems and some fundamental research in 
IT. 
The major R&D topics include high-density ICs, high-speed ICs, multifunction ICs, peripherals, 
system design tools, knowledge engineering, system architecture, signal processing, office automation, 
integrated information systems and automation of manufacturing processes. 
3. THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE LARGE MARKET 
3.1. Telecommunications 
The objective is to put Europe in a leading position in advanced communications services and 
technologies, by gradually introducing broadband communications services at Community level by 
1995. 
The activity will cover the following main areas: 
— IBC (Integrated Broadband Communications) development and implementation strategies: relating to 
the development of functional specifications, systems and operations research towards the 
definition of proposals for IBC standards, concepts and conventions conforming to an open 
systems approach, and analytical work aimed at establishing interoperability for IBC equipment 
and services; 
— IBC technologies: covering technological cooperation in R&D, addressing key requirements of 
new technology for the low-cost realisation of IBC equipments and services; 
— Functional integration projects: relating to the realization of research prototypes to develop, test 
and optimize open systems concepts for IBC equipments, operations and services in the systems 
context, i.e. 'prestandardization' work. 
These activities will not be demonstration projects or field tests. Prototype installations or tests of this 
kind will be necessary before the operational implementation of a harmonized set of IBC services, but 
these are beyond the scope and scale of the proposed Community activity. 
31.10.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 257/9 
3.2. Integration of telecommunications technologies with information and broadcasting technologies into 
new services of common interest. 
The objective is to gradually exploit the advantages of the advances made in information, 
telecommunications and broadcasting technologies, by combining these advanced technologies for the 
benefit of new applications meeting new common economic and social needs. This includes, for 
example, the combined use of these technologies in education and training, the improvement of road 
safety and medical services, and the introduction throughout the Community of new services of 
general interest. 
This work will include exploratory and pilot phases in the following areas: 
— development of reference models describing the technical and economic characteristics of each 
system; 
— support of standardisation work related to each application; 
— system-integration of telecommunications, information and broadcasting technologies for new 
applications and services; 
— additional technological work as required in each specific field. 
3.3. Transport 
General activity 
Community activity in this wide-ranging area must essentially aim to maintain and consolidate the 
competitiveness of European industry and help to lay down the common standards necessary for the 
completion of the internal market. 
This activity will cover the following priority areas: 
— track-guided transport: automation of traffic monitoring, signalling and track equipment, simulation 
of train-driving; lightening, noise reduction and aerodynamics of vehicles; linear motors; effects on 
passengers (e.g. travelling through tunnels) and on the environment (e.g. noise, unsightliness). 
— road traffic: analysis of road accidents; improvement of the safety of heavy goods and passenger 
vehicles; optimization of the electric vehicle. 
— maritime transport: ship management, maintenance, functions, condition, economic routing; 
configuration and performance of the ship, sturdiness of the hull, resistance to forward motion; 
new types of ship and unconventional propulsion equipment to meet commercial requirements; 
management of maritime traffic; man-ship system. 
— air transport: flammability and toxicity of materials used in the cabin; rationalization and moderni­
zation of air traffic control. 
Aeronautical technology 
The content of this activity is still under study and only tentative indications can be given. The 
main lines of action that are currently envisaged are the following: 
— development of an up-to-date common European aeronautical technology requirements plan for 
precompetitive research required to sustain world level capability in key enabling technologies; 
— execution of cooperative research on key elements of the European technology requirements plan: 
the fields to be addressed include aerodynamics, flight mechanics, structures and materials, systems 
integration, computational techniques, electronic systems, propulsion systems, advanced construc­
tional and manufacturing techniques, reliability and safety; 
— development of scientific and engineering bases for standards applicable to procurement and 
qualification of aeronautical equipment. 
No C 275/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 31.10.86 
4. APPLICATION OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO THE MODERNIZATION OF 
INDUSTRIAL SECTORS 
4.1. Technologies for manufacturing industry 
The development and application of advanced technologies in manufacturing industry is an essential 
aspect of competitiveness. By cross-fertilization of existing skills in industry and research, the 
Community will continue to support the development of a variety of multisectoral fields currently of 
the highest priority such as: 
— the reliability of engineering materials and components, deterioration of materials (corrosion, 
wear, biodegradation), tribology of mechanical systems and specific applications of materials, 
— advanced design and manufacturing techniques, laser technology, joining techniques, applications 
of new technologies in manufacturing processes with special problems (e.g. production processes 
involving the use of flexible materials), non destructive testing, on-line testing and computer-aided 
testing, 
— membrane science and technology, catalysis and particle technology. 
On the basis of experience in these fields, the strategy will be to tackle in depth new areas, selected in 
consultation with industry, including: 
— the problem of adapting new technologies emanating from many sectors to the manufacture of a 
wide range of new or technologically improved products including furniture, textiles, paper-based 
products, machine-tools, etc., 
— the use and methods of use of new materials, including all aspects finally needed for economic 
performance such as design, handling, manufacturing, inspection, standards and training. 
The Community will also launch a number of projects to demonstrate at larger or at full-scale the 
technological viability of the processes developed and thereby encourage their rapid adoption in 
European industry, in particular in SMEs. 
4.2. Science and technology of materials and raw materials 
Materials 
By pooling skills and stepping up cooperation between industry and the universities, this activity will 
help to consolidate the Community's scientific and technological base in an area that is essential to 
industrial competitiveness. 
The activity will cover fundamental research (investigation of properties and phenomena) as well as 
technical processing aspects in the following areas: engineering ceramics, polymers, composite 
materials, advanced metal alloys, amorphous and disordered materials, biomaterials, superconducting 
and other materials with special electrical properties, and microgravity. 
Special attention will be paid to materials for application under extreme performance conditions for 
which data bases will be set up. Other aspects of materials could also be considered at Community 
level, depending on resources available (e.g. advanced building materials). A Community pilot 
laboratory integrating equipments for advanced materials synthesis and processing research will be set 
up. This ion/laser/electron foundry will operate as a demonstrator project open to industrial parti­
cipation and research workers from all Member States. 
Raw materials 
The essential objective is to maintain or enhance the competitiveness of Community metal and wood 
industries particularly by cutting down investment and operating costs. Research on primary raw 
materials will focus on problems of common interest in exploration (preparing concepts and methods 
in view of a future revival of exploration activities), mining technology (improving the economic 
. viability of existing mines and developing advanced technologies for future mines, e.g. robotics) and 
ore processing (e.g. treating complex ores and ores which contain metals for advanced materials 
technology). 
31.10.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 257/11 
Recycling is another objective of research, with special emphasis on new materials such as special 
alloys and composites which will be used more and more in high technology sectors. The upgrading 
and use of reclaimed products recovered from urban waste is one of the other key sectors. 
Research on wood should be integrated for the whole "wood chain" from seed production to the final 
use of wood and other forestry products, including problems such as genetic improvements, tree 
physiology, protection against pests and pollution, use of wood as a structural material, source of fibre 
and chemical feedstock. 
4.3. Technical Standards, Measurement Methods and Reference Materials 
The drafting and early dissemination of uniform standards applicable throughout the Community is a 
key factor for industrial competitiveness. 
The activity will aim to provide the necessary scientific and technological base for the preparation of 
such standards. 
It will be based on three main lines: 
— promotion of cooperation between national laboratories to improve measurement methods (applied 
metrology and chemical analyses) and develop suitable means of verification (reference materials), 
recognized at Community level, in a variety of fields including environment, health, foodstuffs and 
industrial products; 
— improvement of nuclear measurements (neutron-induced reactions, radionuclear decay, neutron flux 
and doses, etc.) and provision of nuclear reference materials for fission and fusion; 
— prestandardisation research in structural reliability and materials. The emphasis will be on reliability 
methodologies and models of behaviour of advanced materials and industrial structures with the 
view of improving codes of practice. 
5. CONTINUATION AND UPDATING OF ACTIVITIES IN THE ENERGY SECTOR 
5.1. Fission 
The objective is to strengthen the safety aspects of nuclear fission, taking into account the impact of 
the Chernobyl reactor accident, and to provide objective information that transcends the national 
dimension and thus helps to harmonize national approaches to safety. 
Research on reactor safety will cover both light water reactors and liquid metal fast breeder reactors, 
both to be linked with the observed behaviour of operating plants. Experimental work will consider 
the prevention and mitigation of major accidents. In addition, work will be devoted to nuclear safety 
harmonization and interaction between safety research and regulatory issues. 
Radioactive waste management will concentrate on waste treatment, conditioning and quality 
assurance, and on demonstration of safe long-term waste disposal options in geological formations 
such as salt, granite and clay. This will be accompanied by attempts to reach a European consensus 
and to harmonize policies on waste disposal. 
Work on decommissioning operations will involve demonstration of relevant technologies and harmo­
nization of approaches and policies within the Community. 
Safeguarding methodologies and techniques and techniques for safeguards integration will be further 
developed. 
Finally, Community work could lend support — in areas related to safety — to Member States 
engaged in the development of advanced reactor systems including their fuel cycles. 
5.2. Fusion 
The ultimate objective is to build fusion reactors for energy generation. The path to be followed can 
be schematically divided into three stages: demonstration of scientific feasibility, technological 
feasibility, and eventually economic feasibility. At present, JET, the medium-size tokamaks and their 
foreign equivalents are still essentially at the scientific stage. The next European Torus (NET), now in 
the pre-design phase, is conceived at present as a device which should fully confirm the scientific 
feasibility of fusion in a first phase, and tackle the problem of technological feasibility in a subsequent 
phase. 
No C 275/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 31.10.86 
The main activities for the period 1987—1991 aim to: 
— establish the physics and technology basis necessary for the detailed design of NET; this implies 
the enhancement and full exploitation of JET and of several medium-size specialized tokamaks in 
existence or under construction, the extension of the duration of the JET Joint Undertaking up to 
the end of 1992, and the strengthening of the technology programme; 
— embark, possibly in 1989—1990 if the necessary data base exists at that thime, on the detailed 
design of NET; 
— explore the reactor potential of some alternative lines (Stellarator and reversed field pinch). 
— develop methods for the management and safe handling of the quantities of tritium involved in the 
operation of fusion machines. Construction of a tritium handling laboratory. 
5.3. Non-nuclear (fossil, new and renewable) energies and rational use of energy 
The primary objective of this action is to contribute to the realization of the Commission's energy 
strategy, the purpose of which is essentially to satisfy the medium- and long-term Community needs 
for energy under politically secure, cost competitive and environmentally clean conditions. In this way 
the development of European society and the competitive development of industry internationally will 
be improved. 
In this context, the work will be focused on solar energy (in particular photovoltaics, passive solar 
technology and equipment testing); biomass; hot dry rock (and related) technologies; clean use of 
solid fuels; exploitation and use of hydrocarbons; new energy vectors; critical problems in wind 
energy; energy storage (including fuel cells and batteries) and on energy systems analysis. 
The work will develop to place more emphasis on the stimulation of Community technological 
capability in a number of basic areas (combustion science, deep geology of energy resources, advanced 
fuel-cell technology, etc); on target-oriented research projects derived from earlier foundation 
research (e.g. magnetohydrodynamic generation); and on activities which demand the combination of 
efforts from more and less industrialized parts of the Community (e.g. energy system modelling, 
integrated biomass schemes). 
6. BIOTECHNOLOGY: A NEW TECHNOLOGICAL CROSSROADS 
6.1. Biotechnology, management of agricultural resources, agro-industrial technologies, science and 
technology for development. 
Rapid and continuous progress in the life sciences and their technological applications is creating new 
types of relationships and opportunities in agriculture and industry, and at the interface between these 
two areas. 
These new possibilities cannot be effectively exploited unless an integrated approach is adopted to the 
planning and implementation of research, which covers biotechnology, agriculture and agro-industrial 
technologies. 
Biotechnology 
The objective of the activity is the improvement, through research, training and concertation, of 
Member States' capacity to match world competition in the areas of biotechnology which are essential, 
in the medium and long terms, for European industry and agriculture. This is a crucial challenge, and 
R & TD must help to meet it, especially since a promising development now indicates that it will be 
possible to use agricultural products as a source of organic chemicals for industrial raw materials. 
The activity should also help to devise new methods for the assessment of biological activity and 
potential risks, thus contributing to the uniform and harmonious development of policies and regu­
lations governing the promotion of modern biotechnology in the Community. 
These objectives will be pursued by: 
— The setting up of Community R&D networks specifically designed to bring a transnational 
dimension to the efforts of Member States and to facilitate the transfer of technology towards 
industry and agriculture in the following areas: 
— contextual measures for the improvement of R & D infrastructure (bio-informatics and 
collections), 
— basic biotechnology to overcome the scientific and technical obstacles to the exploitation of the 
methods and materials deriving from fundamental research. 
31. 10.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 275/13 
The training of research workers, making use of skills and installations on a transnational scale, is 
an integral and essential part of these research activities. 
— Proper scientific and technological development of biotechnology through concertation; this 
implies a continuous assessment of the strategic significance of new developments in biotechnology 
and promotion of consistency which is essential between the various areas of Community policy 
which concern or are influenced by biotechnology. 
Management of agricultural resources 
The aim of this activity is to improve the management of agricultural resources in the light of new 
market conditions. The agricultural research policy must be strengthened so as to encourage the 
development of a scientific community in European agriculture and direct research efforts towards the 
needs of the common agricultural policy. 
Community R & TD activities will focus on the following themes: 
— effectiveness of human and financial resources, 
— diversification, higher quality and lower costs of production, 
— development of new applications and markets, 
— utilisation of soil and water, 
— promotion of forestry, 
— effective protection of the rural environment, 
— regional balance and integrated rural development. 
The techniques used for this purpose include remote sensing. 
Angro-industrial technologies 
Complementing R & TD activities in biotechnology and the management of agricultural resources, 
Community activities will also include: 
— research on the quality and competitiveness of foodstuffs; 
— research on human and industrial consumption; 
— development to demonstrate innovative possibilities resulting from research undertaken in 
biotechnology and agriculture (industrial inputs to agriculture and new production or processing 
possibilities offered by agro-industrial technologies). 
Science and technology for development 
Biotechnology is essential to progress in two priority areas for developing countries: agriculture, and 
medicine, health and nutrition. 
— Agriculture 
The research projects planned in this field will fall under the following four priority headings: 
— Improvement of agricultural production, whether of plant or animal origin, through its various 
constituents, (improvement of species or breeds, their protection — notably by the use of 
biotechnological techniques, improved yields, improvement in growing techniques, etc. 
— Conservation and enhancement of the environment. This covers in particular the evaluation of 
natural resources, the management of water, and soil management and protection — all 
essential tools in the fight against desertification. 
— Agricultural engineering and post-harvest technologies. This heading covers research activities 
concerning rural engineering, mechanization, conservation and processing of products. 
— Growing and production systems. These involve multidisciplinary research to analyse the 
interaction between the factors which determine the development of plant and animal products 
in a particular environment. 
No C 275/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 31.10.86 
— Medicine, health and nutrition 
Research in this field falls mainly under three headings: 
— Tropical Diseases, whether transmissible or not, including the development or improvement of 
vaccines, diagnostic and treatment methods, and the control of vectors. 
— Operational research relating to health care systems appropriate to the rural or urban 
environments in developing countries. 
— Nutrition research which lies at the interface between a number of disciplines: medicine, 
agronomics, economics and the social sciences. 
7, EXPLOITATION OF THE SEABED AND USE OF MARINE RESOURCES 
7.1. Marine science and technology 
Community research on marine science and technology will consist of basic and applied sciences, of 
technological development and of various supporting activities. The objectives of research on basic and 
applied sciences are to improve the knowledge and understanding of the European coastal and 
marginal seas in order to be able to predict changes in these seas and to expand the scientific basic for 
their exploitation, management and protection. In particular, the action will involve the development 
of mathematical models at various scales and their validation by means of measurement campaigns. 
In marine technologies, the objectives are to develop, at the precompetitive level, new instruments and 
equipment needed for the objectives described in the preceding paragraph: sensors, data recording and 
transmission devices, buoys, floating structures, surface and underwater vehicles. In addition, the 
Community will be involved in defining the specifications of major new research facilities, such as a 
deep ocean drilling ship. 
In addition, a number of supporting activities will be carried out, such as providing a forum for the 
most effective use of research vessels and other important facilities operated by the Member States, 
promoting intercalibration exercises and the provision of reference materials, the standardization of 
data acquisition and handling, and helping with the dissemination of knowledge, exchange of 
scientists, training, etc. 
As regards the specific area of living marine resources, Community research will focus on the 
management of fishing resources, catching techniques, aquaculture and processing of produce. 
8. A EUROPE FOR RESEARCH WORKERS 
8.1. Implementation of a Europe for research workers 
The gradual achievement of a Europe for research workers involves the maximization of existing 
scientific potential in terms of human resources and equipment. 
In order to help achieve this objective, all the actions planned aim to improve the training, career 
development and research conditions of European scientists and to improve the use of the major 
installations which are available by exploiting the European dimension. 
The activity will comprise: 
for research workers: 
— research training, specialization, career development, improved mid-career training and retraining 
of scientists by means of research grants and allowances, 
— building up intra-European scientific and technical cooperation and the mobility of research 
workers by means of 'twinning' and 'operations' contracts, 
— measures intended to keep and support high-level research workers in Europe by setting up a 
system of career awards giving material benefits to selected scientists over a period of several years 
on condition that they work in the Community. 
(In addition to this series of activities, Community regulatory measures will be introduced to reduce 
administrative and social obstacles to the mobility of research workers). 
31.10.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 275/15 
for installations: 
— removal of obstacles to and assistance with the free movement of scientific and technical 
equipment by means of regulatory measures, 
— optimization of the exploitation of major scientific and technical installations by means of 
Community support to 'large installations' enabling them to be improved, adapted and specialized. 
In return, they would also be available at certain times for use by all Community research workers. 
A Europe for research workers cannot be truly achieved without a series of associated horizontal 
measures to preserve creativity in Europe and ensure that actions are effective. 
(a) Forecasting and assessment in science and technology, 
The objective is to analyse the long-term consequences of scientific and technological change in 
order to help identify guidelines and priority fields for the science and technology policy. 
In broad terms, the horizontal nature of these activities will be strengthened and the global 
evolution of science and technology will be addressed more than in the past. More specifically, the 
main orientations are: 
— investigation of new scientific and human frontiers, such as life sciences, man-machine 
communication, cognitive science and artificial intelligence, by means of a multiannual 
research programme; 
— identification of the main orientations for new activities in the context of Community policy 
(i. e. constructive technological assessment); 
— development of a European tool, for (a) the acquisition and use of information on scientific 
and technological indicators in Europe and the rest of.the world, (b) the compilation of states-
of-the-art in various fields of science and technology and (c) the establishment of information 
and documentation files on the development of science and technology in the world, in 
particular in the United States and Japan; 
— execution, at the request of Community institutions, of a number of ad-hoc studies to analyse 
immediate or emerging needs in connection with new scientific and technological 
developments. 
(b) Evaluation 
As regards evaluation, the Commission will continue to develop new methods aimed, in particular, 
at analysing aspects affecting industrial innovation and the socio-economic impact of R & TD. It 
will also compare methods developed in the Member States in the context of a Community 
evaluation network. 
(c) Statistical tools 
The objective of this activity is to improve the production of statistical information by matching it 
more closely to users' needs. This will take the form of a fundamental study of the problems 
underlying the construction of expert systems in the field of statistics, proposals for standards to 
be applied in order to ensure compatibility of future work in this area and complete prototype 
systems designed to operate in selected areas. In addition to the specific results in the field of 
statistics, experience of more general application will be acquired which will be relevant to the 
wider field of research in the development of expert systems. 
(d) Utilization ofR & D results 
The objective is to facilitate the use of the results of R & TD by all economic operators concerned 
in the Community, especially small businesses, with a view to ensuring that R & TD work is fully 
effective for the economy. Activities will cover: 
— dissemination of all results of Community research, development and demonstration activities; 
— exploitation of results from the Joint Research Centre; 
— promotion of the exploitation of the results of all other Community research, development and 
demonstration activities. 
No C 275/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 31.10.86 
(e) Linguistic Problems 
The long-term objective is to develop advanced technologies for fast, cheap, reliable translation 
and interpretation services. 
The main activities envisaged cover: 
— completion by 1990 of a first multilingual prototype machine translation system capable of 
dealing with the nine official Community languages and operating in a limited subject field; 
— support to the industrial development of a machine translation system which can be used in a 
multitude of subject fields and environments; 
— development of methods and tools for the reusability of lexical resources in computerized 
applications, and creation of standards for lexical and terminological data; 
— long-term basic research for the next generation of high-quality machine translation systems 
and other natural-language processing systems. 
(f) Communications and information networks and scientific data bases 
The setting-up of communications and information networks is a key factor for the consolidation 
of the European research infrastructure, improvement of the innovation process and stimulation of 
the industrial exploitation of the results of research. 
The objective of this activity is to provide an integrated computerized-communications infra­
structure and associated services, accessible to the various public and private research centres in 
Europe. 
This infrastructure will build on efforts already under way to develop and implement OSI 
standards and provide the Community with high-speed and/or broadband communication 
services, as well as building on the potential of the RARE association.