ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
DE LA COMMISSION 
 
 
 
COLLECTION RELIEE DES 
DOCUMENTS "COM" 
 
 
 
 
COM ( 83) 350 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0139 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation. 
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen 
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983, 
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003 
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit 
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben. 
COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 
COM(83) 350 final 
Brussels 20 June 1983 
Proposal  for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
adopting a multiannual research and development programme of the 
European Economic Community in the field of basic technological research 
Proposal  for a 
COUNCIL  DECISION 
adopting a multiannual research and development programme of the 
European Economic Community in the field of the applications of 
new technologies 
(presented by the Commission to the Council) 
COM(83)  350  final 

CONTENTS 
Page 
RESEARCH  ACTION  PROGRAMME  ON  INDUSTRIAL  TECHNOLOGIES 
I. Objectives  of the  programme 1 
II. Content  of the  programme 2 
III. The role of the Community 4 
IV. Management of the Action Programme 8 
V. Expressions of interest and submission of proposals  12 
VI. Small-  and medium-sized enterprises 13. 
VII. General 14 
Annex  I - BRIEF  DESCRIPTION  OF EXISTING  SUB-PROGRAMMES  16 
Annex  II - BASIC  TECHNOLOGICAL  RESEARCH  - PROGRAMME  PROPOSAL 
I. Introduction  32 
II. The role of the Community 34 
III. Management of the programme 36 
IV. Expressions of interest and tender 38 
V. Small-  and medium-sized enterprises 39 
VI. Technical content of the programme 40 
VII. Funding of the programme and staffing needs 60 
VIII.  General 62 
Proposal  for Council Decision 63 
Annex  66 

Page 
Annex  III -  APPLICATION  OF  NEW TECHNOLOGIES  (CLOTHING 
MANUFACTURE)  - PROGRAMME  PROPOSAL 
I. Introduction 70 
II. The role of the Community 72 
III. Management of the programme 73 
IV. Expressions of interest and tender 77 
V. Small- and medium-sized enterprises 78 
VI. The technical content of the programme 79 
VII. Funding of the programme and staffing needs 84 
VIII.  General 86 
Proposal  for Council Decision 88 
Annex  91 

1 
RESEARCH-ACTION-PROGRAMME  ON INDUSTRIAL  TECHNOLOGIES 
I. 0b2ect^ve_of_the_programme 
1. High Technology  industries (information  technology, 
biotechnology)  will  undoubtedly  play a  major  and growing  role 
in the Community.  The other sectors of industry  will, 
however,  for the foreseeable future, continue to  make  a 
substantial  contribution to the  G.D.P.  of the  Community. 
These sectors  will,  accordingly,  remain  an essential  element 
in dealing with the  economic  and social  problems  of the 
Community.  The improvement  of their  competitiveness  must  be 
a major  target for  Community  R&D policy and is therefore a 
major objective of the  framework  programme. 
2. The Research  Action  Programme  on Industrial Technologies 
is the means  for the  implementation  of the policy  lines  of 
the relevant section of the  framework  programme.  It seeks  to 
define the  proper  role of  Community  supported  R & D in 
helping to  remove  or reduce  obstacles to trade and the 
encouragement  of technological research (situated  between 
basic research and  product  development)  in the pre-
competitive stage, while recognizing the  primary 
responsibility  of the industry in  this. 
3. On the basis of  these  general considerations, two new 
sub-programmes  are presented, one for basic technological 
research  (annex  II) and the other for application of new 
technologies  (annex  III). 
4. In considering  what  are the  priorities  within the  fields 
covered  by this  Research  Action  Programme,  the value of 
Community  initiatives  will  be determined  not only by  their 
contribution  to the  overall  problems  proper  to European  R&D 
and its technological applications but also by general 

5. This action  programme  on industrial  technologies  groups 
together within  a common  management  structure  a number  of 
existing  and planned  R&D  activities,  the  objectives  of 
which relate primarily  to the  promotion  of the  industrial 
competitivity  of  industries other  than  high-technology 
industries.  The  main sections  of the  programme  and current^ 
or planned  sub-programmes  are as  follows: 
a. Actions with  the  objective  of removing  or reducing 
obstacles  to trade 
1) BCR (existing  programme  with JRC participation) 
2) Nuclear  measurements  (existing  programme  - JRC  Geel) 
b. Multisectoral research,  i.e.  research  on industrial 
technologies having application  in several  industrial 
sectors 
1) Basic technological research  (programme  proposal 
attached) - 2 -
considerations  of a  social  and  economic  nature (including 
those contributing  to working  conditions  and  health  and 
safety)  and in  particular  by  industrial  strategy 
considerations.  Moreover,  if  full advantage  is to be  taken 
of progress  of a  technological nature there  must be, where 
necessary, progress  made on  other  problems  particularly  those 
of an industrial  strategy character.  R&D can  contribute  to 
the solution  of the  problems  of European  industry;  alone  it 
is insufficient. 
II. Content_of  the programme 
See Annex  I for a  brief  description  of the  existing  sub-
programmes  . 1 

2) High  temperature  materials  (existing  programme  - JRC 
Petten 
3) COST  (existing  and planned  actions) 
c. Application of new technologies to  specifi 0 industrial 
sectors 
1) Textiles  (existing  programme) 
2) Research  for the  steel  industry  (existing  ECSC 
programme) 
3) Application of new technologies - Clothing  Manufacture 
(programme  proposal  attached) 
d. Pilot  projects, i.e. projects to  take  research in 
selected  areas  to the point of  demonstrating  economic  as 
well as technical  feasibility  at full  production scale, 
under arrangements  which  would  not confer exclusive 
advantages  on the firms  directly  involved. 
1) Pilot  projects for the  steel  industry (new  ECSC 
progamme  ) 
2) Pilot  projects for basic technological research and 
clothing  manufacture  (included in the  proposed 
programmes  annexed) 
6. Apart  from  the research  programmes  listed  above,  other 
activities  within the Action  Progamme  will include  situation 
analyses and projections in the  form  of "case-studies" to be 
undertaken  by the  Commission  in close co-operation with 
industry.  Such  case-studies  will need  to involve the active 
and direct  participation  of a  number  of firms in selected 
sectors of industry  under  arrangements  which  will  ensure 
ready access  of others to the results of the studies. The 
aim of the studies  will  be to  analyse  which  new technologies 
could be applied successfully in a given sector and  what 
impact  this would  produce  on the productivity of the industry 
in its various  activities  (production,  management,  marketing, 
etc.).  The essential  elements  of such  studies in  relation  to - 3 -

- 4 -
the Action  Programme  is that they  will  establish  to what 
extent R&D  into  the applications of technologies can 
improve  the competitivity  of the sectors concerned and the 
role, if any, of the  Community  in encouraging and co­
ordinating  R&D. This  assessment  will  be carried  out 
against  the background  of an examination of the present and 
likely  future  economic  and social  importance of the sector 
concerned and its  situation  in respect of  international 
competitiveness and  hence  relevant  industrial  policy 
questions. 
III. The_role_of_the_Coramunity 
7. Technological research  which  must  be carried  out in order 
for an industrial  firm  to remain  competitive is in  principle 
the responsibility  of the  industrial  firm  itself.  Thus,  in 
principle,  a firm should be  entirely  responsible  either  for 
carrying  out the necessary research  itself,  for arranging for 
other organisations to do it on contract or for acquiring the 
technology  from  others through  licenses  or other appropriate 
channels. 
8. While  this  principle  must  remain  central  in Community 
R&D policy  as regards the R&D  needed  by firms so that 
they can  market  new products and processes, it is, neverthe­
less, the case that longer term technological research in 
Europe  faces  certain  problems  : 
- longer-term technological research is  relatively  expensive, 
by its nature slow to provide a return on investment, and 
often requires  multidisciplinary  technical  and scientific 
expertise  which  is not indigenous to an  individual  firm  or 
even to the  industrial  sector  where  the new technology is 
needed.  Communication  channels  between  those  making  or 
selling  the end-products  which  might  incorporate the 
results  of research and those carrying out the research are 

- 5 -
often imperfect  and sometimes  non-existent.  Because  the 
technologies  are  widely dispersed  in many  Community 
countries,  inadequate  co-ordination within  a sector  and 
inadequate  co-ordination  between  various industry sectors 
tend to give  sub-critical  and  overlapping  results.  In 
other words  , they  do not  integrate  on a  sufficient  scale 
the various  competences  necessary  and  available  throughout 
the Community  to produce  results  that can be of  practical 
benefit  to industry; 
- it has as yet  proved  particularly  difficult  in Europe  to 
bring together  the  research  abilities  of the  university  and 
industry.  Although  some  progress  has been made in  this 
direction,  it has not moved far  enough  or fast enough  and 
it is uncommon  indeed  for  co-operation  to evolve  between  an 
academic  institution  in one Member  State  and industry  in 
another; 
many Member  States provide support  to some  degree  for 
industrial  R&D  depending  on their  specific  national 
circumstances.  But the  fact is that the  consequent 
research  efforts  serve  to benefit only firms within  the 
respective  member  States  and are not  serving  to enhance  the 
industrial  competitivity  of the  Community  as a  whole  vis­
a-vis its  major  trading partners.  Furthermore,  these 
national  research  efforts  are  generally  not  co-ordinated 
and thus  the  work is frequently overlapping  or even 
duplicating  work  which  is being  done  in other  Member 
States. 
9. It  should  be recalled  that the Community's  major  trading 
partners,  the US and  Japan,  both  provide  major  central 
government  support  for R&D  intended  to be of  direct  benefit 
to their  industries.  As  explained  in more  detail  in the two 
attached proposals  for new  sub-programmes,  the US and 
Japanese  government  support  to  industrial  R & D is 
significant  and in many  cases  is 100%  financed  from  central 
government  funds.  It is  also clear that  the research  efforts 

- the Community  should only support technological research of 
a pre-competitive character, i.e. the research undertaken 
should  only go so far as to create benefits  which  can be 
equally  exploited by a  number  of firms in competition with 
each other at the product  development  and marketing stage; 
harmonisation  and standardization aspects are important 
here ; 
- the Community  should only undertake projects for  which  the 
combination of  human  and financial  resources at  Community 
level gives an  "added  value"; 
- a proper coupling should occur  between  Community 
initiatives  and the  market  and hence  applications of 
commercial  value should be foreseen before  work  is started; 
in other  words,  the research undertaken  must  be research 
which industry  really  needs  but cannot  undertake without 
financial  support; - 6 -
in these countries are usually  well co-ordinated, thereby 
ensuring research  efficiency  as  well  as  effective 
dissemination  of results  for advantageous  exploitation  by the 
industries  in these countries. 
10. Community  initiatives  have to be  aimed  at reducing these 
defects  and therefore  have  to be subject to the  following 
considerations  : 
- the fact that an industry is in trouble or  declining  is not 
in itself  a justification  for Community  assistance. 
Community  initiatives  should therefore focus on those areas 
where technological and other social-economic  factors  will 
create  a reasonable  possibility  for a  major  improvement  in 
productivity  or competitivity  but where  industry and 
national  actions are  insufficient; 

- 7 -
- the Community  should  not  simply subsidize research  but 
should act as a  catalyst  concentrating  on selective  actions 
which can  benefit industry widely  and hence have a 
multiplier  effect  through  a relatively  modest  financial 
contribution  ("seed money"). 
11. In order  to ensure  that  the Community  role is properly 
taken into  account  at all  stages,  the above  considerations 
relating  to the  role  of Community  initiatives  must be 
concretely  reflected  in the  criteria  to be  applied  in judging 
priorities  as between  proposals  for  individual  research 
projects.  The most  important points  here are that  priority 
must be  given  to projects providing  clear  evidence  of a 
substantial  own-contribution  from  industry  and of  real need 
for the technology concerned  in at  least  two Member  States, 
expressed  in trans-frontier  co-operative planning, funding 
and exploitation. 
12. The  role  that national  governments need to  play in the 
process  of the  promotion  of technological research  will be 
determined  by  specific  national circumstances.  In a 
permanent  consultation,  in particular  through  the Management 
and Co-ordination Consultative  Committee -  Industrial 
Technologies  (CGC),  Community and  national  activities  have to 
be confronted  to avoid unnecessary overlapping. National 
governments  should also play  an important  role to ensure  the 
involvement  of industry  and in  particular  of the  SMEs . 
13. International  co-operation,  i.e.  co-operation with 
research  efforts  in non-EEC  countries,  is already  seen in 
many programmes in  different  ways (COST,  ECSC  working 
parties,  etc.).  Thus, where a  mutual  interest  exists,  the 
Community  should  remain  open to  international  co-operation  on 
an ad-hoc  basis, while taking  into account  the fact that the 
new programmes are aimed at the  promotion  of the 
competitiveness  of Community  industry through  the solution  of 
problems  specific  to Community R&D. 

- 8 -
15. Research  projects  will for the most  part be undertaken 
in the form of shared  cost contract research  or concerted 
action.  Shared  cost contract research  can  take the form 
of pilot-  or demonstration-projects.  Concerted  actions  would 
in particular  be undertaken  in cases where work  supported  by 
national  funds  or entirely  privately  funded  is already going 
on, the  Commission's  role  then  being  limited  simply  to 
organizing  the co-ordination  of the work and the Community 
funding confined  to covering  the  cost of co-ordination 
activities.  However, in  certain  cases where it is  clear that 
more than simple co-ordination  is needed,  a certain  level of 
funding  of the  actual research  work  could  be considered  in 
consultation  with the CGC. In  addition,  where  appropriate, 
work at the  Joint  Research  Centre  will be arranged  to 
complement  other actions  under  this Action  Programme  though 
authorised, financed  and managed in  accordance  with the 
normal arrangements  applicable-  to the? JRC; IV. Management of the  Action  Programme 
14. The  general  management  rules applying  to the  various 
sub-programmes  in this action  programme are set out  below. 
As a result  of the  different  rules applicable  (e.g.  steel 
research  and work at the JRC),  these  management  rules  are 
indeed general  and cannot  be fully  applied  to all of the 
sub-programmes.  They  are  therefore primarily guiding 
principles  which  will be adapted  to the  special  circumstances 
of each sub-programme, but  always  aimed  at facilitating  the 
participation  of industry  and  ensuring  its  involvement 
throughout  the programme. 
A) Nature  of Community  Actions 

- 9 -
16. The Commission  will be assisted  by the CGC on  Industrial 
Technologies  in its  task of defining  and preparing research, 
development  and demonstration  activities  on the one  hand and 
its management and  co-ordination•-•  -f unctions  . .related.  to 
programmes on  industrial  technologies. 
17. As many of the programmes  will be strongly industry-
oriented,  the  Commission  will  establish consultation-
procedures  with  industry  and, where  appropriate,  with 
academic  and research  institutions,  to  assist  it in the 
preparation  and management of programmes.  This kind  of 
consultation  machinery  should also provide  an additional 
channel  for the  diffusion  of research results. 
Programmes  will be submitted  to evaluation  procedures  in 
accordance  with the "Community  plan of action  relating  to the 
evaluation  of Community  research  "and development  programmes" 
(C0M(83)1)  . 
^) £££ii£.iE§n^£  £Hl projects 
18. Participants  in the  research projects  can be  industrial 
firms, research  institutes  and universities established  in 
the Community.  Normally,  research  institutes  and 
universities  should participate only  in a  group  with 
substantial  participation  (financial  or otherwise)  by 
industrial  firms. 
Priority  will be given to projects  undertaken  by participants 
from more than one Member  State. 
Projects should  be of  sufficient  size  to create  critical 
research results  and ensure  an optimal  impact. B) Preparation,  management  and.evaluation  of programmes i 
C) Participants  and projects 
18. Participants  in the  research projects  can be  industrial 
firms, research  institutes  and universities established  in 
the Community.  Normally,  research  institutes  and 
universities  should participate only  in a  group with 
substantial  participation  (financial  or otherwise)  by 
industrial  firms. 
Priority  will be given to projects  undertaken  by participants 
from more than one Member State. 
Projects should  be of  sufficient  size to create  critical 
research results  and ensure an optimal impact. 

19. Community  finance should, as a general  rule,  not exceed 
50% of the  total  cost of the project. The  remainder  should 
be provided by the  industrial  firms  participating  in the 
project,  and will be decided  individuality  for reach project in 
the light  of its  characteristics,  the extent to  which  it 
meets the selection  criteria  and the  amount  of risk accepted 
by the proposers of the projects. 
The Commission  will  take due account of all other 
contributions  so that tl^ global  amount  of Community  and 
national  support should not, as a general  rule,  exceed  50% of 
the total  cost. 
For demonstration projects, a  maximum  of 50% of the grant 
will be repayable in the event of  commercial  exploitation. 
E) Access to and  exploitation  of results; dissemination of 
information - 10 -
D) Financial  aspects 
20. The rules for access to and  exploitation  of results must 
be defined as  clearly as possible to avoid  their becoming  a 
limiting factor for industry  participation.  In particular, 
for the new programmes  in the context of the  action-programme 
on industrial  technologies,  existing  procedures  must be 
adapted to take account of the  fact that, although the 
research is of a pre-competitive nature, the  results will 
normally be of  commercial  value. The  rules to be established 
must strike a balance  between the interest of the original 
inventor and a sufficient  diffusion  of the results to other 
Community firms. 

- 11 -
21. A set of  standard conditions  is in  preparation with  the 
help and advice  of industry provided  through  CORDI.  These 
will be discussed with  the CGC. They  will be based  on the 
following  general  principles: 
a) the  rights  to exploit  any industrial  property resulting 
from work  under  the programmes  will in the  first  place 
reside with  the contractor  who makes the  invention; 
b) preferential  access  to "foreground  information" 
(information  generated  under  the  contract)  and to 
"foreground  patents" (patents  for  inventions  made  or 
conceived  under  the  contract) should  be granted  under 
appropriate  terms  in order of priority  to: 
- other participants  in the sub-programme if  required  for 
the execution  of their  own contract; 
- other participants  in the sub-programme; 
- other enterprises established  in the Community if  their 
own R&D  results  cannot  reasonably  be applied 
otherwi  se; 
- other enterprises established  in the Community. 
The Commission has the  further  responsibility, 
particularly  important  in such a programme, to  ensure  that 
the results  are properly exploited  to the  benefit  of the 
whole Community and its  industry within  a reasonable  time 
period.  The  contractual provisions giving effect  to this 
requirement  will be based  upon the  principles  set out in 
document C0M(83)18. 
22. Where  pilot  demonstration  projects  are involved,  the 
contractor should  in any  case be obliged  to show to  other 
Community  enterprises  how the  facilities  and equipment 
relating  to the  projects  are used.  However, if  industrial 

- 12 -
and commercial  interest  could be prejudiced or the success of 
the project  endangered,  the contractor may refuse a  visit  or 
charge  an "entry fee" in  agreement  with the  Commission. 
Discussions with industry on  this  subject are  under  way. 
23. Adequate  dissemination of information, that  does  not 
prejudice  industrial  and commercial  interest,  should be 
ensured.  Procedures  will be established by  which  systematic 
information on  work  in progress  will  be available.  These 
procedures  will be discussed in the context of the  individual 
programmes  with the CGC and industry  concerned. 
V. Expressions of interest_and submission_of proposals 
24. It is  fully  understood  by the  Commission  that the 
administrative  and financial  burden  of the preparation of 
fully worked  out research proposals without a  guarantee  of 
acceptance,  is often a  limiting  factor to  participation  in 
Community  R&D programmes,  in particular  for SMEs  . This is 
a principal  reason  for introducing the instrument of 
"expressions of  interest"  which  should  ease  access for 
individual  firms. 
A call  for "expressions of  interest"  will  be published as 
soon as proposals for new  programmes  are submitted to the 
Council.  By  notifying  the Commission  of their interest  and 
submitting a  brief  and global description of possible 
projects,  individual  firms  will have  the possibility  to check 
with the  Commission  if their  projects are, in  principle,  in 
accordance  with the  programme  and can  invite  the Commission 
to help in forming  international  groups.  The "expressions of 
interest"  will also give a  clear indication  of the  priorities 
of the industry by confirming the  interest  of the  managements 
of individual  firms in a  programme,  and should help to  ensure 
a quick  start  once  a programme  has been  approved  by the 
Counc i1 . 

- 13 -
25. A  call for "expressions of  interest"  will not replace a 
formal  call  for proposals,  which  will be made  after  the. 
programme  is adopted  by the Council, but it is anticipated 
that proposals then received  will to a substantial  degree 
come from  the groups  of organisations interested in 
collaborating  together and set up during the course of the 
earlier  procedure. 
VI. Small-_and_medium-size_en^ 
26. With  regard to the  economic  importance  of the  SMEs  and 
their role in the creation of new  employment,  the SMEs should 
be involved in the various  sub-programmes  to the  maximum 
degree  possible.  Moreover,  special  attention for  SMEs is 
justified  as: 
- SMEs  are often best at  exploiting  new technology in its 
early phases  and are often quickest at completing 
engineering  development  and marketing  the new product; 
SMEs' managements  often  have  the  most  dynamic 
characteristics  and are  more  likely  to undertake 
speculative  development. 
27. However,  involvement of  SMEs  is often  difficult  to 
realize  as experience at the national  level  has shown. 
28. Generally, the  possibility  and degree  of SME involvement 
will depend  to a large extent on the nature of  specific  sub-
programmes.  The following  mechanisms  shoudl  encourage  their 
involvement and only experience can provide the  answer  as to 
which way or  ways  will be the  most appropriate: 
- through  co-operation with large firms  which  already use 
SMEs as sub-contractors or  which  market  their  products; VI. Small- and  medium-size  enterprises 
26. With regard to the  economic  importance  of the SMEs and 
their role in the creation of new  employment,  the SMEs should 
be involved in the various  sub-programmes  to the maximum 
degree possible.  Moreover,  special  attention for  SMEs is 
justified as: 
- SMEs are often best at  exploiting  new technology in its 
early phases  and are often quickest at completing 
engineering  development  and marketing  the new product; 
SMEs' managements  often have  the most dynamic 
characteristics  and are  more likely to undertake 
speculative  development. 
27. However,  involvement of  SMEs is often  difficult  to 
realize as experience at the national  level has shown. 
28. Generally, the  possibility  and degree of SME involvement 
will depend to a large extent on the nature of  specific  sub-
programmes.  The following  mechanisms  shoudl encourage  their 
involvement and only experience can provide the  answer as to 
which way or ways will be the most appropriate: < 
- through  co-operation with large firms  which already use 
SMEs as sub-contractors or  which market their products; 

- 14 -
- through the involvement of co-operative or  collective 
organisations  which  have  SMEs  as members  (these 
organisations  can either  do research in the  programme  on 
behalf  of SMEs  or can help to  identify  SMEs  which  might 
participate  individually); 
- through the involvement of  and/or  communication  with 
universities  which  are already working on  problems  of 
concern to  SMEs; 
- through information provided by trade associations, 
chambers  of commerce,  government  bodies, etc. 
VII. General 
29. The necessity for increased and  more  effective  long-term 
research with a  view  to increased  competitivity  in industry 
is generally recognized as  crucial  to the future  economic  and 
social  well-being of the  Community.  This action  programme 
alone cannot  fully  respond to  this major  challenge, but it 
certainly  can, by  means  of stimulation,  support the co­
ordination  of research on  industrial  technologies, and put 
into motion  the efforts  which  will help to achieve  this  goal. 
Without  such Community  action,  the type of  effort  which  is 
necessary is  unlikely  to be undertaken or  will be undertaken 
only when  it is too  late. 
30. The Commission  realises  the necessity of not creating 
unnecessary administrative and  legal  constraints to R&D 
co-operation,  in  particular  in the  field  of competition 
policy,  and is  giving  this problem  special  attention at the 
present time . 
31. This action  programme  is not in the  first  place  aimed  at 
putting  into motion  very large-scale research projects. It 
will, on the other  hand,  serve to better define the 
Community's  proper  role  in assisting  industry to solve  what 

- 15 -
are now deep-rooted  problems.  Certainly,  as experience  is 
gained under  this programme the  role of the Community  vis-à-
vis both  this  programme and  other  R&D programmes of 
interest  to industry,  can be  fine-tuned  to such an extent 
that its efficiency  is optimal. That  is, the  expenditure  of 
public 'money  and institutional  involvement  can be  minimised 
to only that  which  is necessary  in the  light of industry's 
own resources  and of  developments  taking place outside  the 
Community  . 
32. The Council  is asked  to agree with  the  general 
guidelines  as set out  above  and to  approve  the two  attached 
programme  proposals. 

- 16 -ANNEX I 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION  OF EXISTING  SUB-PROGRAMMES  
Community  Bureau  of Reference (BCR) 
The BCR  sub-programme  is aimed  at improving the accuracy of 
measurements  and thereby the  harmony  of the  results  of such  measurements 
throughout the  Community.  Its  field of action  covers metrology, 
analytical  chemistry and  technological  measurements.  Work is undertaken 
on problems  of economic,  commercial or  industrial  importance at the 
level of the  Community,  thus giving  BCR a  public service character. 
The improvements  produced by the  programme  are achieved by 
- Intercomparisons i.e.  collaboration exercises  in which  several 
highly qualified laboratories  compare  their results, discuss  the 
cause of  discrepancies  and investigate  the possibilities  of 
eliminating  the identified  causes of  errors 
preparing metrological transfer  standards or  similarly reference 
materials  to give the possibility  to all other users in the 
Community  to align their  measurements  by better calibration  of 
their equipment  and methodology. 
Accuracy can be confirmed  only by comparison and  therefore  the 
programme  is essentially  a collaborative  undertaking.  Laboratories  of 
all member  countries  with  sufficient  expertise  are invited  to 
participate.  Participation  is also open to all  laboratories  of the JRC. 
While measurements  are done by a large variety  of laboratories, 
there is needed  for these  measurements  appropriate  instruments  which are 
stable and reliable,  or materials  samples  and substances  which  are 
stable and homogeneous.  Provision  of these is another aim of the 
programme. 
The priority  fields  covered by the BCR  programme  as an  indirect 
action are 
- mechanical metrology 
- optical  metrology 
- temperature metrology 

electrical  metrology 
flow measurement 
analyses  for environment 
analyses  for food 
analyses  of metals and raw  materials 
measurement  for materials  mechanical  properties 
biomedical  analysis. 
This programme  has the  flexibility  to adapt  itself  to particular 
needs not foreseen  and which may  emerge.  It has  also the possibility  of 
being adapted to changing  needs or requirements of the  other departments 
of the Commission  (DG III, VI, XI). - 17 -

Nuclear Measurements 
The Reference  Measurements  and Reference  Materials  sub-programme  is 
carried out under the responsibility  of the JRC  Geel Establishment 
(CBNM). Most  of the  work is performed  at the  CBNM, but collaboration 
with laboratories  of the Member  States is maintained  and help on some 
aspects  from  national laboratories  is sought  either  by mutual 
collaboration  or by  contract.  Most of the  work involved  has the 
objective  of helping  the nuclear industry,  but a  significant  part is 
also oriented  towards  non-nuclear  applications. 
As its name implies,  the underlying expertise  of the  sub-programme 
is that of measurement  science,  more  specifically  the science  of 
accurate  measurements  with well defined errors,  and the  theme of 
providing  standards  and references  as a  centralised service  is 
emphasized. 
This sub-programme's  objectives  are : 
(a) To provide basic  neutron  cross section  data to the  required 
accuracy  to help understand  many aspects  of optimising  the design 
and operation  of fission  reactors  and associated  industrial 
processes  and also to help the technological  development  of fusion 
reactors. 
(b) To provide specialised reference materials required  by the  nuclear 
industry, especially  concerned  with analytical  measurements  in 
the nuclear  fuel cycle, the measurement  of in-pile  neutron  dose and 
the measurement  of environmental  radioactivities  due to man's 
exploitation  of nuclear  power. 
(c) To use  nuclear  measurement  techniques  to develop  and characterise 
references  in (1) the  measurement  of traces of metals in biological 
materials  and hence to help understand  the effect of environmental 
trace on health and (2) the  analyses  of the  surfaces  of materials 
which are increasing  importance  to the  semiconductor  industry,  to 
the chemical  industry  and to the  metals  industry. - 18 -

- 19 -
(d) To give direct help to the  programme  of the  Community  reference 
Bureau in the preparation, conditioning,  sampling  and conservation 
of some non-nuclear  reference materials. 
(e) To develop  and apply nuclear  measurement  techniques  to the 
metrology  of radionuclide  decay (important actinide isotopes in the 
fuel cycle, isotopes  used in medicine,  etc.) to the  metrology  of 
neutron  flux and  dose (especially  dose absorbed  by humans)  and to 
the measurement  of trace impurities in the  atmosphere. 
(f) To contribute  where  possible to the better  measurement  of 
fundamental  constants,  specifically  to that of the  atomic  weight  of 
silicon which  in turn  will lead to a better value of the  Avogadro 
constant. 
(g) To give direct help to the  Euratom  Safeguards  Directorate by 
performing  verification  analyses of  safeguards  samples. 
The sub-programme  is largely a continuation of the  JRC's 1980-83 
programme  on Nuclear  Measurements,  but to  this has now  been added a few 
items which appeared  previously in other  programmes,  e.g. analytical 
measurements  for the  Safeguards  Inspectorate, to  make it the  total 
activity  of JRC Geel. The  sub-programme  also has  some reorientation 
from fission  to fusion reactors and  about  a 15% reorientation  towards 
non-nuclear  work. 

- 20 -
High Temperature  Materials 
The High Temperature  Materials  sub-programme  aims at satisfying  the 
need for constructional materials for long-term service in high 
temperature  aggressive  environments,  in particular  in the  critical  areas 
of important  industrial  processes. It thus provides a  scientific 
service,  concerned with materials information, data handling and  direct 
research  programmes,  which aids the  development  of improved  engineering 
materials  and components. 
The work in this sub-programme  is directed  towards  : 
- development  of new and  improved  materials designed  specifically  for 
operation  in the  environments  of industrial  processes, 
- characterisation of the properties of materials and  components, 
- materials production and processing, 
development  of prototype  components, 
- shaping of  components  by machining  and other processes, 
- joining  technology, 
design and  lifetime  prediction, 
failure  analysis/plant operational experience. 
Emphasis  is placed on high  temperature  materials such  metallic 
alloys,  coatings, engineering ceramics,  refractories  and composites. 
The major economic  importance  of technological  developments  in the 
field of HTM is derived  from the fact that they enable the following 
requirements to be met : 
- increased  efficiency,  through higher process temperatures, 
- improved  reliability,  thus reducing  shut-downs, 
- safety, both for operators and the  local population, 
longer design  lives,  thus spreading the  capital  needs, 
- tolerance of the  increasingly  corrosive  environments  which result 
from the use of lower  grade  fuels. 

- 21 -
Collaborations  exist  with a  number  of national and  industrial 
organisations  which  can be  grouped  according to the following 
categories  : 
Research  divisions of materials  producers  for the optimisation of 
properties, 
Plant design and process  development  organisations for the 
selection  of materials, 
Constructors and operators of plant for the  effect  of service on 
materials as well as the  above aspects, 
Research  institutes  and universities for mechanistic  knowledge. 

- 22 -
European  Co-operation  in the  Field of Scientific  and Technical  Research 
(COST) Actions 
COST 501 -  Project  on high temperature  materials  for conventional  
systems of energy generation  and conversion using  fossil  fuels 
The main objective  of this project  is to  develop  and co-ordinate 
research  through  concerted action  by the  participants,  in order to : 
- improve  the properties  and assessment  of materials  necessary  for 
long-term  use at  high temperature  in energy  conversion  and 
production  installations  and installations  using the products  of 
conversion,  as well as in  other advanced  systems; 
- evolve  new methods  for the  processing  of materials  in order to 
ensure their economic  utilisation; 
- study  the  possibilities  afforded  by substitute materials  for 
conventional high  temperature  alloys. 
The results  of the  work are expected  to contribute  to : 
(1) improved  fuel efficiency  (e.g. petrol,  coal, combined  coal and oil, 
lignite,  peat, etc.); 
(2) better service  performance  and economy of plant and equipment; 
(3) more economic  use of  materials with  particular  reference  to 
conservation  of strategic  elements  and recycling; 
(4) better pollution control. 
COST 502 - Project on Corrosion  in the  Construction Industry 
The main aim of  this project  is to  develop  and co-ordinate 
co-operative research with  a view to making more efficient  use of 
materials  employed  in the  construction industry  and to  reducing losses 
due to corrosion. 
Some of the  particular  aims are as  follows : 
- the  application  of new methods  of corrosion research  and corrosion 
prevention; 
the better  use of the  strength  of materials  by avoiding corrosion 
problems  often associated with heavily stressed materials; 

- 23 -
the introduction  of new  technologies  or processes,  where the 
control of corrosion  problems  has been the key  problem; 
the safeguarding against  the increased  corrosivity  of many 
environments,  in the  atmosphere, in water  and in the  soil; 
- the  development  and testing  of new  materials  and methods  of 
protection. 
COST 503 - Project  on powder  metallurgy 
The main  aim of  this project  is to  develop  and co-ordinate 
co-operative research with  a view to maintaining  and strengthening  the 
competitive  position  of the  European  powder  metallurgy industry  by 
increasing  its technological capacity  for the processing  of powder. 
Specific  areas of research  under this project  relate to : 
(1) Preparation  and characterisation  of metal powders 
v (2) Powder  compaction 
(3) Sintering 
(4) Spray  casting  of steels with hot compacting  especially  for cutting 
tools 
(5) Quality control 
(6) Development  of guidelines  for the  design of powder  metallurgical 
parts 
(7) Improvement  in product performance 
COST 504 - Project  on Castings  Technology 
The main  aim of  this project  is to  develop  and co-ordinate 
co-operative research  to encourage  the use of new  techniques  in casting 
to manufacture products  of better  quality  and ensure the competitiveness 
of the industry. 

- 24 -
Specific  areas of research  under  this project relate to : 
(1) Direct casting of close to  final shape  semi-finished  products  of 
base metal alloys with melting points  above 1000°C  including steels 
(especially  stainless steel) 
(2) Improving  the productivity and quality of  nodular  cast iron (S.G. 
iron), steel and  non-ferrous  castings 
(3) Influence of metallurgical factors (especially purity) of  primary 
and secondary  aluminium  alloys  upon casting  process  technology  and 
properties of castings 
COST 505 - Project on materials for  steam turbines 
The main aim of the project is to  improve  the efficiency and 
reliability  of steam  turbines by an  improved  knowledge  of materials 
behaviour  in conditions relevant to service. 
The technical objectives of  this project are : 
to improve  the efficiency of design of turbine  components; 
- to ensure  that materials with  adequate  performance  are available to 
meet new demands  of the industry; 
- to provide an  improved  basis for the estimation of  remaining  life 
in conservatively  designed  turbine  equipment. 
Research  will relate  specifically  to : 
(1) Effects of  environment  on properties 
(2) Fracture  mechanics 
(3) Corrosion-erosion and hard-facing materials 
(4) Bolting materials 
(5) Estimation of residual  life 
(6) Effects of  welding  and stress  relief 
(7) Increased  reliability  of components 
(8) High temperature  properties 

- 25 -
Textiles 
The general  aim of the  Textiles  sub-programme is to  maintain  and 
expand the industrial  and commercial  potential  of the  textile  and 
clothing  industry  in the Community.  Because  its position  at world-level 
can only  be defended  if a sustained  effort  is made in the  direction  of 
technological  innovation,  such innovation  is the  research objective  of 
this sub-programme. 
The sub-programme  consists  of four sections  : 
(a) Garment  physiology  and construction 
The first  part of the programme,  specifically  concerned  with 
garment  comfort,  is closely linked with  the textile  industry. 
Amongst  other things,  it is  intended that  a harmonized  system  of 
sizes be brought  into play  at Community  level in order to 
facilitate  intra-Community  trade. 
(b) Quality  of knitted fabrics  and knitted  articles 
The objective  in this case is to  achieve greater  stability  as 
regards the size of both knitted fabrics  and knitted  articles. 
The aim is  improve  competitiveness  by establishing  a better 
price/quality  ratio.  This should,  however, be  accompanied  by 
increased  flexibility  and the  capacity  to react more swiftly  to 
market fluctuations,  both of which aspects should derive  from the 
sub-programme. 
(c) Application  of new  spinning technologies  in the  wool industry. 
The European  wool sector with its  300,000  workers  already  possesses 
considerable technological  know-how.  It produces  just over half of 
the world's  combed and  carded  yarn. The sub-programme  thus aims 
specifically  to preserve  such valuable  knowledge  and experience  and 
to expand it still further. 

- 26 -
(d) Upgrading  of linen 
The concern  in this  case is to exploit a high-quality natural fibre 
which has the  advantage  of being produced  in the Community. 
A new variety of fabrics can be  created  on the  basis  of suitable 
mixtures  of linen,  cotton  and artificial  fibres. In  order  to do 
this, the whole  linen production  process  must be modernized,  from 
crop cultivation right  through  to the finished  product. 
The aim of the  research,  which  is being undertaken  by several 
different laboratories, is to  improve  the consistency  and quality 
of linen-based  products  at all  stages  of production  : retting, 
scutching,  carding,  spinning,  weaving,  dyeing,  etc. In addition, 
efforts  will be made to upgrade  the finished  products  in relation 
to their  uses : clothing, interior  decoration,  etc. 
The results of the  research  will be distributed as  widely  as 
possible to  facilitate  the practical application and exploitation of the 
results for the benefit of the  European  textiles industry as a  whole. 

- 27 -
Steel Research 
The Steel  Research  sub-programme  contributes to  common  research 
needs in both process-oriented and product-oriented sectors of 
technology with the ultimate objective of enhacing the  international 
competitiveness of the  Community's  steel industry.  Priority  is given to 
applied problems  having  short-to-medium  term goals  where  there are 
opportunities  to reduce  production costs and  raise  productivity,  to 
improve  product  quality  and to  promote  steel as an engineering and 
structural  material. 
The scientific  and technical  research being undertaken in  this 
sub-programme  falls into the following  five main fields  : 
(i) iron ore reduction 
Two of the  main concerns are improving the operation of the  blast 
furnace - so as to  enhance  productivity  as well as to  improve  raw 
material  utilisation  - and reducing  energy  costs. Since  energy  costs 
represent  about one third of the  total costs of  iron production, the 
scope to achieve important  economic  benefits is considerable. 
(ii) steelmaking 
A major part of the  effort  in steelmaking deals with the continuous 
casting  process,  where the main objectives are to  improve  the surface 
and internal  quality  of cast products and to  advance  the control  and 
operating  performance  of casting  machines.  Considerable  energy  savings 
can be gained due to the reduced  number  of processing steps involved. 
Projects  are also being undertaken  aimed  at reducing operating costs in 
electric  arc steelmaking, developing  enhanced  refractory  materials and 
longer-term  fundamental  studies of the thermochemical properties of 
steelmaking materials. 

- 28 -
(iii) rolling  and mechanical working 
The research  on rolling  mills ranges  from the development  of energy 
saving measures  in ingot reheating furnaces  to studies  on reducing  mill 
maintenance  costs by prolonging  roll  life. In hot  rolling  , the 
research  reflects  the interest  in optimising  steel properties  by 
controlled  deformation  and cooling techniques, while  improvements  in 
shape control  remain a focal point of the  effort in the  cold field. 
(iv) measurements  and analysis 
A major part of the  research  on measurements  and analysis deals 
with quality  assessment  and inspection,  particularly  at elevated 
temperatures. Also,  the demand for  higher standards with regard  to 
dimensional accuracy  and surface  quality  of rolled  products  calls for 
the development  of more  advanced  monitoring  and control  methods.  In 
chemical  analysis,  research  is undertaken  to improve  the accuracy  and 
speed of analytical  techniques  for use in  process  control  at various 
stages of iron and steel production. 
(v) properties  and service  performance 
In the field of properties  and service  performance  of steel, which 
represents  one third of the  total programme,  there is a continuing  need 
for a better  scientific  understanding  of weldability,  corrosion  and 
protection  methods,  fracture  properties,  formability  and high 
temperature properties. 
In parallel,  more specific  development  work includes  investigations 
on steels for offshore structures  and gas  transmission  pipelines,  for 
electricity  generation  and for  automobile  applications.  The overall  aim 
is to protect  and to  strengthen  existing  as well as open up new  markets 
for steel with emphasis  on the  production  of more  sophisticated higher 
value added products. 

- 29 -
Pilot Projects for the Steel Industry 
In addition to technological research  activities  there is a  growing 
parallel  need to establish the  feasibility  of innovative technologies 
through  pilot and/or  demonstration  projects up to the operational stage. 
The need is particularly  acute  in the iron and steel industry  because 
the potential to innovate has  been seriously  weakened  by a deteriorating 
financial  situation.  Numerous  valuable new  processes  and technologies 
have, over the years,  been developed  in the European  steel industry but 
have remained  unexploited. This has  been due, in large  measure,  to the 
high cost of  industrial  development,  heavy capital  investment,  local of 
appropriate funding and technical  risk. 
Under this sub-programme,  therefore, the  Commission  may grant 
financial  support  for pilot and demonstration  projects in the iron and 
steel industry that  will permit  the transition  to industrial  and 
commercial  exploitation of production techniques,  processes  and plant 
and products  that are innovatory in  themselves  or in their applications, 
and for  which major  capital  expenditure  is required to establish 
technical  and/or  commercial  feasibility.  The projects  must offer 
prospects of  economic  viability  demonstrated  by previous studies and 
research. 
The pilot stage is characterised by the construction, operation and 
development  of an  installation  having  an adequate  capacity and using 
suitably  large components  with a  view to verifying the  practicability  of 
theoretical  or laboratory  concepts  and/or  increasing the  reliability  of 
the technical and  economic  date needed  to progress  to the  demonstration 
stage, and in certain  cases to the  industrial  and/or  commercial  stage. 
The demonstration  stage is characterised by the construction  and/or 
operation of an industrial-scale  installation  which  should make it 
possible to bring together all the technical and  economic  data, in 
order to  proceed  at the least possible  risk to the  commercial 
and/or industrial  exploitation of the  technology. 

- 30 -
Any firm,  research  institute  or other  body having an  activity 
related to iron and steel established  in the  territory  of the  Member 
States, may submit  applications  to the  Commission  for financial  aid 
under this sub-programme.  All  projects  must  relate  to the 
implementation of new techniques or technologies with the  following 
objective(s)  : reduction in production and operating  costs, improvement 
in plant  productivity,  higher product  quality,  reduction in the  capital 
cost of plant,  development  of new processes or production  facilities, 
improvement  of product performance or increase in the range of product 
applications. 
They must also satisfy  the following  conditions  : 
they must  relate  to pilot  industrial  installations  or 
demonstration  installations, 
they must exploit  techniques or processes which are innovatory 
in themselves or in  their application, 
they must hold out reasonable prospects of  technical  and 
economic  reliability,  judging from  earlier  research  results, 
they must of value to the  Community. 
The projects  may in  particular  relate  to the  following  fields  : 
Sintering  and pelletizing 
Use of coke and its products in the  steel industry 
Blast furnace and  direct  reduction 
Oxygen and electric  steelmaking 
Casting and solidification 
Working  of steel (furnaces, hot and  cold rolling) 
Treatment  of semi-finished and  finished  products and 
by-products 
Use and promotion of  steel. 

- 31 -
THE SUB-PROGRAMMES  OF THE RESEARCH  ACTION  PROGRAMME 
ON INDUSTRIAL  TECHNOLOGIES 
PROGRAMME DURATION BUDGET (MioECU) 
Community  Bureau of Reference  (CSA) 1983-1987 25.0 
Nuclear Measurements (JRC)  1984-1987 63.9 
High Temperature  Materials  (JRC)  1984-1987 28.4 
COST  501 1982. 
COST  502, 503, 504, 505 1983. 
Textiles (CSA)  1981-1984 3.9 
Steel research (ECSC) Annual budget  appropriations 
Pilot Projects  for the  Steel 
Industry (ECSC)  1983-1987 50.0 
Basic Technological  Research  (CSA) 1984-1987 135.0 
Application  of new  Technologies(CSA)  1984-1987 35.0 
(CSA) 
(ECSC) 
(JRC) - cost-shared action 
European  Coal and Steel Community 
- Joint  Research Centre 

- 32 -
ANNEX II 
BASIC TECHNOLOGICAL  RESEARCH  - PROGRAMME  PROPOSAL 
I. Introduction 
1. Basic Technological Research (BTR) is the area of research  aimed at 
advancing the state of the art of those basic technologies  which 
industry  can utilise  to develop the competitive products and processes 
of the future. Situated  between  long-term  fundamental  research and 
short-term  technical  R&D, BTR is  essentially  long-term  technical 
research taking place at the pre-competitive stage, i.e. the  advanced 
technologies  emanating  from BTR must undergo  further  industrial  R&D 
before they can be  successfully  embodied  in marketable products or 
processes. BTR is important  especially  because  its results  can give 
rise to applications in a  number  of industrial  sectors, thereby serving 
to boost the  competitivity  of industry in general. It  falls entirely 
within the Framework  Programme  option concerning the promotion of 
industrial  competitiveness. It concerns areas such as  reliability, 
wear, deterioration,  laser technology,  polymers  and other new materials, 
surface science and technology,  membrane  science and technology, new 
testing methods,  joining  techniques,  CAD/CAM  and catalysis. 
2. Although BTR can provide the technologies necessary for ensuring 
industrial  competitivity  over the next several  decades,  BTR is 
relatively  neglected in  Europe's  major centres of research. On the one 
hand, fundamental  research,  which has remained  of a high standard, has 
been and continues to be the  central  emphasis  of research in the 
universities,  while BTR is frequently considered too technological or 
too applied for  many universities.  On the other  hand,  industrial  firms 
have tended to concentrate  their R&D activities  on work likely  to lead 
to commercially  profitable  products within a very few years,  this 
resulting  in large part  from the constant pressure of cash flow  problems 
and the ever-increasing competition for  markets. 

- 33 -
3. In addition, it has as yet  proved  particularly  difficult  in Europe 
to bring together the research  abilities  of the  university  and industry. 
Although some progress has  been made in this direction,  it has not  moved 
far enough  or fast enough  and it is  uncommon  indeed for cooperation to 
evolve between  an academic  institution  in one Member  State and industry 
in another. The  result  is that  significant  research  results  are not 
being generated or adequately transferred for  practical  exploitation  by 
industry  in the Community. 
4. It  must also be pointed out that the very nature of BTR places  this 
type of research  beyond  the capacity of  many individual  research centres 
and certainly  outside the  means of small and  medium-sized  enterprises. 
For example,  BTR often requires  knowledge  emanating  from two or  more 
scientific  disciplines  and generally also technical  abilities  deriving 
from more than one  industrial  sector.  Thus the research  efforts  which do 
exist in this field tend to be of  sub-critical  size, i.e. they do not 
integrate  on sufficient  scale the various  competences  necessary to 
produce  results  which can be of  practical  benefit to industry. 
5. The US and  Japan  have for a  number  of years recognized its 
importance  in providing part of the technological  base for the next 
generation of products,  have increased the  funds available  from central 
government  sources and concentrated high  quality  research  efforts  in 
this field.  US Federal support to  industrial  R&D of  this type is now 
running at several  hundred  million  dollars  per annum,  and similar 
support from MITI in Japan is now about 50-100  million  dollars  per annum 
and continues to  grow. The research  efforts  in these countries are also 
usually  well co-ordinated. In  Japan,  for example,  much of this is taking 
place within a  programme  entitled  "Research  and Development  Project of 
Basic Technology  for the Future Industries". 
6. Thus,  despite its  importance  for European  industrial  competitive­
ness, BTR is not only lacking primary  emphasis  in the  existing  centres 
of Community  research but also faces considerable obstacles  posed by 
lack of adequate  cooperative  efforts. 

- 34 -
7. In order to create a BTR  programme  which  will meet the real needs 
of Community  industry, the  Commission  has undertaken  studies, discussion 
with the Advisory  Committee  on Industrial  Research  and Development 
(CORDI)  and informal contact with trade organisations and individual 
experts and  businesses  (large firms and also  some small and  medium-sized 
enterprises  (SMEs)).  These  numerous  inputs have provided considerable 
guidance  as to the  priorities  which  a Community  BTR programme  should 
assume. 
II. The role of the  Community 
8. The  programme  as proposed  should  have a catalytic  or stimulus 
effect on the research  process  and on the competitivity of  Community 
industry so that research of  this type may become  self-sustaining. The 
co-ordinating effect of actions  under the programme  should ensure  that 
more effective use is  made of the resources available,  through  the 
reduction of overlapping efforts and the bringing-together for  more 
effective  further  development  of complementary  but currently  separated 
efforts. 
9. The research  must be oriented to provide benefits to the industries 
in the Community  which are inherently  sound  but are in  danger  due to 
competition  from outside the  Community,  and whose  future depends  on a 
number of factors including the  injection  of new  technology  which can 
help to improve  their competitivity. 
10. The  programme  is not  aimed  at simply subsidising research in 
European  industry, but the  primary  emphasis  will be to  address  the 
factors  of a European  dimension  that have led to the current  situation. 
Thus, the programme  is intended to stimulate pre-competitive research 
not undertaken  by industry  itself  with the aim of : 
- improving  the co-ordination of  work carried out  independently  at 
present  in several  Member  States by industry and other 
organisations; 
- helping cross-frontier collaboration  between  different industry 
sectors and  between  industry and university. 
Particular  attention  will be given to the  involvement  of SMEs (see V). 

-SS­
11. The sums proposed  for the  various  fields in this programme  reflect 
the abovementioned  principles.  They are  each relatively  small and are 
regarded as the minimum  necessary  to reach the research targets. 
Relation  to national  programmes 
12. Discussions with industry, with  academic  experts  and national 
officials  have shown  that activities  exist concerning  a number of the 
BTR fields and in  several  Community  countries.  For example,  programmes 
in the fields of corrosion  and membrane  technology  are under way in 
Germany, and a programme on  polymers  is in  preparation there.  In the 
United Kingdom,  there are a number of  activities  (all on a fairly 
small scale)  in each of the  fields  covered  in this programme  supported 
by the Science  and Engineering  Research  Council,  as well as some sup­
ported by the U.K.  Department  of Industry.  In the  Netherlands,  work is 
planned in the  field of polymers  and composites.  In France, extensive 
programmes are  planned  in the  field of materials  and certain  manufac­
turing techniques.  In preparing  the BTR programme, it has been  sought 
so far as  possible  to avoid areas  already covered  by such national 
programmes.  However,  full information  on industrial  research projects 
supported  is not  always  available. 
13. With regard to the  above, the approach  will be as follows  : 
subjects  which  clearly  do form part of national  programmes are 
avoided except  where (as in the  cases of certain countries)  the 
national  authorities  have indicated that they  are prepared  to 
integrate  their national  programmes  within the Community programme 
and/or to adjust  their programmes to complement the BTR work; 
expressions  of interest  concerning  the BTR  research projects  will 
provide a basis for a further narrowing  of the  areas to be covered 
by the programme,  thus avoiding overlapping; 
in evaluating research proposals, experts  employed  in the 
evaluation  and the Management and  Co-ordination Consultative 
Committee  (CGC) (see para. 15) will be asked to indicate  where 
proposals  appear  to duplicate national  work; 
- where as a  result  of these processes  evidence  accumulates  of 
overlapping national  activities  in any  area of the programme, 
concerted actions  will be developed  if necessary with  a higher 
financial  participation  than normally  for concerted actions. 

- 36 -
III. Management  of the programme 
A. Nature of Community  actions 
14. Projects  under  the BTR  programme  will be implemented  through 
shared-cost  contracts (including  pilot and demonstration  projects) and 
concerted actions. Projects  will vary in  size, but the solution of 
problems  of industrial  interest can be tackled only by supporting 
projects of substantial  size. This implies that the  average  project 
will need to employ  3 or 4 full-time research  workers  or their 
equivalent for  3 or 4 years with appropriate supporting  facilities.  As 
the typical  cost of similar research at  present  in Europe  is about 
100,000  ECU per  man-year,  this represents  expenditures  of from 900,000 
ECU to 1.6 MioECU  per typical  project. 
B. Management  and evaluation 
15. In the management  of the  programme,  the Management  and 
Co-ordination Consultative  Committee  (CGC) -  Industrial  Technologies 
will assist the  Commission  in examining  research proposals and in 
monitoring the  work as the programme  proceeds,  suggest  changes  to the 
programme  and in general advise the  Commission  in the management  of the 
work. However,  as this programme  is strongly industry-oriented, the 
Commission  will establish consultations with industry and,  where 
appropriate, with  academic  and research  institutions,  to ensure  their 
involvement  and the use of  their technical expertise in the  programme, 
in particular on the  management  and possible adaptations of the 
programme. 
16. The programme  will be submitted  to evaluation  procedures  in 
accordance  with the  "Community  plan of action  relating  to the evaluation 
of Community  research and  development  programmes"  (C0M(83)1).  In 
setting  up the evaluation panels,  every  effort  will be made to ensure  an 
appropriate representation of the interests of industry. 

- 37 -
C. Participants  and projects 
17. Participants  in a  project  can be  industrial  firms, research 
institutes  and universities established  in the  Community.  As a general 
rule, the prime contractor  or leader in a  project partnership  or 
consortia should  be an  industrial  firm having a major interest  in the 
anticipated  results. Special attention  will be given to an  appropriate 
involvement  of SMEs  (see V). 
18. Priority  will be given to projects  undertaken  by participants  of 
more than one Member  State. 
D. Financial  support 
19. Community  financial  support  should as a general rule  not exceed 50% 
of the total cost of the  project,  the remainder  to be  provided  by the 
industrial  firms participating  in the  project.  The amount of Community 
financial  support  will be decided  individually  for each project  in the 
light of its characteristics,  the selection  criteria  and the  amount of 
risk accepted  by the  proposers  of the  projects.  The Commission  will 
take due account  of all other  aid received  or expected  so that the 
global amount of national  or Community  support  will not, as a general 
rule, exceed  50% of the  total costs. For demonstration  projects,  a 
maximum of 50% of the  grant is repayable  in the  event of commercial 
exploitation. 
20. In  cases where work  supported  by national  funds or entirely 
privately  funded  is already  going on, the  Commission's  role may be 
limited to simply organising  the co-ordination  of the  work and the 
Community  funding confined  to covering  the cost of such co-ordination 
activities.  However,  in certain  cases where it is  clear that 
strategically  important  work requires  more than simple co-ordination, 
the Commission  could, in consultation with  the CGC,  consider  a higher 
Community  funding. 

- 38 -
E. Dissemination of information, access to and  exploitation  of results 
21. The rules for dissemination of information and access to and 
exploitation  of results  will follow the  principles  as set out in the 
document  on the Action  Programme.  However,  because  the BTR  programme 
covers a very  wide range not only of technical subjects but also  from 
near to fundamental  research to demonstration projects, the precise 
rules will need to be adjusted on a  case by case basis with the  legal 
terms and conditions incorporated in the  individual  contracts.  Another 
specific  aspect of the BTR  programme  will be that projects  will be 
interrelated,  not only within a research area  such as catalysis  but also 
between  projects of  different  areas, e.g. the  results  of work on surface 
technology could be applied to certain  problems  in the  field of wear. 
In such cases, foreground  knowledge  generated  on particular  projects 
should be  made available  under reasonable conditions to  enable  better 
and quicker  results  to be obtained  from other projects  which need such 
information. 
IV. Expressions of  interest  and tender 
22. Expressions of  interest  are now being  sought  from companies  and 
research organisations.  Those  which respond  will not be committing 
themselves  in any way but  must provide the following information : 
- Identity of the organisation and information  about  who would  be 
involved  in the research; 
- A short description of the project  proposed  together with the 
technical  objectives  which  will be sought; 
- The duration  proposed  for the  work and the  budget; 
- First  indications as to other organisations that  might collaborate; 
Where appropriate, a request to the  Commission  to circulate  the 
above information to others expressing an  interest  in similar  work 
and who might  be interested in collaborating In a project. 
23. The expressions of  interest  will be reviewed by the  Commission  in 
consultation  with the CGC. On the basis of the expressions of  interest 
received,  the Commission  will call  together  groups  of potential 
participants  with a  view to encouraging  collaborative  arrangements. 

- 39 -
24. Upon  Council approval of the BTR  programme,  the Commission  will 
issue a formal  call for proposals. It is  anticipated  that the proposals 
then received  will to a  substantial  degree  come from the groups  of 
organisations  interested  in collaborating  together and set up during the 
course of the preceding  arrangements. 
V. Small and  medium-sized  enterprises 
25. Because  much of the  work proposed  is likely  to be of  direct 
interest  or benefit to  SMEs,  they should be involved in the actual 
execution of the  programme  to the maximum  degree  possible.  Certainly 
every encouragement  will be given to  SMEs to submit  research proposals 
and to be  active  participants  in the research  effort  and/or  to make a 
financial  contribution to research of  interest  to them to be done 
elsewhere. In  selecting  research proposals, those  involving  SMEs will 
be given  special  attention for the  following  reasons : 
Some of the  industries  intended to benefit  from this programme  are 
composed  to a great extent of  SMEs; 
SMEs are frequently best at  exploiting  new technology in its  early 
phases and are often quickest at completing engineering  development 
and marketing the new products; 
- SME  managements  often have the most dynamic  characteristics  and are 
more likely  to undertake speculative  development  than many larger 
firms. 
26. Certain research areas -  wear and deterioration,  surface science 
and technology,  laser  technology,  joining  techniques,  CAD/CAM  and 
membrane  science and technology are areas in  which SMEs may potentially 
play an important  role and in these areas in  particular  special  atten­
tion will be given to  sufficient  participation  of SMEs. 
27. As set out in the  main document,  the involvement of  SMEs is often 
difficult  to realise.  The following  mechanisms  should,  between  them, 
encourage  their involvement; only experience can provide the  answer  to 
which way or ways will be the most appropriate : 

- 40 -
- Many SMEs are members of the  co-operative  or collective 
organisations  which  exist in a number of Member  States.  These 
organisations  can themselves  do research  in the  programme  on behalf 
of SMEs or can  help to identify  SMEs which might  individually 
participate; 
- Larger firms  which normally  use SMEs as  subcontractors  or which 
market their products  can bring the programme  to the  attention  of 
SMEs or  involve  them as research partners; 
- Universities  already working  on problems  of concern  to SMEs can 
bring SMEs into groups for jointly  submitting proposals; 
- Trade  associations,  chambers  of commerce,  regional  offices  of 
government  departments  concerned with  R&D and  other local bodies 
who can be  approached  through  government  or through industry 
channels can seek out small firms with  an interest  in the  research 
fields included  in the  programme. 
The expressions  of interest  will be a  major  help in the 
encouragement  of the  participation  of SMEs and the  forming of groupings. 
VI. Technical content  of the  programme 
28. The  Commission's  studies  and contacts with industry representatives 
have indicated  that there  exists  significant  agreement  on the  areas of 
basic technological research  which are important  for Community  action. 
It is also generally agreed that  developments  in these areas  are 
essential  if the industry  in the  Community  is to  regain competitiveness 
and thereby take  its proper share  of the  international  market.  The 
areas chosen are those which meet the following  criteria  : 
1) They  are not now  adequately covered  by private research, national 
programmes  or other Community programmes. 
2) The anticipated  research  results  are of  interest  to and  should give 
rise to applications  in a number of important  Community  industries. 
These are primarily  the manufacturing  industries,  which in the  past 
and for the  foreseeable future  must continue  to be a  major source 
of Community  economic  strength. 

- 41 -
3) The research  is multi-disciplinary  - the work will contribute  to a 
better understanding  of the  basic principles  and provide  for 
advanced  integrated  application  of physics, chemistry  and 
engineering.  This work will thus complement  the areas of research 
of other  Community  R&D programmes  and in  particular  the ESPRIT 
(information  technology)  and biotechnology  programmes  already 
underway. 
4) The areas are suited to co-operative projects  involving  several 
firms or research  institutions  (private,  governmental  and univer­
sity) . Such cooperation  is necessary  due to the  multi-disciplinary 
nature of the  topics but is  also desirable  in that one of the  major 
goals of the  programme  is to  stimulate  intra-Community  cooperative 
research  efforts. 
5) The  potential  industrial  applications  of the  research  are evident, 
but the research  entailed  is itself pre-competitive, i.e.  even 
after successful completion  of the  research there  will be further 
R&D work required  by industry with  its own  finance before  the 
results can be  successfully  embodied  in marketable products  or 
processes.  The work will thus serve  to stimulate  and put the 
interested  industrial  firms  in an  equally better  position 
technologically,  especially  in relation  to their US and  Japanese 
competitors,  but they will have to act on  their own to  translate 
the new technology  into competitive products. 
6) The research  can lead specifically  to technological breakthroughs 
relating  to industrial  productivity,  product  reliability,  origi­
nality of design and overall  quality,  each in itself a key to 
greater  competitiveness. 
29. Industry  has already  shown  an interest  in entering  into 
collaborative  research  efforts  concerning these areas, provided  a 
certain amount  of financial  support  can be  given. Such collaboration 
and public support  would be welcomed  in particular  because  : 
- The  work is seen as too  speculative  or the  problem common to so 
many different  products that  one firm alone cannot  back the work, 
though would  find it highly  interesting  if the  risks are to be 
shared between  several firms  and with public  institutions; 
the results  can be  important  for the  development  of a firm's 
product  line(s)  , but some or  all of the  requisite  technology  is not 
indigenous  to the  firm. 

- 42 -
30. A  brief explanation of the major aspects and the  industry  need for 
work in each of the research areas  selected  is provided in the  following 
sections.  It should  generally  be noted,  however,  that all of these 
areas and the research  topics  within  the areas  have been chosen 
following  a careful  process of  selection  and definition  of research 
priorities.  The areas are indeed  related  in a number  of ways and make up 
what is believed  to be a  manageable  whole for this BTR programme. 
1) Reliability,  Wear and Deterioration 
31. If the  reliability  of European  products is improved,  much of 
industry  in the  Community  will clearly  be at  less risk than at present 
especially  from Japanese competition.  Whether  one is speaking of a car, 
a kitchen  appliance or an  automated  continuous  factory  process,  reliabi­
lity is what today's  consumer  is most looking  for when ready to pur­
chase. The technology of  industry  in the  Community  has generally  kept 
pace with consumer  demands  such as for  lighter  and stronger  materials, 
but the technology for  also ensuring  reliability  has fallen  behind and 
become a weak point in  industry's  ability  to market  competitive pro­
ducts. Major research is therefore  needed wxth a view to improving 
overall performance on  component,  systems and  materials  reliability. 
32. To  build more reliable  products it is  esL^ntial  to first develop 
satisfactory  methods  for assessing the probable  service  life of 
machinery and  components  and predicting  the likely  time and form of 
failures.  Such  forecasting  methods  are needed  during the product 
development  phase as well as for use during  inspection  in manufacture 
and during the  service  life of finished  products. 
33. As regards  specific  means to increase product  reliability,  certain 
sub-topics  of research  must be promoted.  Because  wear, for example,  is 
a fundamental  factor  in the working,  safety  and reliability  of technical 
systems, the problems of  wear must be addressed. In  particular, 
concentrated  research is  needed  in the area of  tribology  - the science 
and technology of  interacting  surfaces in  relative  motion and of 

- 43 -
techniques  and practices related thereto.  Advances  in tribology can not 
only create  more competitive  products  (especially in  cases where wear is 
the principal  factor  which limits  the service  life),  but can also  serve 
to reduce  the major economic  losses resulting  from wear, now estimated 
to amount  to 1 to 2% of GNP in the  industrial  countries.  Although  a 
high percentage  of this loss may be  unavoidable,  the overall scale is 
such that even a savings of 10% provided by BTR  would  constitute a 
significant  advance. 
34. The  technology  of tribological  systems  is today  largely 
empirically-based. The research  will thus be aimed at the  development 
of constitutive relationships  between  material characteristics and 
service requirements.  The major  areas of concern  are those entailing 
heavily  abrasive conditions, e.g.  machining  (particularly  significant  in 
highly automated  robotic  lines where  loss of tolerance or  component 
failure  has serious  consequence),  bearings in  dirty environments, 
abrasive  wear by fluids  (pumps  and impellers) and  wear due to high 
temperatures  and in turbine applications. 
35. In the majority of  cases where there is  hydrodynamic  or boundary 
lubrication,  the current factors  limiting  development  are fatigue, 
scuffing  and seizure.  Research  will consequently  also be oriented 
towards  reducing  wear on gears,  pistons, plain bearings and  roller  and 
ball bearing  systems,  as well as in continuously variable transmission 
devices  (limiting  factor is low  friction  coefficient of  about  10%). 
30-100% improvement  will be aimed at and should provide  major potential 
advantages  especially for the  automotive  and high  speed diesel truck and 
bus industries. 
36. Fracture  mechanics  is also an  important  concept  in the 
investigation  of the  wear  and safety of mechanically stressed 
components.  It is  concerned  with the investigation, on the basis of 
existing  flaws in  components,  of the conditions  under which cracks may 
propagate  and lead to fracture. Fracture  mechanics  operates  on the 
realistic  premise  that avoidance  of all  damage  during any specified 
service  life is practically  impossible. It therefore deliberately 

- 44 -
provides for  dynamic  flaws but requires that  those flaws do not  become 
the cause of a complete  failure  of materials,  components  or structures. 
With the aid of fracture  mechanics,  it may become  possible to  make 
safety evaluations of  components  in major areas of engineering,  which 
will facilitate  optimum  material  utilization  and avoidance  of 
over-design  (especially  important  when considering the introduction of 
new materials).  Account  will be taken  of related  work at the Joint 
Research  Center  and the  work to be done in the  proposed  Community  R&D 
programme  on nuclear reactor safety. 
37. In all  fields of technology,  components  of machines,  systems  and 
plants are also subject to  cyclical  stresses  which  may take the form, 
for example,  of alternating  mechanical  or thermal  stresses.  Under  these 
conditions, material strength  data determined  under  static  loading is 
generally no longer  valid.  In other  words,  components  subject to 
cyclical  stress may  fail at stress levels well  below  their nominal 
static strength by a  mode of failure  known as fatigue. 
38. The great significance of fatigue  relative  to the service  life of 
industrial  products  can be  seen from the fact that fatigue  failure 
accounts  for 95% of all fracture  damage.  The research to be carried out 
in this area is therefore  aimed  at the  development  of measures  to 
prevent  fatigue  damage  and consequently  to increase the  realibility  and 
safety of  industrial  products. The research  will concentrate on the 
newer materials and  components  undergoing  the much higher stresses  which 
are now becoming  common  in engineering. 
39. Materials deterioration also seriously affects  product  reliability 
and lifetime,  with corrosion being one of the  most frequently  cited 
problems  which needs to be remedied  in this area. In addition to the 
fact that research may help to avoid a  significant  part of  economic 
losses resulting  from corrosion, now estimated to  amount  to between  2 
and 4% of GNP in the  industrialized  countries, research can help to 
solve the  specific  corrosion  problems  which are considered to set the 
current  limit on further  developments  in several  industrial  branches  and 
technologies. 

- 45 -
40. The  work will be arranged  in such a way that related  work currently 
going on under the ECSC  Treaty, within  the COST framework  and within the 
work of the  Joint Research  Centre can be  fully integrated.  Full account 
will also be taken of on-going  national  programmes.  The work will deal 
especially  with the development  of materials with  enhanced  corrosion 
resistance  for use in  aggressive  media,  research  on hydrogen 
embrittlement  and on  techniques  for improved  temporary  and permanent 
corrosion protection. 
41. Another  area of substantial  and growing  economic  importance  within 
this research  area is that of biocompatibility  and the  biodeterioration 
of materials. Especially considering  the growing  demand for  artificial 
replacement  parts for the human  body,  there exists  a real need to 
develop  materials  which  are both compatible  with and able to resist the 
major degenerative  effects  of the  bodily  chemical  processes.  Quite 
apart from  this there is a  need for work on the  microbiological 
deterioration  of engineering materials,  and so  this is also included  in 
the programme. 
2) Surface  Science  and Technology 
42. Research  on surface properties  has recently  become  increasingly 
important  in several  industrial  sectors  because  of the  increasing  need 
for functional technical surfaces,  the need for rational  use of 
materials  and energy  saving and the  need to improve  the service  life and 
the protection  of components  against deterioration  processes  like 
corrosion,  wear, etc. as discussed  above. 
43. For  these  reasons,  surface engineering  processes  are being 
increasingly  applied  in the  various  branches  of industry  and are 
influencing  the function, quality  and reliability  of industrial 
products.  From the point of view of the  user, properties  such as 
freedom from porosity,  low unit costs,  local  applicability,  reliable 
control of the  effects  of a treatment  on other material  and component 
properties, etc.,  are of  particular  importance. 

- 46 -
44. More  recent findings of physico-chemical research  show that there 
are promising  possibilities  for processes using  modern  aids such as high 
vacuum technology and  plasma  techniques. Of  particular  relevance is the 
local improvement  of component  properties by  means  of new surface 
engineering techniques. An  effort  also needs to be made to further 
develop known surface technologies with a  view to bringing the research 
to industrial  maturity. An important aspect in  this regard is 
engineering research with a  view to the  translation  of laboratory 
processes,  particularly  those  involving  high vacuum,  to the 
manufacturing scale and eventually to production-line processes. 
3) Laser  Technology  Applications together with other new  methods  of  
metal shaping and forming 
45. The  potential  applications of  power  lasers  in mechanical 
manufacturing are  numerous  and far  from being  fully  explored or 
exploited  in Europe.  Impeding  exploitation  in Europe  is simply a lack 
as yet of  sufficient  research and  consequent  knowledge  of the basic 
phenomena  concerned,  this resulting  in large part  from the fact that 
what research  exists  is scattered, uncoordinated in  most cases 
sub-criticial.  In contrast,  MITI in Japan  already has a 7 year 
programme  under  way in the  framework  of a project for  flexible 
manufacturing  systems.  That programme  has a budget  of about 50 MioECU 
and involves the  collaboration  of some 20 enterprises. In the U.S., 
Batelle-Columbus has recently  built a major research  facility  to help 
industry  apply laser technology. 
46. Given the projected annual  growth  rate of  many laser technology 
applications  (30% in the case of  "laser  blacksmithing" on the  assembly 
line) and the  wide range  of sectors  which  may benefit  from this 
technology (e.g. the  motor  vehicle,  mechanical engineering,  aircraft, 
medical equipment  and electronics  industries),  it is  crucial  that Europe 
exert itself  in this field. 

- 47 -
47. Power  lasers are already in use to  some degree  for cutting, 
drilling,  welding  and surface  treatment.  The advantages  of laser 
technology  is that it can  without  great difficulties  be integrated into 
existing  production  lines.  In machining,  the method  is advantageous  in 
small series.  Laser  technology  is also well  adapted  to modify  locally 
the surface properties of  components. 
48. The R&D  work in the  programme  will be aimed  at gaining a better 
understanding  and control of the interaction of laser  beams with metals 
and non-metals,  this in order to attain a better and  more economic  use 
particularly  from the engineering standpoint. Especially the  working  of 
copper and aluminium  materials  will be a major subject in  this respect. 
Work to establish the  viability  of laser processing in industry  will 
also be promoted;  attention  will certainly be paid to the safety of  work 
procedures  for the production  line use of lasers. 
49. Not  directly  concerned  with laser applications but of similar 
economic  importance  and having  similar  wide-ranging  applications are a 
number of emerging  technologies for  metal forming. Of  major interest is 
powder metallurgy for  near net shape manufacture  of components  from a 
variety  of materials.  Advances  in this technology  can give  rise to 
considerable savings in  energy  and raw materials, as well as to 
significantly  improved  mechanical  and other technological properties of 
component  materials as a  consequence  of the homogeneous  grain structures 
obtained  from this technology. 
50. In  this area, work  will be oriented  towards  powder  production, 
compaction  and sintering,  where particular attention  will be paid to 
refractory  metals.  For the production of  components  for future gas 
turbines,  developments  are needed  concerning  hot isostatic  compacting,  a 
technology  well advanced  in the US and  Japan.  The lack of  fundamental 
, knowledge  in the  Community  is already leading to  difficulties  in, for 
example,  the welding  of turbine  components.  The same situation could 
arise in the  field of hot  isostatic  pressing, a  technique  that will be 
used for the production of materials for the future  ceramic  gas 
turbines.  Unnecessary  duplication of  work being carried out in the  COST 
503 programme  will be avoided. 

- 48 -
4) Joining  Techniques 
51. Most  of today's manufactured  goods  consist  of various  different 
materials  joined  together using techniques of ancient  origin  or modern 
variations  thereof.  However,  with the advent of new manufacturing 
methods  involving  robots, automation and continuous processes, the 
existing  joining  techniques  need major modification.  Moreover,  there is 
a growing  need for increased  reliability  of joined  parts as  well as for 
more rational  use of  joining  materials for energy saving. The research 
necessary to  meet these needs is thus extensive,  though  the potential 
benefits  will be important to a  wide range of  industries. 
52. The  principal  joining  techniques today are welding,  joining  by the 
use of adhesives and combinations of the two. But  problems  arise in 
particular  where materials of  dissimilar  nature  have to be joined,  e.g. 
ferrous and non-ferrous metals, metals with polymers and composite 
materials,  metals to ceramics, etc. With the  increasing  use of 
materials  difficult  to weld by  fusion  techniques, the  development  of 
solid phase  welding techniques  (diffusion  bonding,  friction  welding) 
will be important in the  coming  years. 
53. Another area needing  more R&D effort  concerns the  further 
development  of low cost  automated  welding techniques  making  use of 
microprocessors,  which should  lead both to higher  productivity  and to a 
constant  higher product  quality.  This research includes the  development 
of sensors and adaptive  control  systems. In Japan  much attention  is 
being paid to these developments. 
54. Electron  beam welding was an  original  European  development  in the 
late 1950's,  but Japan is  taking the lead in applications  including  for 
steam turbine  components,  pressure  vessel main and circumferential  seams 
and nuclear reactor  components.  Successful  exploitation  of high  power 
electron  beam welding  will result  in significant  economic  advantages, 
due to the  facts that the weld is completed in a  single  pass (in  steel 
thicknesses  up to 250 mm)  compared  with multipass arc welding (in  steel 
thicknesses  up to 6 mm in a  single  pass), no  filler  materials are used, 
workpiece  distortion  is low and energy requirements are minimised. 

- 49 -
55. Adhesive  bonding  is a technique already in routine use in the 
aeronautics industry, but its  application  in high  speed production  lines 
(e.g. motor car industry) requires the  solution  of fundamental  problems 
in production technology  (joint  behaviour,  testing  of joints,  condition 
of surfaces to be joined). 
5) New Testing  Methods  including non-destructive  testing,  on-line  
testing  and computer-assisted  testing 
56. Improved  Community  product  reliability,  quality  and service  life 
can be greatly  enhanced  though  the abovementioned  research  relating  to 
product wear and deterioration,  but for these aspects to  become  a 
constant and recognized feature of our products there  must be 
significant  advances  made relating  to product  testing  technologies. 
57. The aim of non-destructive  testing  is comparable  to that of medical 
diagnosis,  that is to say that if defects in products can be detected at 
an early stage, possible  dangers  of failures  at a later stage can be 
prevented. 
58. Of  major concern is developing the  means to verify  product  quality 
through complete  automatic  testing  of components  particularly  during the 
production and  sub-assembly  stages of the manufacturing process. 
Spot-checks  of component  quality  is no longer  sufficient,  nor is 
component  quality  assured by the  fact that the  completed,  assembled 
product operates. But  improved  quality  testing  requires the integration 
of new methods  (e.g. improved  non-destructive testing) and  means  of 
application  (e.g. the computerisation of these processes  into a fully 
integrated  testing  and correction  system  within the production  line), 
which overall  necessitates considerable new research  efforts. 
59. The various topics  chosen  for research in  this area are  directly 
linked to topics covered in the areas of  reliability  (wear  and 
deterioration),  polymers  and composites,  laser  technology, surface 
science and  joining  techniques. 

- 50 -
60. Function-related  test methods  for material  deterioration  processes 
must be further developed  in view of the  ever-increasing  quality 
requirements.  Emphasis  will be placed  on hydrogen  induced 
embrittlement,  fracture  mechanics,  fretting  and fretting  fatigue with 
reference  to functional  conditions  in service  life, measurement  and 
testing of tribological  damage and testing  methods  for biodeterioration. 
61. Non-destructive  testing  methods  (acoustic emission  analysis, 
ultrasonic-spectroscopy,  Eddy-current examination, etc.)  must be further 
developed  particularly  in view of concurrent  or sequential  application 
in large-scale  computer  integrated  manufacture,  i.e. development  of 
computer  aided on-line  testing.  Non-destructive  testing  for buildings, 
bridges and other structures  will also be included. This  work will be 
closely co-ordinated with  certain  work under the ESPRIT programme  in the 
field of Computer  Integrated Manufacture. 
62. An  essential  criterion  in the  evaluation  of the  quality  and 
reliability  of industrial  products  is their service  life. Knowledge  of 
stresses  under operating conditions  are a  critical  requirement for  the 
rational use of  materials  and the  optimization  of components  and 
structures,  needed  if competitiveness  is to be  maintained  and 
"overdesign" avoided. Research  must be done on sensors  and stress 
monitoring devices  and testing  methods  for materials  and components 
under service stresses  or their simulation. 
6) CAD/CAM and  Mathematical  Models 
63. Computer-aided  design (CAD) is an  important  tool both to improve 
product  quality  and to  save materials  by better design  and use. 
Further,  as the  transition  quickness  from labour intensive  to highly 
automated  and robotized production processes, products  need to be 
redesigned  to incorporate features  to enable the best use to be made of 
the new production processes.  Computer-aided  design can be an  important 
help in this regard too. 

- 51 -
64. Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is  itself an essential  part of 
the move towards the  more automated  production  line. It allows a  better 
control of the production process and should give  rise to products of 
higher and more consistent  quality  and reliability. 
65. CAD and CAM  have been the subject of a great deal of  work 
throughout the  Member  States of the  Community  but there has  been so much 
R&D in the US and Japan supported by governmental agencies that  Europe 
is now in general  well behind the best world  practice. 
66. It should be pointed out  that,  within  the framework  of the BTR 
programme,  the goal of research on these  topics  is not to  advance 
CAD/CAM  technology in  itself but rather to modify  CAD/CAM  techniques to 
make them suitable  for relatively  simple production processes in the 
manufacturing  industries  (e.g. machine  tool, shipbuilding,  polymer  and 
drop forging  industries)  and especially  in SMEs. The more advanced 
applications  of CAD/CAM  technology are included  within the framework  of 
the ESPRIT  and microelectronics  programmes. 
67. In order that CAD and CAM can be  effectively  utilised  in the modern 
production  processes, a greater understanding of the various  facets  of 
these production processes is  needed  - and can be supplied through the 
development  of mathematical modelling.  Work  in this area will be 
directed  towards  creating  models  for a wide range of  industries  and for 
small as well as large production  plants.  A major objective  is to bring 
the application  of CAD and CAM and mathematical modelling  within  the 
financial  reach of  SMEs. 
7) Polymers, Composites and other new materials 
68. Polymers are  becoming  increasingly  important  because  they can 
replace  scarce materials and  because  their range of important mechanical 
properties  (e.g.  lightness,  corrosion  resistance,  ease of shaping) can 
give rise to numerous  engineering  applications. 

- 52 -
69. While  the Commission  has been strongly advised that the future of 
Community  industry  will depend  significantly  on its  ability  to produce 
polymers  having  improved  special technological properties (e.g.  improved 
strength and  stability),  that ability  is facing a dual threat. On the 
one hand,  high quality  polymers  produced  in the US and  Japan  are already 
on the market,  meaning  that a  technology  lag already exists and  must 
first be compensated.  On the  other hand,  the East European  and the 
oil-producing countries are  producing  at low prices the  polymers  of 
normal quality for  standard  applications. The disincentive to efforts 
in either direction is therefore considerable and may  best be overcome 
by Community  support. 
70. The  polymer  research in  this programme  will be aimed at 
the solution of  problems  which  inhibit  their actual use in 
products,  e.g. relating to  long-term  stability,  flame  resistance, 
mechanical  strength,  toxicity  and the  bonding  of polymers  one to 
another  or to other materials 
the anticipation of new  demands,  particularly for  medical 
applications (prosthesis,  organ  replacement,  etc), agricultural 
uses (e.g. new  techniques  for control of disease and  pests)  and 
communication  and electronic  technology  (e.g. conductive  polymers) 
the need for better productivity in the conversion of the 
materials. 
71. Composites,  which are multiphase  materials  combining  the essential 
properties and  advantages  of several  "traditional"  materials  such as 
rubber,  glass or  metals,  must also be  developed  in order to meet the 
consumer  requirements  of the future.  Composites  are always  used in the 
pursuit of a specific technological aim : to  improve  performance 
compared  with the use of  single-component  materials (e.g. relating to 
mechanical,  optical and  thermochemical  properties). It is only  through 
composite  developments  that a  number  of important  products  and 
components  may be improved  with respect to their  wear, strength,  weight 
and insulation properties. Specially tailored  made composites  are an 
answer to the  growing  demand  particularly for  lighter  and stronger 
materials. 

- 53 -
72. The  research  in the field of composites  will concern  the devel­
opment of new  composite  materials with  specific  mechanical  and physical 
properties, cost-effective production technologies  and  suitable joining 
techniques.  The  characterisation  of fundamental  physical properties 
connected  with end-use  applications  is also necessary  to build up 
knowledge  on structure/property relationships.  The  research  will be 
directed  to general  problems  of wide industrial  interest. Specialist 
applications  of composite  materials  in particular  for the  transport 
industries  are to be  included within  a further  programme  on materials 
on which it is  hoped to present proposals shortly.  Research  is also 
needed on other new materials with special  electrical,  magnetic  and 
opto-electronic properties,  in particular  for special applications  in 
electrical  engineering. 
73. Considerable foreign research  is already going  on in the  fields of 
macromolecular  chemistry,  polymers  and composite  materials.  In the US 
it is taking place  in the  framework  of a University/Industry Cooperative 
Research Centre  Programme  (UICR) of the  National Science Foundation  and 
other programmes.  In Japan, MITI is supporting  polymer  and composite 
materials  research  in the  framework  of its  "Research  and Development 
Project of Basic Technology  for the  Future Industries". 
8) Membrane  Science  and Technology  and Problems  in electrochemistry 
74. The  ability  to separate materials  from each other economically  is 
crucial and often the limiting  factor  in large-scale  industrial 
processes.  At the same  time, the increased cost  of energy and raw 
materials  has made many existing  processes  and in  particular  separation 
procedures  less  attractive,  meaning  that new processes  have to be 
adapted to the  changes  in energy and feedstock supplies  and in manu­
facturing  requirements. Separation processes  based on membranes are 
particularly  suited to these requirements. 
75. The  essence  of membrane"  science is relatively  simple,  involving  the 
physical  separation  of specific  compounds  from liquid  or gaseous 
mixtures,  but the  technology necessary  to transpose  the science  into 
practical  industrial  applications  is complex  and requires  the type of 
large-scale  and co-ordinated  work effort  that has not yet  been success­
fully created  in Europe.  Although  European  basic research over  the last 
two decades  has conceived  a number of membrane  science  and technology 

- 54 -
developments  holding the  promise  of numerous  applications in industry 
and medicine, the technological  development  and commercialisation of 
these efforts  have largely  been centred in the US and  more recently in 
Japan due to these countries'  commitment  to R&D on  this topic (10% of 
total Japanese  funds for the  MITI programme  on basic technologies for 
future industries or  about 50 MioECU  until 1990)). 
76. But the  potential  of membrane  technology is far  from fully 
developed and has as  such been mentioned  in FAST studies.  Annual  sales 
of all membrane  separation  systems,  which were almost  non-existent  some 
30 years ago, are now 500  MioECU,  and present projections are that sales 
will reach at  least 15 times  this figure.  Developments  will serve to 
partially  replace  existing  separation techniques and therefore  open up 
new opportunities for engineering firms. 
77. As  problems  exist both related  to the  availability  of adequate  and 
stable materials for the production of  membranes  and in the  field of 
industrial  applications of  membranes,  research in  this programme  will be 
directed  towards  : 
Development  of new membrane  materials, including ceramics 
Separation of  gases  into their components,  e.g. oxygen  from 
nitrogen  and natural gas,  acid components  from exhaust  gases 
- Separation by pervaporation of small  amounts  of organic  compounds 
in water,  minor amounts  of water in organic  liquids  and organic 
liquid mixtures of the aliphatic/aromatic type 
Separation processes using  liquid  membranes  (emulsion type or 
immobilised  liquid  type)  for waste water  purification  and in 
hydrometallurgy 
Separation by reverse  osmosis  and ultrafiltration  of a solute 
mixture in  water using a continuous  membrane  column,  with an 
emphasis  on the  fouling  problem. 
78. Some  of the  fundamental  processes involved in  membrane  technology 
also apply to  certain  problems  in applied electrochemistry. This is an 
essential  process in the non-ferrous metallurgy industry. Of  special 
concern is the  irreversible  phenomena  of anodic  systems  and fused  salt 
electrolysis  technology.  These  questions are accordingly included in 
the programme. 

- 55 -
9) Catalysis  and Particle  Technology 
79. Most of the research projects  proposed  for inclusion  in this BTR 
programme  should give  rise to benefits in a  number  of industries.  There 
is, however,  one particular  area of chemical engineering research  which 
the Commission  proposes  to include  even though  its main applications are 
most important to chemical  manufacture.  This concerns the  phenomenon  of 
catalysis,  or the property of substances that  facilitate  chemical 
reactions  without themselves being  consumed.  But of course  catalysis  is 
also important generally with regard to  pollution  abatement  and, for the 
industries  needing to  reduce  their polluting  emissions. 
80. Although mainly of concern to the chemical and associated 
industries,  catalysis  is such a universal  mechanism  throughout  this wide 
and economically important sector of industry that it deserves  special 
consideration  - 90% of all  industrial  chemical products are  manufactured 
via one or  more catalytic  process steps. 
81. Extensive  programmes  have been launched both in the US and in  Japan 
to strengthen  catalysis  research.  Government  funding is estimated to be 
20-25 MioECU/year  in the US and  about 5 MioECU/year  in Japan.  But the 
potential  market  is tremendous.  It has  been estimated in the US that 
the petroleum, chemical and automotive  industries  alone used US $ 1.36 
billion worth of catalysts  in 1980. The projected  growth  rate is  about 
3.5% per year. 
82. In line with the  FAST recommendations,  the major goal of  Community 
research in  this area  will be to develop new  catalysts  of high 
specificity  for the production of  fine chemicals. 
83. The important  advantages  of the new  catalysts  will be : 
better use of raw materials (feedstock) as  less material is  used 
for the production of undesired by-products 
separation  of the by-products  will be less costly  because  less 
time, capital  (separation units) and  energy  will be needed 
inactivation  of catalysts  by by-products can be reduced 
considerably,  leading to a longer  life of the expensive  catalysts 
and, consequently,  less consumption  of the expensive materials 
(iridium,  platinum, etc.)  which are contained in the  catalysts. 

- 56 -
84. The  specific  research in  this area will concern : 
1) The use of  zeolites  as catalysts  in non-petrochemical  applications. 
The main field of study  will be the  development  of zeolites  for 
shape-selective  catalysis.  The fundamental  knowledge  is well 
developed in  Europe  but research  into applications  needs 
stimulation. 
2) Homogeneous  catalysis  is another  field where good knowledge  exists, 
but where so far  insufficient  work has been done on applications. 
The advantage of  homogeneous  catalysis  is that higher  selectivity 
that can often be obtained. The research  will be oriented  on 
catalysts  using palladium and the non-precious metals  cobalt, 
molydenum,  vanadium  and manganese  for application  in oxidation 
reactions. 
3) The  catalytic  purification  of industrial  elluents  is another 
important  subject,  in view of abating the  acid-rain  problems. The 
research  will be oriented  to the  disposal  of S02 and NO^  gaseous 
effluents. 
85. Another important trend in  catalysis  is the  development  and 
application  of immobilized  enzymes  as industrial  catalysts,  but this 
work is not taken up in  this programme  because  it is already covered by 
the Community  R&D programme  on biotechnology. 
86. An understanding of  particle  behaviour is an  essential  element in 
much of the work in the  field of catalysis  but it not proposed to  limit 
work on particle  technology in the  programme  to the  catalytic 
aspects.  Particle  technology is of importance in  many industrial 
sectors,  e.g. the process and  equipment  supply  industries.  Relatively 
little is known of the behaviour and  transport  of particles,  which leads 
to a considerable  loss of materials  and energy. 
Relation  between  the BTR  Programme  and other  Community  R&D Programmes 
87. General research  topics  dealt  with in  several  Community  R&D 
programmes,  existing  and proposed, are  also covered in the BTR 
programme.  However,  the varying  specific  research  objectives  of the BTR 
and these other  programmes  properly allow for these  topics  to be 
commonly  treated  and good internal  co-ordination  should ensure both  that 

- 57 -
useless duplication of  efforts  is avoided and that the  specific  work 
done on these topics in the  different  programmes  will so far as possible 
be complementary.  Such co-ordination is already  working  well, as can be 
seen, for example,  in the  case of current ceramics research.  Ceramics 
are treated in the raw materials, the  energy  saving and the JRC Petten 
programmes,  but always  with complementary  research objectives. 
88. The following  paragraphs  set out the  links between  the BTR pro­
gramme and the other  Community  R&D programmes  where duplication of 
efforts  could potentially  arise. 
Stimulation 
89. The Stimulation  programme  will aim at  promoting,  in various 
promising  disciplines,  fairly fundamental  research  which is far ahead of 
industrial  applications.  Work related to that in the BTR  programme 
could be in the  fields  of catalysis,  membranes,  adhesives and  polymers, 
but the Stimulation  work will address  only the  fundamental  aspects of 
these topics and  will not be  carried  out having  specific  industrial 
applications  in mind. The latter  orientation is of course central to 
the BTR programme. 
Biotechnology 
90. Both the biotechnology and BTR  programmes  include  work on 
catalysis,  but duplication of  efforts  could  arise  relating  only to 
enzymatic  catalysis.  Knowing  that this specific  topic is included in 
the biotechnology  programme,  it will not be covered by the BTR 
programme.  It is nevertheless intended that a close  liaison  be 
maintained  between  the biotechnology  programme  and those  working  on the 
catalysis  projects in the BTR  programme  to ensure  a proper 
cross-fertilization  of ideas. 

- 58 -
Environment 
91. The  environment  programme work  relating  to clean technologies  may 
overlap to a certain extent with  one aspect of the BTR  catalysis  work, 
i.e. catalytic  purification  of industrial  effluents.  The BTR work in 
this field will  therefore  be developed  in close collaboration with  the 
environment  programme in  order to gain mutually  advantageous  research 
results. 
- Energy  saving, Steel  and_Nuclear  reactor safety 
92. Research  topics  covered  in the BTR programme may  overlap  to a 
certain  extent with topics dealt with  in the  Energy  saving, Steel  and 
the Nuclear reactor safety  R&D programmes, but in  each of these latter 
programmes the  research objectives  are specifically  related  to the 
overall  objective  of the  particular  programmes,  i.e. limited  to solving 
specific  practical  problems  relating  to new and  alternative  energy 
sources,  steel production  and nuclear reactor construction respectively. 
The BTR work is  broadly  aimed at expanding  the basic knowledge on  these 
topics for potential  wide industrial  application. 
Raw_materials 
93. The  substitution  subprogramme in the  present  raw materials 
programme  could involve overlap with  BTR work in the  areas of 
substitution  of materials  used in surface  treatment  and coatings  (wear 
resistant  and corrosion resistant coatings)  and, to a  lesser extent,  in 
substitution  in cutting  and machining  tools. 
94. However, the aim of work in  these areas in the raw  materials 
programme  concerns  the use of  different  raw materials  which are less 
costly and if  possible  more readily available, while  in the BTR 
programme the  major aim is  generally  the improvement of  properties  and 
techniques  in this field. 

- 59 -
Esprit 
95. Although  both in the  Esprit programme  and in the BTR  programme  work 
will be done on CAD/CAM,  there will be no  overlap as the BTR  work will 
be exclusively limited  to the  application  of the CAD/CAM  concepts  to 
more simple applications  in the  conventional industries. 
COST 
96. There  are several COST activities  which deal with  items of the BTR 
programme,  namely  corrosion  in the  construction industry  (COST 502), 
powder metallurgy  (COST 503) and  materials  for steam turbines  (COST 
505). Co-ordination  will be ensured  within  the framework  of the 
Research  Action Programme. 
Joint Research_Centre 
97. The  Joint Research  Centre  activities  in the  fields of materials 
science (in particular high  temperature  materials)  and in  materials 
testing can contribute considerably  to the  success of the BTR  programme. 
98. In  general,  although  there is an  overlap  between  the different 
Community  R&D programmes,  the research objectives  of the  various 
programmes  are quite different;  the BTR  objectives being generally  wider 
and more industry-oriented  than those of most of the  other programmes. 
A careful  exchange  of information should avoid  unnecessary  duplication 
of work or, what would be worse, the refusal of a good proposal  under 
any of the  possible  programmes  on the  assumption  that it will be 
accepted  under another.  Experience  has shown that such co-ordination  is 
possible and the  introduction  of the  Action Programme  concept  will 
further improve  the situation  in this respect. 

- 60 -
VII. Funding  of the programme and  staffing  needs 
99. The  funding estimated  to be needed for the  various sub-areas  is the 
minimum  considered necessary  to raise the level of research throughout 
the Community to the  point where it is above  sub-critical  and 
consequently  will make a useful  and significant  impact  on the 
technologies  concerned. Part  of the  funding  (15 MioECU)  will not 
initially  be allocated  to a specific  area. The expressions  of interest 
will help provide  a clear indication  on the  priority  projects within  the 
various  sub-areas  and their costs,  and on the  consequent  most useful 
allocation  of resources. 
100. The programme  proposed  is for a  four-year period  but it is  clear 
that while certain  of the  research objectives  can be  reached within  4 
years, others  can only be reached  in a greater period.  The intention 
therefore  is that the programme  will assume the  form of a 4-year  rolling 
programme  with a review and modifications  of the programme at the end of 
each year. 
101. Contracts placed  following  the first formal  call for proposals  will 
commit approximately  half the total Community  funds estimated  to be 
required.  The remaining  half will be held in reserve  to be used as and 
when necessary  to supplement  the funding  of projects  which are showing 
particular  promise  and to  support  the contracts  to be placed  following  a 
second call for proposals  to be  issued  after a mid-term  review of the 
programme. 
102. The  projected  total cost of the programme is  estimated  at 270 
MioECU with an approximately  50% Community  contribution.  The Community 
funding proposed  for each of the  selected research areas  is as follows  : 
1) Reliability,  wear and  deterioration  20 MioECU 
2) Surface science  and technology  10 MioECU 
3) Laser technology applications together 
with other new methods of  metal shaping 
and forming  15 MioECU 

- 61 -
4) 
5) 
6) 
7) 
8) 
9) Joining  techniques 
New testing  methods,  including  non­
destructive  testing,  on-line  testing 
and computer-aided  testing 
CAD/CAM  and mathematical  models 
Polymers, composites and other new 
materials 
Membrane  science and technology 
Catalysis  and particle  technology 
Not allocated 10 MioECU 
15 MioECU 
10 MioECU 
20 MioECU 
10 MioECU 
10 MioECU 
15 MioECU 
Total 135 MioECU 
Commission  staffing  needs 
103. In considering the  staffing  needs,  it should be noted that  this is 
a new programme  which does not replace or continue an  existing  programme 
and that it  does not, therefore,  have a nucleus of  existing  permanent 
staff to build on. The  Commission  foresees a  need to engage  a minimum 
of 26 persons in order to  manage  this programme  appropriately. This 
figure is considered a  minimum  as it would provide only for the  staff 
able to cover the  scientific  disciplines  and technical  needs of the 
above-outlined  main areas of research. The contracts  will normally be 
short-term, i.e. at the  maximum  only covering the  span of the programme 
to ensure  an up-to-date  technical  knowledge  of the experts who, in 
principle,  will be expected to return to  their countries of  origin  at 
the conclusion of  their contracts. The  specific staffing  needs are as 
follows : 
A Grade  -
B Grade  -15 (two persons for  each of the  five largest  research 
areas, one person for  each of the remaining four 
areas, plus one person responsible for contract 
negotiation,  etc.) 
3 
(support  staff in normal  ratio to A grade staff) 
C Grade  -
Total 26 

- 62 -
VIII. General 
104. The objective  of this programme is  above all to  stimulate 
cooperative basic technological research  on a scale  sufficient  to impact 
European  industrial  competitiveness. This objective  must be  kept in 
mind and dominate  decision-taking  throughout  all  stages of the 
programme.  Research  proposals  of academic  interest  but which do not 
identify  potential  important  or wide-ranging  industrial  applications 
will be rejected. 
105. It must be  underlined that  the encouragement  of technological 
research  cannot  alone accomplish  the improvement  of Community  industrial 
competitivity . Technological research  is only one factor  amongst the 
many which go into creating  a competitive industry,  and BTR can  only be 
effective  if the  right industrial,  economic  and social  environment  is 
developed  at the same  time. But it is the  view of the  Commission  that 
promotion  of BTR and  especially  on a cooperative  Community  basis,  is a 
necessary condition  for Community  industrial  recovery.  Without  an 
injection  of the new  technologies  which BTR can  develop,  many Community 
industries  already facing severe  problems  particularly  from US and 
Japanese  competition  may not  survive  in the  shorter-term,  and industries 
now apparently doing well  may not  survive  in the  longer-term.  The new 
technologies  themselves  and access to them by  innovative firms, small, 
medium and  large,  may also help provide  a stimulus  to the  greater 
enterprise  and greater  profitability  which are necessary  for the  growth 
and continuing health  of Community  industry. 
106. Industry  has assisted greatly  in the  selection  of the  research 
topics, but research proposals  will be supported only  if industry 
commits  itself  by means of  significant  financial  participation,  by 
contributing  on-going  advice concerning  the management of the programme 
and by demonstrating generally  a continuing  interest  in the  success  of 
the programme. The  Commission  will look particularly  at industry's 
willingness  to carry on the work  with purely private  funds and in a 
competitive  spirit  once the pre-competitive  work of the programme has 
been completed. 

- 63 -
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
adopting a multiannual research  and development  programme of the  European 
Economic Community in the  field of basic technological research 
The Council  of the  European Communities, 
Having regard to the  Treaty  establishing  the European Economic  Community, 
and in particular  Article  235 thereof, 
Having regard to the  proposal  from the Commission, 
Having regard to the  opinion  of the  European  Parliament, 
Having regard to the  opinion  of the  Economic  and Social Committee, 
Whereas Article  2 of the  Treaty assigns  to the Community the  task inter alia 
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 basic technological research contributes  to the  attainment  of these 
objectives  and is  oriented  towards  the needs of  many industrial  branches  of 
economic importance  to the Community; 
yher°as oromotion  of European  industrial  competitiveness  is one of the i 
najor goals  of the Framework Programme; 
(5) 

- 64 -
Whereas a  grouping  of indirect  and concerted actions  in the  field of basic 
technology  would  contribute  towards  meeting  this objective; 
Whereas the  Research  Action Programme  Industrial Technologies includes  a 
number of  research  programmes of  value to European  industry  but does not 
yet include  a programme of  multisectoral, multidisciplinary basic technol­
ogical research; 
Whereas the  Treaty does not  provide  the specific  powers of  actions required 
for those ends, 
HAS DECIDED AS  FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
1) A programme of  research  and development  of the  European  Economic  Community 
in the field of basic technology  as described  in the Annex is  hereby 
adopted for a period of four years  commencing on the  date when this Decision 
is published  in the  Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities. 
2) The programme  includes  work carried  out as  contract research  and as 
concerted action. 
The work  will be carried  out by means of  shared cost contracts  to be placed 
with appropriate  industrial  organizations, research laboratories  or university 
institutes  or combinations  of them. 
The concerted actions consist  of the  co-ordination  at Community  level of 
research  activities  which are part of existing research  programmes in the 
Member States and, where  applicable,  of the Community. 
Priority  shall be given to projects carried  out by  participants  from more than on 
Member State, at least one of them  being an industrial  organization. 
Article 2 
The appropriations necessary  for the  implementation  of the programme, the 
amount of  which is estimated  to be 135  million  ECU, including expenditure 
on a staff of 26,  shall be entered  in the  budget of the  European 
Communities.  The figures  are given merely by way of  indication. 

- 65 -
Article 3 
The programme  shall be reviewed during its  second year. Such review may 
Lead, in accordance  with the appropriate procedure,  to a revision  of the 
programme  to take effect during  the third year. 
Article 4 
The Commission  shall be responsible  for the  execution  of the  programme  with 
regard to the  contract research  and shall be responsible  for the  co-ordination 
with regard  to concerted actions. 
It shall decide, in the  framework  of the  programme,  on the  detailed 
implementation, particularly concerning  the breakdown  of the  work between 
contract research  and concerted actions,  and the  launching  of concerted actions. 
Article 5 
The Commission  will be assisted  in the  tasks listed in Article 4 by the 
Management  and Consultât! ve Committee  (Industrial Technologies)  (CGC) 
created by Council Decision  ... 
Article 6 
With regard to the  concerted actions  in accordance  with a procedure  to be 
Laid down by the  Commission,  after consulting  the CGC the participating 
Member States and the  Community  shall regularly  exchange  all useful 
information concerning  the execution  of the  research covered  by such 
activities. 
The participating  Member States  shall provide  the Commission  with all 
information relevant  for co-ordination  purposes.  They shall also endeavour 
to provide  the Commission  with information  on similarresearch  planned or 
carried out by  bodies which are not  under their authority. 
Any information  shall be treated  as confidential  if so requested  by the 
Member State which provides it. 

- 66 -
ANNEX 
The programme  includes  work in the  following nine  principal  research 
areas : 
1. Reliability,  wear and deterioration 
including  in particular, 
(a) Methods  for service  life prediction  and the  assessment  of defects 
in engineering materials,  components  and assemblies. 
(b) Wear resistance  of materials  for use in  abrasive, erosive  and corro­
sive media and under other adverse conditions  and tribological  fac­
tors concerned with  the forming and machining  of materials. 
(c) Improved  bearing materials  and systems  in respect of fatigue, 
seizure and cavitation  damage. 
(d) Fracture  mechanics  in engineering materials  and components,  inclu­
ding unstable fracture, fatigue,creep  and the  effect of corrosion 
on unstable  and fatigue fracture  . 
(e) Fatigue  of engineering materials  and components  as fonctions  of 
the applied  cyclic stresses,  the composition  of the  materials 
and the treatment  and quality  of production process.  The relation­
ship of materials  characteristics  to fatigue design behaviour. 
(f) Corrosion resistance  and corrosion protection  of engineering  ma­
terials and components  in aggressive  media and other adverse con­
ditions and hydrogen-embrittlement related  to corrosion processes. 
(g) Microbiological deterioration  of engineering materials. 
(h) Biocompatibility  of materials  for use in  implants  and the  replace­
ment of  organs. 
2. Surface science  and technology 
including  in particular, 
(a) Surface treatment  and protective coating technology  to modify the 
physical and mechanical properties  of materials,  components  and 
assemblies. 
(b) Production  line utilization  of processes available  on a laboratory 
scale. 
(c) Surface properties  and phenomena at  interfaces. 

- 67 -
3. Laser technology  and its applications  and other new methods  of  
metal shaping  and forming 
including  in particular, 
(a) Development  and use of  high power lasers for materials processing, 
including  the interaction  of laser beams with materials. 
(b) Safety  and workprocedures  for the  production-line  use of lasers. 
(c) Near-net  shape manufacturing technology,  in particular  powder 
metallurgy. 
4. Joining techniques 
including  in particular, 
(a) New or  improved welding techniques, including electron beam^dif-
fusion and friction  welding. 
(b) Low-cost  automated  welding, including sensors  and adaptive control 
systems. 
(c) New or  improved adhesive  , soldering  and brazing techniques  and 
their adaptation  for use in mass  production. Joining  of new and 
dissimilar  materials. 
5. New testing  methods  including non-destructive  testing,  on-line  testing  
and computer-aided  testing 
including  in particular, 
(a) Function-related techniques  for the  measurement  and testing of 
material  deterioration processes, including corrosion,  wear, 
fracture and crack-initiating  processes,  and biologically  indu­
ced damage. 
(b) Non-destructive  testing  techniques  for the  examination, detection 
and presentation  of defects  and stresses  in materials,  components 
and assemblies. 
(c) Computer-aided  testing  techniques  and systems,  particularly  with 
a view to use in  computer-integrated manufacture. 
(d) Testing  methods  for materials,  components  and assemblies  under 
service stresses including simulation. 

- 68 -
6. CAD/CAM and  mathematical  models 
including  in particular, 
(a) CAD/CAM  techniques  for production  processes  in non-electronic 
manufacturing  industries,  in particular  low-cost  techniques 
for small and medium-sized  enterprises  (SMEs). 
(b) Mathematical  modelling  of production  processes  and phenomena 
including  modelling  related to flexible  manufacturing  systems 
suitable for  SMEs. 
7. Polymers,  composites  and other new materials 
including  in particular, 
(a) Polymers  and composites  with special  and improved  physical  and 
mechanical  properties  and stability  for wider applications  in 
engineering ymedical and agricultural applications. 
(b) Cost-effective production  and conversion  and joining  techniques 
for polymers  and composites. 
(c) Bonding  mechanismes  and interactions  at component  interfaces  of 
composites. 
(d) Materials with special  electrical,  magnetic  and opto-electronic 
properties for  use in  various engineering applications. 
N.B.: Specialist applications  of composite  materials  in 
particular  for the transport industries  are to be 
covered by a further programme  on advanced  materials. 
8. Membrane  science and technology  and problems  in electrochemistry 
including  in particular, 
(a) Application  of membranes  in continuous  separation  processes, 
in particular  the application  of reverse  osmosis,  ultrafiltra­
tion, microfiItration  and dialysis  for process  streams. 
(b) Industrial applications  of gas  separation  by membranes  including 
oxygen enrichment  of air, separation  of acid gas components  in 
exhaust gasses and natural gas, separation  in natural gas and 
industrial  process  gases. 

- 69 -
(c) Separation  of Liquid mixtures  by pervaporation  including  re­
moval of water from organic  liquids,  separation  of aromatic/ 
alifatic  liquid  mixtures  and removal of organic  components 
from water. 
(d) New membrane  materials  including  ceramic  materials,  for indus­
trial and medical  applications. 
(e) Fouling  and prevention  of fouling of membranes. 
(f) Irreversible  phenomena of  anodic systems  in electrowinning  of 
non-ferrous metals. 
(g) Fused salt electrolysis  technology  for the  non-ferrous metallurgy 
industry. 
9. Catalysis  and particle  technology 
including  in particular, 
(a) Zeolites  as catalysts  in organic chemicals  industry, including 
their production,  characterization  and shaping  arid application,  in 
shape-selective  catalysis. 
(b) Industrial  homogeneous  catalysis,  in particular  for oxidation 
reactions. 
(c) Catalytic purification  of industrial effluents, including  SC>2 
and N0x disposal. 
(d) Particle  technology  in particular,  the manufacture  of particles, 
particle  contamination  and equipment  design. 

- 70 -
ANNEX III 
APPLICATION  OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES  (CLOTHING  MANUFACTURE) 
PROGRAMME  PROPOSAL 
I. Introduction 
1. Ensuring  the competitivity  of Community  industry  depends  in great 
part on the  development  of the  basic technologies described  in 
Annex II. These technologies  will provide  an important  base upon 
which industry  can develop the new  products  and processes  for which 
the market is likely to develop during  the course of the  next decade 
and probably  beyond to the end of the  century.  But industrial  compe­
titiveness  also depends  on the  ability of individual  firms and in­
dustries  successfully  to apply new technologies deriving from other 
sectors to their specific  manufacturing,  needs in such a way that 
it can be  used effectively  also by SMES. 
2. Compared  with other  industrialized  countries,  the bringing together  of 
technologies deriving from  different  sectors  for the  benefit of a 
single sector is lagging behind  in Europe certainly  where cross-
frontier  cooperation  is concerned.  Such cooperation,  however,  is 
essential  if optimal benefit  of the  technological potential  of Europe 
is to be ensured.  Efforts  must be directed  towards  those areas  of 
Community  manufacturing industry that  have the potential  to be trans­
formed by injection  of high technology  and could then  be able to 
meet foreign competition without protective  measures. 
3. The ways and  possibilities  to stimulate such cross-sector  and cross-
frontier  cooperation  in the  pre-competitive stage  can only be assessed 
by undertaking  a test case which  will create an important  model for 
conducting  multi-disciplinary  and cross-frontier research concerning 
the application  of new technologies,  to be utilised  for 

- 71 -
the benefit  of a number of Community  manufacturing  industries,  those 
from which the relevant technologies  will be drawn (e.g. the micro­
electronics  and machinery  industries)  and those which  will use the 
technology. 
4. Clothing manufacture (throughout  this text, the word "clothing" 
should be read to include  knit wear ) has been chosen as the  test 
area for this programme  because of its economic importance, the  real 
possibility  which exists  of reversing  an overall  trend of decline in recent 
years through a major  technological  boost and because its need to 
exploit new technologies for improved  competitivity  is typical  of 
that of a number  of Community  manufacturing  industries. 
5. Clothing manufacture today provides  employment  for over  850.000 
Community  workers, and a  further  1,2 million  persons are employed 
by textile  industries  which greatly  depend  on the  clothing  industry 
for their economic  survival.  Together, these enterprises  employ 
over 8 % of the  Community  workforce in the manufacturing  industries 
and account for  some 6,4 % of added value throughout  Community 
industry  and for 6 % of  Community  exports of manufactured products. 
While clothing  manufacture is thus very important in economic 
terms, it  must be noted that since 1975 the industry's turnover in 
real terms has dropped  substantially  and its workforce has dimi­
nished by some 26 %. And unless the  means are quickly  found to 
boost competitivity  vis-a-vis  producers  especially  in the Far East, 
the decline of  Community  clothing  manufacture in recent years may 
accelerate  in the near future and the  employment  and output  directly 
and indirectly  generated  will be put at serious  risk. Only a  compe­
titive industry can  offer the guarantee of  employment. 
6. It should be noted that  clothing  manufacture R&D  programmes  are 
already underway  in competitor countries. In Japan, for example. 

- 72 -
an 80 Mio ECU,  MITI-funded  programme  is aimed at developing  fully 
automated  clothing manufacturing systems. Substantial  work is 
also going on in Sweden and in the  United States. 
7. The following paragraphs  set out the  technical  and administrative 
content of the  programme  developed  in consultation with  industrial 
and other experts. 
II. The role of the Community 
8. The programme  proposed  will have a catalytic  effect on multidisciplinary 
and cooperative research  efforts  with the intention  of applying  new 
technologies  aimed at a major breakthrough  in the  competitivity  of 
clothing  manufacture  in the  Community.  It will provide  a working model 
for cross-sector  and cross-frontier cooperation.  It falls entirely 
within the framework  programme  option concerning  the promotion  of in­
dustrial  competitiveness. 
9. The programme  is not  aimed at subsidizing research  in the  clothing'in­
dustry. Such research  is essentially  the responsibility  of the  industry.The 
programme  is intended to address the factors where Europe is lagging 
behind : cross sector  and cross-frontier cooperation.  The programme 
should ensure that  full advantage  is taken of the  technological poten­
tial of Europe and that more effective  use is made of the  resources 
available  through the reduction  of overlapping  efforts  and the 
bringing  together  for more  effective  further  development  of complemen­
tary but currently separated  efforts. 
In this particular  attention  will be given to the  involvement  of 
SMES (see V). 

- 73 -
10. Relation to national  programmes 
Activities  exist or are  under preparation in e.g. France,  Germany, 
the Nether  lands and the United  Kingdom. 
There will be no duplication of projects  which clearly  already  form 
part of  activities  in a Membei—State.  Such projects may,  however, 
be integrated within the  work of the programme  by agreement  as 
appropri ate. 
The expressions of interest and consultations with the CGC  will 
provide the basis for avoiding overlapping. 
III. Management  of the programme 
A. Nature  o£ Communvty^  act_ions_ 
11. Projects undertaken  under  this programme  will be implemented  through 
shared cost contracts. 
Because  this programme  concerns application of new technologies, the 
research  will in most cases be taken to the point of  pilot and de­
monstration projects to  demonstrate  the new technologies  under  full 
operating conditions.  These  pilot projects are considered  most im­
portant as  firstly  they will assist evaluation of the  practical 
feasibility  of the new technologies and the potential effects on other 
aspects of the production process, and secondly they  will provide 
the industry and especially its  SMES an opportunity to calculate the 
likely costs and productivity benefits of introducting the new 
technologies. 

- 74 -
Since the  programme  aims at a major breakthrough  in productivity, 
individual  projects  will normally be substantial and multidis-
ciplinary.  The individual projects  must also fit into a conceptual 
framework  as isolated  developments  may even be counterproductive if 
they merely  transfer the  problem  or create  another  one elsewhere. 
B. Mariageme£t_and  evaluation 
12. In the management  of the programme,  the Management  and Coordination 
Consultative  Committee  (CGC) -  Industrial  Technologies  will assist 
the Commission  in examining  the projects, in monitoring the  work as 
the programme  proceeds,  suggest  changes  to the programme  and in 
general advise the  Commission  in the management  of the work. However, 
as this programme  is strongly industry-orientated, the  Commission 
will establish consultation with industry and,  where appropriate, with 
academic  and research institutions to  ensure  their involvement  and 
the use of their technical expertise in the  programme,  in particular 
on the management  and possible adaptations of the  programme. 
The clothing industry and others e.g. the  machinery  and computer 
industries  will be included in  these consultations in  accordance  with 
the importance  of the programme  for their sector. 
13. The programme  will be submitted to evaluation  procedures  in accor­
dance with the  "Community  plan of action relating to the evaluation 
of Community  research and  development  programmes"  (COM (83) 1).-

- 75 -
C. Participants  and projects 
14. Participants  in a project  can be  industrial firms, research ins­
titutes and universities established  in the  Community.  As a 
general rule,  the prime contractor  or leader in a project partnership 
or consortium  ' should  be an  industrial firm having  a major 
interest  in the  anticipated results. Special attention  will be 
given to an  appropriate  involvement  of SMEs (see V). 
15. Priority  will be given to projects  undertaken  by participants  in 
more than one Member  State. Few  individual  Member  States  possess  the 
complete  range of technologies required. 
D. Financial support 
16. Community  financial support  will as a general rule  not exceed 50 % of 
the total cost  of the  project,  the remainder  to be  provided  by the 
industrial  firms participating  in the  project.  The amount of 
Community  financial support  will be decided individually  for each 
project in the  light of its character!stics,degree  of conformity with  the 
selection  criteria  and the  amount of risk accepted  by the  .proposers  of the 
projects.  The Commission  will take due account  of all other  aid 
received or expected  so that the global amount of national  or Com­
munity support  will not, as a  general rule,  exceed 50 % of the 
total costs. For demonstration  projects,  a maximum of 50 % of 
the grant  is repayable  in the  event of commercial  exploitation. 
E. Sej^tjori  criteria 
17. The selection  criteria  for individual projects  must reflect  the 
necessity  to undertake  a project  on Community  level and ensure 
that it is  aimed at stimulating  intra-Community  co-operative 
research efforts.  Next to the  general conditions  (see C and 
D) and the  technical content  of the  programme,  criteria  for se­
lection  will be the  following  : 

- 76 -
1) the research proposed  is not adequately covered  by other 
Community programmes,by  private research  or by national  programmes, 
2) the research  is multi-disciplinary  and the  work will contribute  to 
a better cross  frontier  cooperation, 
3) the potential  industrial  applications  of the  research are 
evident but the  research entailed  must itself be pre-
competitive,  i.e. even after successful completion  of the 
research there  will be further R 8 D work required  by industry 
with its own finance before  the results can be  successfully  em­
bodied in marketable products  or processes, 
4) the research should  potentially  lead to technological break­
throughs  relating  to industrial  productivity, product  reliability, 
originality  of design and overall  quality,  each in itself a 
key to greater competitiveness. 
5) projects should fit into  a conceptual  framework  as indicated 
in the technical content. 
F. 2i£s£m2/1£tJL°.n_  2.^^11^—rHal?2Pz.  ^ c^e£s_t£ £nd_ £X£loit_at^ion_ojf £esult£._ 
19. The rules for dissemination  of information  and access to and ex­
ploitation  of results  will follow  the principles  as set out in 
the document  on the  Action Programme. 
Because the clothing  programme  covers a wide range of technical 
subjects and may not in  all cases involve projects carried  out 
through to demonstration  the preci: rules  will need to be ad­
justed on a case by case basis with  the legal terms and conditions 
incorporated  in the  individual  contracts. 

- 77 -
IV. Expressions of  interest  and tender. 
19. Expressions of  interest  are now being sought from  companies  and research 
•organizations.Thosewhich respond  will not be committing themselves 
in any way but  must provide the following information : 
- identity  of the organization and information about who would be 
involved  in the research, 
- a short description of the project proposed together with the 
technical  objectives which  will be sought, 
- the duration proposed for the  work and the budget, 
- first indications as to other organizations that might collaborate, 
- where appropriate, a request to the  Commission  to circulate  the 
above information to others expressing an  interest  in similar work 
and who might be interested in collaborating in a project. 
20. The expressions of  interest  will be reviewed by the  Commission  in 
consultation  with the CGC. On the basis of the expressions of 
interest  received, the  Commission  will call  together groups of po­
tential participants with a view to encouraging collaborative 
arrangements. 
21. Upon Council approval of the  .programme,  the Commission  will issue 
a formal  call for proposals. It is anticipated that the proposals 
then received  will to a substantial degree  come from the groups of 
organizations  interested in collaborating together and set up during 
the course of the preceding arrangements. 

- 78 -
V . Small and medium-sized  enterprises 
22. Because much of the  work proposed  is likely to be of  direct interest 
or benefit  to SMES,  they will be involved  in the  actual execution 
of the programme  to the maximum  degree possible. Every  encouragement 
will be given to SMES to  submit research proposals  and to be  active 
participants  in the  research  effort and/or to make a  financial  con­
tribution  to research  of interest  to them to be done elsewhere. 
23. As set out in the  main document,  the involvement  of SMES is  often 
difficult  to realise.  The following  mechanisms  should,  between  them, 
encourage  their involvement  and only experience  can provide the 
answer as to which way or  ways will be the  most appropriate  : 
- many SMES are members of the  co-operative  or collective 
organizations  which exist in a number of Member  States ; such 
organizations  can themselves  do research  in the  programme  on behalf 
of SMES or can  help to identify  SMES which might individual 
parti cipate, 
- larger firms which normally  use SMES as  subcontractors  or which 
market their products  can bring the programme  to the  attention  of 
SMES or  involve  them as research partners, 
- universities  already working  on problems  of concern to SMES can 
bring SMES into groups for jointly  submitting proposals, 
- Trade associations,  chambers  of commerce,  regional  offices of 
government  departments  concerned with  R&D and  other local bodies 
who can be  approached  through  government  or through industry 
channels can seek out small firms with  an interest  in the  research 
fields included  in the  programme. 

- 79 -
24. The expressions  of interest  will be a major help in the  encoura­
gement of the  participation  of SMES and in  forming suitable 
groups for project implementation. 
VI. The technical content  of the  programme 
25. At the request of the  Commission,  Kurt Salmon  Associates produced 
a report on the  existing  level of technology  in the  European 
Clothing  Industry.  Among  its conclusions,  largely  supported  by 
the industry  itself, was that the industry  needs new technologies 
not only to modernize  production operations  (particularly  to move 
towards  full sequential automation)  but also to improve the mana­
gement and coordination  of production operations  (particularly  more 
extensive  use of  computers).  The report further  recommended  certain 
areas of research which  would contribute  to achieve a major break­
through in productivity. 
26. A constructive dialogue took place  between  representatives  of the 
clothing  industry (large firms,  medium sized firms  and organizations 
representing  the interests  of small firms)  and manufacturers  of 
computers,  mechanical (robotic) handling  equipment  and special 
machines for the  clothing industry, together with  academics  having 
a special interest  in the  application  of new technologies. 
27. The aim of the  above meetings  was to  define more closely  the situation 
and needs of the  Community  clothing industry,  as well as the  speci­
fic types of technologies which  might be applied to meet these needs. 
In the latter regard especially, valuable advice  was provided 

- 80 -
not only by the  range of specialists  from the different  fields 
of technology but also by several large clothing  retailers  which 
have considerable experience in advising their suppliers (often 
small and  medium-sized  firms) on the technology  needed  to improve 
the design and quality of their products. The  Commission  conse­
quently feels that the conclusions  drawn from these meetings 
reflect truly expert opinion. 
28- It became  clear from these discussions that  : 
- advanced  technology now plays only a  minor role in  Community 
clothing  production operations  - since the invention of the 
sewing machine  and the application of  power to it, no radical 
technical  developments  have occurred in this area of  manufacture, 
- suppliers of existing  machinery  think primarily of improving 
that machinery  rather than developing new types of  machinery  or 
production  methods,  e.g. sewing  machines  and particularly their 
speeds have improved,  but not much has been developed  to speed 
up intermediate processes, 
- one of the  major inefficiencies  in the production process is the 
substantial  time wasted  in manipulating fabrics at and  around 
work stations, this is  still done primarily by  human hand, 
- the existing manufacturing firms are in general small and lacking 
the financial  resources or technical expertise to  undertake  alone 
significant  modernization R&D, 
- the small size of  many of the firms requires that any new 
technologies  which may derive  from this programme  must be adap­
table to small scale production operations, 

- 81 -
- among the most successful firms at present, are those possessing 
the flexibility  to adapt their production quickly in response 
to market demand  and fashion  change. 
The Main Research Areas 
29. In order to  meet the industry  needs as elaborated during the 
Commission's  consultations, three general areas of research  have 
been selected for support  under  this programme.  These  areas, 
briefly explained  below,  relate to : 
1) Materials handling technology, 
2) Sewing  station technology, 
3) Alternative production processes and integration. 
- Materials handling 
30. Research into better  methods  of fabric  handling is probably the 
most important area of research  needed  to improve  productivity in 
Community  clothing manufacture.  Some  90 % of workers' time is 
currently  spent simply on manipulating  fabric  and garment  parts into 
and out of the sewing  machinery  and on to the next stage of 
production. 
31. Specifically,  research is  needed on how to apply mechanical  hand­
ling (especially robotics) and magnetic  and/or  optical  recognition 
technologies for the purposes of  identifying,  separating, gripping, 
orienting  and introducing into sewing  machinery  varying types 
of fabrics , as well as for advancing (and often turning inside out) 
semi-finished  parts for  subsequent  production. A  crucial  aspect 
of the research  will be learning how to  adapt the component 

- 82 -
technologies  to make  them  sensitive to the special characteris­
tics  of fabric, especially its lack of rigidity. Mechanical 
handling technology suited to sheet metals, for example, would 
have to be drastically adapted. 
- Se^ing_tec^n£logy 
32- It will  be a major objective of this programme to achieve  signi­
ficant productivity and quality improvements at the sewing 
station. The sewing machinery in most clothing factories is in 
use only for a small proportion of the  total  working  time. 
33. Research is needed in particular to develop multi-purpose sewing 
heads  and new types of lock-stitches capable of being made from 
one side only, and also methods for automatic re-spooling and 
re-threading, for fixed fabric sewing and for 3-dimensional sewing. 
34. An overall re-designing of sewing stations would be appropriate in 
many  cases,  too, in order to increase both  worker  comfort and  con­
trol  of output. Existing technology could be adapted, for example, 
to allow workers to control the operation of several machines 
simultaneously. At present, a one  worker  to one machine relationship 
is almost universal in clothing manufacture. 
~ hSl^LPB^iyi.  £ r£ducInon_p£ocess£S_and_i£t  egra  tHon_ 
35. Not well  defined as yet but generally acknowledged as an area 
of endeavour which should be opened to research proposals is 
that  concerning  potential  alternative  production  processes.  These 
may broadly concern re-organizing the whole clothing production 

- 83 -
operation or may concentrate on specific aspects, e.g. applica­
tion of new joining techniques.  Also  of interest would be research 
proposals  concerning alternative clothing design techniques and 
related pattern production. For example, technology allowing 
new designs to be fashioned on computer and directly translated 
into patterns for automated production would contribute  signi­
ficantly to achieving greater flexibility in clothing manufacture. 
36. In addition,once initial results are obtained from the above areas 
of research it  will  be important to study how the anticipated 
new materials handling and sewing technologies and/or alternative 
processes  of clothing manufacture can be integrated to create 
a more efficient factory organization overall. It should be em­
phasized  that  research efforts in this specific area  will  first 
be directed towards integrating production processes one by one, 
and only during the  latter  stage of the programme  will  thoughts 
turn towards full systems integration e.g. complete sequential 
automation. Given the very wide range of production structures, 
sizes  and special needs of firms  within  the existing European 
clothing industry, there  will  be no one universal technical or 
organization solution possible. On the other hand, a breakthrough 
in any one of the research areas or an advance in the direction of 
integrated manufacture which falls short of a completely integra­
ted system may provide immediate benefits throughout the industry 
and particularly for the many  SMEs  involved. 
37. It should be noted  that,  as regard all of the research areas, the 
Commission  expects work to emphasize application of microlectro-
nics  and computerized systems control. This is of course most im­
portant relating to production processes integration and essential 

- 84 -
concerning  new design techniques, but is relevant as  well  to the 
research  for improving materials handling and sewing stations tech­
nologies.  Overall, application of computer technology can serve 
to increase dramatically the clothing producers' speed of response 
to changing market demand, which is a key to achieving greater 
competitivity and especially important for  SMEs. 
Relation to other Community R&D programmes 
38. £spri_t_and  BTR 
Although  both in the Esprit programme and in the BTR programme 
work  will  be done on  CAD/CAM,  there  will  be no overlap as the 
clothing programme  will  be limited to the application in the 
clothing industry. 
39. Second R&D programme in the field of textiles and clothing. 
Although  the objectives of this programme are different, an 
overlap could  occur  in isolated  cases.  As both programmes 
are included  within  a single action programme, unnecessary du­
plication of work  will  be easily avoided. 
VII. Funding of the programme and staffing needs. 
40- The proposed funding of this programme must be considered as 
the minimum necessary to generate results able to make a signifi­
cant impact on the competitivity of clothing manufacture in the 
Community. 

- 85 -
41. It is proposed  that  the programme have a four-year duration, but 
it is clear  that  while certain of the research objectives may 
be reached  within  this period others can only be reached in a 
longer period. The intention therefore is  that  the programme  will 
assume  the form of a 4-year rolling programme  with  a review and 
modification of the programme at the end of each year. 
42. The projected  total  cost  of the programme is estimated at 
70 MIO ECU  with  an approximately 50 % Community contribution 
(35 Mio ECU). 
It is estimated  that  approximately 25 % of the funds  will  be 
absorbed  by each of the major programme work areas : 
- materials handling technology, 
- sewing station technology, 
- alternative  processes  and integration, 
- pi lot projects. 
But at this stage, no allocation is made. Flexibility should be 
maintained because during the course of the programme and de­
pending on the  success  of initial work, there may arise a need to 
create new projects or to channel greater funding to priority 
areas or specific projects. It is also expected  that  during the 
later stages of the programme there  will  be a need to shift 
resources  in the direction of funding of pilot projects. 

- 86 -
Commission  Staffing Needs 
43. The Commission foresees a need to engage a minimum of 7 persons 
in order to manage this programme appropriately. This figure is 
indeed  considered a minimum as it is based on the assumption  that 
certain administrative and technical support can be provided by 
the staff engaged for the BTR programme. The contracts entailed 
would be short-term, i.e. at the maximum only covering the span of 
the programme. The specific staffing needs are as foLLows : 
A Grade 4 (persons knowledgeable respectivety in robotics, 
information technoLogy, cLothing manufacture and 
materials handling) 
B Grade 1 
(support staff in normal  ratio  to A grade  staff) 
C Grade 2 
total  7 
VIII.  General 
44. The central objective of this programme is to stimulate a 
multidisciplinary and cooperative research  effort  to apply new 
technologies  for improving competitivity in European Community 
clothing  manufacture. In the  process,  however, a practical working 
model  for carrying out this type of research can be developed for 
subsequent  utilisation regarding other industries which also need 
to apply new technologies in order to boost their competitivity. 
These  dual objectives must be  kept  in mind throughout the programme 
and control all aspects of its management. 

- 87 -
45 .  The Commission is Looking for major industry support at all 
stages  of the programme, particularly in terms of financing 
and on-going advice regarding the management of the programme. 
The Community can provide certain financial support and coor­
dination, but it is industry which must carry through to  make 
the programme a  success. 

- as -
Proposal  for a 
COUNCIL  DECISION 
Adopting a multiannual research and development programme of the European 
Economic  Community in the field of the applications of new technologies 
The Council of the European Communities, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, 
and in particular Article  235  thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the  Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament  , 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee  ' 
Whereas Article  2 of the Treaty assigns to the Community the task inter alia 
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 research into the applications of new technologies contributes to the 
attainment  of these objectives; 
Whereas in order to secure the full economic advantages of the Common  Market 
it is necessary to encourage the applications of new technologies more widely 
throughout the Community; whereas it is similarly necessary to bring together 
technologies from a variety of manufacturing origins for the benefit of 
specific  industrial sectors; whereas it is necessary to encourage the applic­
ations of new technologies in a way which  will  especially benefit small and 
medium-sized enterprises; 

- 89 -
Whereas promotion of European industrial, competitiveness is one of the 
major goats of the Framework Programme; 
Whereas the Research Action Programme  Industrial  Technologies includes a 
number of research programmes of value to European industry but does not 
yet include a programme bringing together technologies from a number of 
different  origins for the benefit of specific industrial sectors; 
Whereas the clothing sector is by its nature and its current economic 
situation particularly suited for a first experimental Community R&D 
programme in the field of the applications of new technologies; 
Whereas the Treaty does not provide the specific powers of actions required 
for those ends; 
HAS DECIDED AS  FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
1) A programme of research and development of the European Economic Community 
in the field of applications of new technologies as described in the Annex 
is hereby  adopted  for a period of four yeaES commencing on the  date when 
this Decision is published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
2) The  work  is to be carried out as contract research. 
The work  will  be carried out by means of shared cost contracts to be 
placed  with  appropriate industrial organizations, research laboratories or 
university institutes or combinations  thereof. 
Priority shall be given to projects carried out by participants from more than 
one Member State, at least one of them being an industrial organization. 
Article 2 
The appropriations necessary for the implementation of the programme, the 
amount of which is estimated to be 35 million ECU, including expenditure on 
a staff of 7, shall be entered in the budget of the European Communities. 
The figures are given merely by way of indication. 

- 90 -
Article 3 
The programme  shall be reviewed during its second year. Such review may 
lead,  in accordance  with  the appropriate procedure, to a revision of the 
programme to  take  effect during the third year. 
Article  4 
The Commission shall be responsible for the execution of the programme. 
It shall decide, in the framework of the programme, on the detailed 
implementation, particularly concerning the breakdown of the  work. 
Article  5 
The Commission shall be assisted in the task listed in Article  4 by the 
Management and Consultative Committee  (Industrial  Technologies)  (CGC) 
created by Council Decision  

- 91 -
ANNEX 
COMMUNITY  PROGRAMME  IN THE  FIELD  OF THE  APPLICATIONS  OF NEW  TECHNOLOGIES 
(CLOTHING  MANUFACTURE ) 
An amount of 35  MioECU  is estimated to be required for the implementation 
of this programme which is to include  work  in the following four princi­
pal areas.  In all of these  areas,  the research and development may relate 
to any type of clothing  from  simple undergarments to complex outer fashion 
garments. All types of fabric may be considered including  both  woven ?pd 
knitted  fabrics. 
1. Materials Handling 
Problems  related to the transfer of individual pieces of fabric or garment 
parts to each  successive  sewing station in the  right  numbers and at the 
correct speed to ensure optimum production. Work may include research and 
development on : 
(a) mechanical transport systems of belts, rails, chains,  cables,  etc. 
on which the components are carried, singly or in batches ; 
(b) control systems  with  continuous feedback which monitor and adjust 
the flow  of materials along this system ; 
(c) remote controlled or pre-programmed delivery trolleys ; 
(d) collection devices which assemble together components  from  more than 
one flow  channel and present the resulting set conveniently to the 
next processing stage > 
(d) devices to assemble and re-orientate sets of parts, for example 
turning  one piece of fabric over and aligning it correctly on the 
piece  to which it is to be sewn ; 
(f) complete "pick and place" devices which carry out the essential 
operations now performed by the human operator i.e. : 

- 92 -
. identify two or more pieces or parts 
. grasp them 
. orientate  them 
. put them together 
. grasp and align the assembly 
. place the assembly correctly for sewing 
. remove the sewn component and feed to the  next  transport station 
(g) simplified "pick and place" devices restricted to one fabric, for 
example in turning and sewing the hem of a garment ; 
(h) various subsidiary elements essential or useful to the devices al­
ready mentioned : 
. sensing devices to recognise a  part 
. marking techniques to help sensing 
. gripping devices, pins, suction, magnets, etc. 
. aligning devices to put two or more fabrics together in a specific 
relationship and direction. 
(i) robots, covering the "pick and place" concept but  with  much broader 
implications in the sense of being capable of being  taught  specific 
sequence  of operations and capable of moving in  three  dimensions. 
2. Sewing Station Technology 
The work  envisaged includes research and development on : 
(a) programmable sequences of sewing, extending the existing applications ; 
(b) work  related to the automatic sewing of batches of parts including 
automatic feeding devices ; 
(c) interchangeable sewing heads and multi-purpose sewing devices ; 
(d) moveable sewing heads ; 
(e) three  dimensional sewing ; 
(f) stitch technology, new stitch techniques to enable joining from one 
side  only ; 

- 93 -
(g) sewing station organisation including : 
. the control by the operator of several machines each carrying 
out the same operation on a batch of parts,the operator selecting 
the correct programme for each machine 
. the operator controlling several machines each carrying out a 
sequence  of operations 
3. Alternative  Processes  and  Integration 
Within this broad field, the following are the principal areas of  work 
for which research and development needs exist : 
(a) production of finished patterns from the designer's drawings or  speci­
fications by the use of microprocessors to include the creation of 
all the required  pattern  variations to cover various size ranges ; 
(b) overall organisation of the manufacturing  process  particularly  where 
this involves progress towards Computer Aided Manufacture ; 
(c) research and development in areas not specifically referred to above 
notably cutting, finishing and packaging on which further development 
may be needed if progress towards full sequential automation is to 
be realised;  processes  which involve keeping the  material  on the roll 
until a  later  stage particularly involving delay in cutting ; 
(d) work  on integration of the modules into fully automated systems ; 
(e) alternative  processes  for joining i.e. other than sewing. 
4. Pilot and Demonstration Projects 
(a) full-scale operation of particular new  processes  in order to demon­
strate  economic feasibility in a typical factory working environment; 
(b) demonstration of complete systems incorporating varying degrees of 
automation and robotization .