No C 243/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 9. 89 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the framework programme of Community activities 
in the field of research and technological development (1990 to 1994) 
COM(89) 397 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 4 August 1989) 
(89/C 243/06) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 130q (1) 
thereof, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the Single European Act incorporated a Title 
VI (Articles 130f to 130q) into the EEC Treaty; whereas 
that Title constitutes the new legal basis for Community 
activities in the field of research and technological devel­
opment; whereas, in particular, Article 130f lays down 
that the Community's aim is to strengthen the scientific 
and technological basis of European industry and to 
encourage it to become more competitive at international 
level; whereas, in order to achieve this, the Community 
is encouraging companies, including small and 
medium-sized undertakings, research centres and univer­
sities in their research and technological development 
activities and is supporting them through appropriate 
actions; 
Whereas, on the basis of Article 130i, all Community 
activities in this field are set out in a multiannual 
framework programme; 
Whereas, following an initial framework programme for 
the period 1984 to 1987, a second framework 
programme for the period 1987 to 1991 was adopted by 
the Council Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC (*) and is in 
the process of being implemented; 
C) OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 of the abovementioned 
Decision, the Commission examined the state of 
implementation of the second framework programme, in 
particular through an evaluation report prepared by a 
group of independent experts; 
Whereas, in view of the rapid pace of technological 
development, new economic challenges which the 
Community must meet, the increased level of global 
competition and the need to keep in view the horizon 
beyond 1992, Community activities in the field of 
research and technological development must be inten­
sified and made more complete; whereas, in the light of 
these factors, a new framework programme should be 
adopted for the period 1990 to 1994 in association with 
the current framework programme 1987 to 1991; 
Whereas the Community's activities mut be based on the 
principle of subsidiarity, and whereas the Community's 
activities in the field of research and technological 
development must thus provide added value in relation 
to activities carried out at national level; 
Whereas the strengthening of research and technological 
development policy must constitute an element of the 
harmonious development and cohesion of the 
Community; 
Whereas it is necessary to retain the pre-competitive 
nature of Community research and technological 
development and at the same time the process of 
technological progress requires a continuum of inter­
linked activities, ranging from basic research to the 
demonstration of the applications of new technologies; 
Whereas Community research and technological devel­
opment activities should incorporate a prenormative 
dimension in order to guarantee the scientific and 
technical basis necessary to establish adequate norms and 
standards; and whereas such an approach is likely to 
facilitate the completion of the single market and to 
provide a response to the Community's increased 
23. 9. 89 Official Journal of the 
responsibilities in the fields of environment, health and 
safety, 
Whereas the Joint Research Centre is called on to 
contribute to the implementation of the framework 
programme in those fields in which an impartial and 
independent expert opinion is required for the benefit of 
all Community policies; 
Whereas the dissemination and exploitation of the results 
of research and technological development activities are 
essential elements in the process of innovation, in 
particular for small and medium-sized undertakings, and 
whereas, for this reason, a global initiative should be 
undertaken which will apply to all activities in the field 
of research and technological development; 
Whereas a new initiative should be launched to improve 
the mobility of young researchers at post-graduate level, 
relying on networks of centres of excellence throughout 
the Community; 
Whereas efforts should be focused on a limited number 
of activities and specific programmes corresponding to 
the strategic priorities laid down in the framework 
programme; 
Whereas the framework programme is implemented 
through specific programmes and whereas, furthermore, 
decisions may be taken on supplementary programmes 
within the meaning of Article 1301, participation within 
the meaning of Article 130m and cooperation with third 
countries or international organizations within the 
meaning of Article 130n; 
Whereas the Community's involvement in Eureka 
projects which fit in with activities downstream of the 
Community's research and technological development 
strategy should be increased by means of appropriate 
instruments and the interface between the framework 
programme and European cooperation activities in the 
field of scientific and technical research (COST) should 
be improved, in accordance with Articles 130m and 
130n; 
Whereas it is necessary to make an estimate of the 
Community financial means necessary for the realization 
of the research and development activities envisaged, in 
accordance with Article 130i(l) of the EEC Treaty; 
whereas this amount is entered in the financial 
perspective included in the Inter-institutional Agreement 
of 29 June 1988 (') for the years 1990 to 1992; whereas 
the item TMPs and research' of the abovementioned 
perspective allows the retention of a sum of about ECU 
2 400 million; whereas as a consequence of the annual 
technical adjustments provided for in the Agreement, the 
working assumption has been made that this amount will 
be about ECU 2 700 million; 
(') OJ No L 185, 15. 7. 1988, p. 33. European Communities No C 243/5 
Whereas it is appropriate to estimate the amount 
required for the implementation of the framework 
programme in 1993 and 1994. which, with regard to its 
realization in financial terms, shall comply with the 
budgetary discipline agreed upon for these years in a 
future agreement, taking as its basis the amount provided 
for the final year of application of the current 
Agreement; 
Whereas the funds effectively available for the execution 
of the framework programme shall be determined 
according to the budgetary procedure in line with the 
abovementioned agreements; 
Whereas it will be possible for new financial instruments 
drawing on market resources to be developed outside the 
framework programme but related to it, in order to 
facilitate exploitation of the results of research and 
technological development programmes; 
Whereas the Commission, in discharging its responsi­
bilities, undertakes to improve the efficiency of 
programme management, in particular by implementing 
an advanced monitoring system and decentralized 
procedures at the project level; 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research 
Committee (CREST) has been consulted, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
1. This framework programme for Community 
activities in the field of research and technological devel­
opment, hereinafter referred to as the 'third framework 
programme', shall cover the period 1990 to 1994. The 
provisions laid down for specific programmes adopted in 
the context of Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC 
concerning the framework programme for 1987 to 1991 
shall remain in force. 
2. The third framework programme shall provide for 
six activities grouped as follows: 
Diffusion technologies 
1. Information and communications technologies; 
2. Industrial and materials technologies. 
Management of natural resources 
3. Environment; 
4. Life sciences and technologies; 
5. Energy. 
Management of intellectual resources 
6. Human capital and mobility. 
3. Without prejudice to the amount of ECU 3 125 
million deemed necessary in respect of the framework 
No C 243/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 9. 89 
programme for 1987 to 1991 which it will be possible to 
enter in the budget from 1990 onwards, the amount of 
Community expenditure deemed necessary for the 
execution of the activities envisaged by the present 
Decision shall be ECU 7 700 million. Of this amount, 
ECU 2 700 million are estimated to be necessary for the 
execution of the activities envisaged during 1990, 1991 
and 1992 and ECU 5 000 million for the implementation 
of the activities envisaged during the years 1993 and 
1994. The budgetary authority shall determine the 
available funds for each year. 
4. The breakdown of the amount deemed necessary 
for the period 1990 to 1994 between the six activities 
referred to in paragraph 2 is set out in Annex I. 
5. The activities referred to in paragraph 2 and 
their scientific and technical objectives are described in 
Annex II. 
Article 2 
1. The third framework programme shall be 
implemented through specific programmes in accordance 
with Articles 130k and 130p of the Treaty, covering each 
of the areas referred to in Article 1 (2). 
2. For the implementation of the specific programmes, 
decisions may be taken on supplementary programmes 
within the meaning of Article 1301 of the Treaty, on 
participation within the meaning of Article 130m, and on 
cooperation within the meaning of Article 130n. 
3. The amounts deemed necessary for the implemen­
tation of each specific programme shall be the subject of two Council decisions, covering the periods 1990 to 1992 
and 1993 to 1994 respectively. 
Article 3 
The detailed rules for financial participation by the 
Communities in the third framework programme as a 
whole shall be those provided for in Title VII of the 
Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 applicable to 
the general budget of the European Communities, 
without prejudice to the charging to the budget of any 
contributions from the Communities to supplementary 
programmes or to national or multinational activities or 
projects. 
Article 4 
The financing of activities related to the dissemination 
and exploitation of the results of the specific 
programmes shall be brought about, in the context of 
coherent management, by bringing together sums 
allocated to these activities according to a percentage to 
be determined for each specific programme. 
Article 5 
During the third year of execution of the third 
framework programme the Commission shall assess its 
progress. It shall examine, in particular, whether the 
objectives, priorities, activities envisaged, and financial 
resources are still appropriate to the changing situation. 
In the light of this review, as far as is necessary, it shall 
make proposals for the revision of the framework 
programme. 
ANNEX I 
Framework programme of Community activities in the field of research and technological development 
(1990 to 1994) 
Breakdown of the amount deemed necessary: 
I. Enabling technologies 
1. Information and communications technologies 
2. Industrial and materials technologies 
II. Management of natural resources 
3. Environment 
4. Life sciences and technologies 
5. Energy 
III. Management of intellectual resources 
6. Human capital and mobility (in millions of ecus) 
3 000 
1 200 
700 
1 000 
1 100 
700 
Total 7 700 
23. 9. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 243/7 
ANNEX II 
Activities 
The third framework programme (1990 to 1994) defines new objectives for giving an innovatory push to 
Community action. The orientations defined in the 1987 to 1991 framework programme remain in force in 
the implementation of the specific programmes, where an element of continuity is required. 
The choice of scientific and technical objectives rests on the principle of Community added value. This 
principle, and the exercise of selectivity which results, are of vital importance for the efficient use of the 
limited funds at the Community's disposal. The modification of industrial attitudes towards further trans­
national initiatives; replying to the essential challenges of industrial competitiveness; implanting European 
attitudes in the training of young researchers — these are the criteria that have guided the selection of 
objectives listed in the current Annex. 
As concerns the preferred means of action, the shared-cost action remains the principal instrument. In 
those cases where coordination of existing research at the national level is the predominant aspect, 
concerted action will be used. 
The Joint Research Centre participates in the implementation of the framework programme. A new 
emphasis will be given to this participation by reinforcing research with a prenormative character in the 
area of industrial and materials technologies; by a reorientation of research on nuclear safety; by the 
reinforcement of activities linked to the environment and industrial risks; and by a new emphasis on 
technological forecasting. The financing of JRC research activities relevant to the framework programme 
will be brought about by bringing together funds available from the sums allocated to the specific 
programmes. 
The Council shall define the detailed arrangements for the dissemination of knowledge resulting from the 
specific programmes. This requires general action and a unified management within the Commission 
services to achieve coherence. In particular, this management has to provide for diffusion of results through 
publications as well as by computerized means according to common standards and protocols, the 
adaptation of industrial and intellectual property rules, innovation transfer and the exploitation of results 
within the Community. The financing of these activities is achieved by grouping funds deducted from the 
sums allocated to the specific programmes. 
In strict accordance with the guiding character given to the framework programme by the Treaty, the 
following paragraphs make reference to the strategic elements of the 1990 to 1994 framework programme. 
I. ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES 
1. Information and communications technologies 
The interaction between information and communications technologies, the increased requirements of 
users and the necessity to constitute a real nerve system for the single European area lead to a 
re-orientation of efforts along three main lines, while preserving the synergies required for subjects of 
great Community interest such as high-definition television. 
A. Information technologies 
Apart from the research produced within the Esprit Programme, re-oriented towards the new 
generation of technologies, laying more stress on prototypes and multi-supplier and distributed systems, 
new activities will receive priority in the following areas. 
— Microelectronics 
The objective is to contribute to the creation of a European manufacturing capability for advanced 
products, in particular integrated circuits in conjunction with the JESSI project. It is crucial to 
maintain the skills necessary to ensure the survival of the European electronics industry, associating 
the efforts of suppliers and users, and to enable potential new applications in the most advanced 
areas. 
No C 243/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 9. 89 
— Peripherals 
The objective is to produce new generations which are reliable, low-cost and mass produced, taking 
into consideration for complex systems the most up-to-date technologies and for developing new 
manufacturing methods. The action should favour the appearance of new in-out and storage 
arrangements. 
— Software 
Systems and tools need to be developed enabling productivity in software production to be 
increased. 
. — IT applied to industrial engineering 
The action will contribute to optimizing the use of advanced CAD/CAM systems in strategic 
industrial sectors. 
B. Communications technologies 
In parallel to the continued development of an integrated broadband network, the objective consists of 
developing intelligent, reliable and secure networks as well as new value-added and profitable services 
adapted to developing user needs. 
Priority has also to be given to the growing demand for mobile telephony services and the integration of 
these services into networks. The requirements to be taken into account concern those of private life 
and leisure as well as professional life. To meet these needs and ensure a flexible transition between 
successive generations of networks, the following actions are foreseen: 
— development of intelligent networks, using new techniques of information transfer, optical communi­
cations and artificial intelligence; 
— mobile communications: specific issues need to be resolved, such as communication security, 
saturation of available frequencies, the efficient use of airborne methods of transmission, equipment 
miniaturization and the integration of mobile telephony into universal networks; 
— image communication: building on numerical image transfer (including HDTV), research efforts are 
needed to integrate image into multimedia communications and to ensure the development of allied 
protocols and coders-decoders; 
— service engineering: work on architectures and software, realized on basic teleservices and on 
improved value-added services. 
These actions will be accompanied by others, aimed at ensuring the reliability and the security of 
communications by means of developing verification and testing technologies. Finally, it will be 
necessary to identify the characteristics and common function of certain model services by realizing real 
scale experiments in advanced communications. 
C. Development of telematic systems in areas ojgeneral interest 
The realization of the large internal market is setting new requirements in the field of information 
exchange. At the level of public administration, faced with problems determined by the abolition of 
barriers and the realization of the single market, these requirements comprise topics such as the interior, 
justice, customs, and social security. At the level of the individual user, questions of transport, health, 
distance learning, environmental protection and access to rural areas predominate. 
To meet these requirements, beyond the efforts being undertaken within regional or national contexts, 
additional Community effort is needed. This comprises the development of telematics systems combining 
information technologies, communications and audio-visual techniques. Industrialists, network users and 
suppliers throughout the Community will be encouraged to regroup around projects which meet both 
the requirements of economic development and social demand, thereby cementing a community of 
interest and spirit. 
These projects, the full development of which will take place outside the framework programme, require 
preparatory R&D work, including language research and engineering, of a collaborative nature and 
including pilot experiments which will act as a catalyst and form the building blocks for future action. 
2. Industrial and materials technologies 
The objective is to contribute to the necessary rejuvenation of European manufacturing industry by 
developing its science base and the advanced technologies required. Technological developments will be 
integrated with considerations of emerging market requirements and of more severe environmental 
constraints. Priority will be given to major integrated projects; among these, the development of the 
'clean car'. 
23. 9. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 243/9 
This strategic step leads to a shift in priorities in the areas described below accompanied by the phasing 
out of areas such as membranes and catalysis. 
— Materials 
Emphasis will be placed on materials with specific properties, exploiting recent breakthroughs in the 
understanding of microscopic structure; 
— on materials for use in extreme or unusual conditions, as well as on environmental and whole life 
cycle aspects of materials, including recovery and recycling. 
— Design 
Reducing 'design to product' lead time requires advances in the scientific and technical basis of 
design, including materials selection, systems analysis, design rules for manufacture, assembly, 
reliability and maintenance. Emphasis is placed on design-relevant enabling technologies, such as 
fluid dynamics, power systems and acoustics; process control, particularly aimed at 'zero-defects' 
products. 
— Manufacturing 
Improvement of the management of manufacturing operations: manufacturing practices must aim at 
greater efficiency, shorter implementation times, reduced 'work in progress' and unit costs, higher 
quality levels. Research includes mathematical modelling, adaptation of computer-aided design and 
manufacturing techniques, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. 
— Measurement and testing 
A new emphasis on the formulation and implementation of common norms, standards and codes of 
practice is stimulated by the completion of the internal market. This leads to new requirements for 
scientific and technological know-how to provide an objective base for normative work. 
II. MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 
3. Environment 
The purpose is to provide the scientific knowledge and technical know-how needed by the Community 
to carry out its new role relating to the environment, according to Title VII of the EEC Treaty. In this 
sector, the research activities have a common horizontal dimension of prenormative research, aimed at 
the preparation of environmental quality norms, safety and technical norms, methodologies for environ­
mental impact assessment. The new actions are concerned with the following four areas. 
— Participation in the Global Change Programme 
The objective of the programme is to understand the processes governing environmental change and 
to assess the impact of human activities. European participation will contribute to the development 
of research on the interaction between biogeochemical cycles, atmospheric chemistry, physical and 
chemical oceanography, climatic processes. 
— Technologies and engineering for the environment 
In addition to research on environmental monitoring, including remote sensing, a specific action will 
be directed at introducing techniques and engineering systems to protect and rehabilitate the 
environment. 
— Large integrated research projects 
These projects address the whole range of problems arising from major environmental issues. They 
may concern large coordinated campaigns, from observation and experimentation focusing on the 
continental or marine environment to integrated operations attacking all aspects of a regional issue. 
— Research on economic and social aspects 
This includes the scientific research to support the study of the legal and ethical aspects of environ­
mental policy and management. This deals with risk assessment, perception and management; the 
economic evaluation of environmental impacts; the socio-economic impact of the implementation of 
environmental policies; and the effectiveness and consistency of laws and regulations related to 
environmental matters. 
No C 243/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 9. 89 
4. Life Sciences and technologies 
The long-term strategic objective is to contribute, in a selective and integrated way, to the development 
of Europe's potential for understanding and using the properties and structures of living matter. 
— Basis biotechnology 
Emphasis is shifted towards strengthening the science base, through research centred on under­
standing biological information, transformation and control systems, whilst keeping in mind the 
ethical implications of such work. In particular, the research actions will include genome analysis, 
related to genomes of representative species; neurobiology and immunology; macromolecular 
modelling; nutrition; testing, also in order to provide the scientific prenormative basis for 
Community regulations. 
— Agricultural and agro-industrial research 
Research in the agricultural and forestry sectors will include projects on crop and animal 
production, taking into account the present objectives of the common agricultural policy and of 
rural development; it will contribute to major interdisciplinary programmes, such as a programme 
aimed at finding effective remedies for desertification. Research will be developed in the field of 
aquaculture and fisheries. Research, development and demonstration actions will be taken beyond 
current activities, exploiting results from plant molecular biology and physiology research, through 
soil-plant interaction, to harvesting and processing. Emphasis is placed on increasing resistance of 
plants to adverse agents by genetic means. In the field of industrial utilization of agricultural raw 
materials, the strategic priority is to obtain, through chemical and biological processing, new 
biodegradable products and to provide clean energy sources by exploiting biomass. 
— Biomedical and health research 
The main focus is on new ways of tackling socially and economically relevant diseases, through 
concerted methodological and protocol studies in epidemiological, experimental and clinical 
research. For cancer, attention is shifted towards early tracing of carcinogenic factors and the devel­
opment of new tests for anti-carcinogenic drugs. For AIDS, a new activity aimed at the development 
of control systems, including chemotherapy and vaccines will be developed. 
— Life sciences and technologies for developing countries 
Emphasis is placed on tropical agriculture (integrated management of agricultural resources for 
reducing food shortages in regions at risk whilst protecting the environment) and on tropical health 
research (efforts are concentrated on new steps to combat some major tropical diseases). 
5. Energy 
Environmental compatibility has become a key element for energy systems. Therefore the central 
issue of Community action in this field is shifted towards the development of clean and safe energy 
technologies. This is pursued in the following three areas: 
— Fossil, renewable energy sources, energy utilization 
A diversity of technological options is required, taking into account energy-related environmental 
problems such as the greenhouse effect and acid rain. The research includes the use of hydrogen and 
other suitable substitutes for liquid fuels in the transport sector. In-depth analysis is carried out on 
the concept of 'zero emission power', which is focused on electricity generation having a minimal 
environmental impact. Certain lines of research inconsistent with this approach are discontinued, 
such as research on coal liquefaction. Following recent breakthroughs in the understanding 
of combustion processes, and of new electrolytes and catalysts, new energy production and saving 
technologies will be developed. 
— Nuclear fission safety 
Community action will put further emphasis on the harmonization of safety approaches and thus 
reinforce the prenormative dimension of its research. A new impulse will be given to research on 
reactor safety, radioactive waste management, fuel elements, actinides and control of fissile 
materials. Radiation protection research will include radiation from natural and medical sources, 
a better definition of the risks of low radiation doses, new technologies to assess quickly the 
radiological consequences of nuclear accidents. 
23. 9. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 243/11 
— Controlled nuclear fusion 
The Jet Joint Undertaking is prolonged up to 1996, in order to achieve control of plasma in 
conditions close to those of the Next Step (Engineering fusion test reactor). Work for the detailed 
design of the Next Step as well as for new systems will be pursued. Some existing fusion devices will 
be phased out having completed their experimental programmes. The present keep in touch activity 
in inertial confinement is developed, through fundamental research on the interaction of plasma with 
laser light and possibly with accelerated heavy particles. Muonic and other cold fusions will be 
explored. 
III. MANAGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES 
6. Human capital and mobility 
The purpose is to provide the European research system with the trained human resources on which it is 
critically dependent and which are likely to become increasingly scarce in the years to come. 
A new initiative characterized by the highest efficiency and Community added value is required. These 
two requisites are inherent in a major project of mobility of young researchers, at post-graduate level, in 
the area of the exact and natural sciences, technologies and economic science. Training at the interface 
between basic sciences and technological applications will be pursued. 
The Community will finance the cost of training, generally for a period of two years, in centres of 
excellence of a country different from the country of origin. This is a Community investment in human 
capital, which will have pervasive effects over the whole research and technological development system 
and on cohesion and the redressing of intracommunity imbalances. This investment can, where 
necessary, be complemented by support measures in favour of networks of research training centres. 
An important role in the implementation of the programme will be played by the scientific community 
itself, through its own institutions, particularly for the identification of networks of centres of excellence 
and the selection of candidates.