NoC200/7
24.7.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
II
(PreparatoryActs)
COMMISSION
Proposalfor«CouncilDecisionamendingDecision89/286/EEContheimplementationat
CommunitylevelofthemainphaseoftheStrategicProgrammeforInnovationandTechnology
Transfer(1989to1993)(Sprintprogramme)
(93/C200/09)
COM(93)306final
(SubmittedbytheCommissionon6July1993)
particularsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises(),the
CouncilrecommendedthattheCommissionshould
pressahead,havingregardtotheprincipleofsubsi­
diarity,withtheactionnecessarytocreateanenvironmentfavourabletothecompetitiveness of
enterprises,inparticularSMEs,andtobackuptheir
integrationinthesinglemarketafter19,92;
6.Whereastheevolutionoftheeconomicsituation
callsforaninitiativetorelaunchgrowth,towhose
successmeasurestostimulateinnovationandthe
transferoftechnologies,inparticularwithregardsto
SMEs,haveanessentialcontributiontomake;
7.Whereasapanelofindependentexpertshascarried
out,pursuanttoArticle8ofDecision89/286/EEC,
anevaluationoftheresultsacheivedafter30months
oftheprogramme'simplementation ;whereasthe
Commissionhassubmittedthereport,togetherwit
itscomments,toParliament,theCouncilandthe
EconomicandSocialCommittee(J);
8.Whereasthereportconfirmstheappositenessofthe
objectivesandmaincharacteristicsofthe
programme,callsforitsextensionandmakesrecom­mendationsconcerningthedirectionofcertain
measures ;
9.Whereastheactionsundertakenintheframeworkof
theSprintprogramme,whoseeffectscanonlybe
perceivedonthemediumtolongterm,needtobe
continuedandreinforcedinordertocontributeto
theinitiativetorelaunchgrowth,toensurethe
coherencewiththeotherCommunityinstrumentsto
promoteinnovationandtechnologydiffusion,andto
preparetheintegrationofSprintinthefourth
frameworkprogrammeforresearchandtechnology
development ;THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropean
EconomicCommunity,andinparticularArticle235
thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEuropean
Parliament ,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEconomicand
SocialCommittee,
1.Whereas,pursuanttoArticle3oftheTreaty,the
activitiesoftheCommunityincludethestrength­
eningofthecompetitivenessofCommunityindustry
andofeconomicandsocialcohesion,aswellasthe
promotionofresearchandtechnologicaldevel­
opment;
2.Whereasafavourableenvironmentforinnovation
andthetransferoftechnologiesinallregionsand
sectorsoftheCommunityisoneoftheconditions
forthecompetitiveness ofitsindustryandthe
strengtheningofitsscientificandtechnological
bases;
3.Whereasinnovationpolicyisahorizontalpolicy
whichcutsacross,contributestoandreinforces
otherpoliciessuchasregionalpolicies,industrial
policy,enterprisepolicyorpolicyontraining,
whereasitrequirescontinuityandcoordination,
4.Whereason17April1989theCounciladopted
Decision89/286/EEContheimplementation at
CommunitylevelofthemainphaseoftheStrategic
programmeforinnovationandtechnologytransfer
(1989to1993)(Sprintprogramme)(');
5.Whereasinitsresolutionof17June1992on
Communityactiontosupportenterprises,in
(2)OJNoC178,15.7.1992,p.8.
(3)SEC(92)2352final.(')OJNoL112,25.4.1989,p.12.

NoC200/8 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 24.7.93
10.Whereastheseactivitiesrely,fortheirimplemen­
tation,onnationalandregionalbodiesandmakeuse
wheneverfeasibleofdecentralized management ;
whereastheyconsistmainlyinthecreationoftrans­
nationalnetworksofsectoralorregionalactors,the
identificationandthediffusionofbestpractices
beyondnationalborders,thepoolingofeffortsat
Communityleveltoreducethecostandriskof
experimenting possiblenewschemes;whereas
thereforetheycomplementandsupporttheactions
undertakenatnationalandregionallevelthus
respectingtheprincipleofsubsidiarity;
11.Whereasitwouldthereforebeexpedienttoextend
theprogrammeto31December1994;
12.WhereasitwouldbeexpedienttomodifyDecision
89/286/EECinconsequence ;
13.WhereastheTreatydoesnotprovide,forthe
adoptionofthisDecision,powersotherthanthose
ofArticle235,HASADOPTEDTHISDECISION :
SoleArticle
Decision89/286/EECisamendedasfollows:
1.theheadingshallbereplacedbythefollowingtext:
'ontheimplementation atCommunitylevelofthe
mainphaseofthestrategicprogrammeforinnovation
andtechnologytransfer(1989to1994)(Sprint
programme)';
2.Article1shallhenceforthread:
'Article1
Themainphaseofthestrategicprogrammeforinno­
vationandtechnologytransfer,hereinafterreferredto
asthe"Sprintprogramme",isherebyadoptedfora
periodofsixyearsfrom1January1989.';
3.Article4shallhenceforthread:
'Article4
Theamountoftheappropriations allocatedannually
tothemeasuresprovidedforbytheDecisionshallbe
determinedundertheannualbudgetaryprocedure.'
(millionECU)
6,5ANNEXI
INDICATIVE INTERNALBREAKDOWN OFAPPROPRIATIONS
(Sprintprogramme1994)
A.Europeaninnovationservicesinfrastructure
1.Strengtheningnetworks
(a)innovationandtechnologytransferconsultants;sectoralcollectiveresearch
centres;contract-research organizations/researchoruniversity-industry
interfaces/engineeringconsultants/scienceparks/financingbodies;etc.
(b)linkageofinnovationandtechnologytransfernetworks
2.Accompanying measures
(a)promotionofinnovationmanagementtechniques(MINT),networksofexperts
(design,quality,valueanalysis,technologymanagement,etc.)andassociated
promotionalactivities(conferences,Europeanprizes,publications,exhibitions)
(b)instrumentsforthesupportofnetworks
(c)lauchinginnovationsemergingfromthenetworks(investmentfora,technology
transferdays,technologyperformancefinancing)
B.Specificprojectsforintra-Community innovationtransfer
C.MonitoringinnovationandconcertationbetweentheMemberStatesandthe
Commission
1.Europeaninnovationmonitoringinitiative(EIMI)
2.Concertationandexchangesofexperience
TOTAL5,5
7
4
23

OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunitiesNoC200/924.7.93
ANNEXII
WORKPLAN
(Sprintprogramme1994)
A.Europeaninnovationservicesinfrastructure
1.Strengtheningnetworks
Thisimpliessupportinghighqualitytransnationalnetworksofpublicorprivateinstitutionsproviding
innovationsupportservicestoSMEs,inparticularintheirsearchforappropriatetechnologiesand
internationaltechnologicalcollaboration .Theobjectivesofthenetworkswillbeadaptedtothe
mission,structureandlocalconditionsoftheparticipatingintermediaries .Theywillrangefromtech­
nologyinformationdisseminationtopro-activetechnologydiffusion,includingmanagerialand
marketingassistance,technologysourcingandbrokerage.Ademand-ledapproachwillberequired
fromtheparticipants.Supportwillbebasedonthecriteriaofadditionality,excellence,mutual
learningandeconomicandsocialcohesion.Insofarasitispossiblequantitativetargetswillbeset
fortheoperationofthenetworksandtheCommunitysupportwillbedegressiveovertime.
Threeactionswillbeundertaken :
—thecontinuingsupporttothebestperformingexistingnetworks(technologybrokersandinno­
vationmanagementconsultantstopromotecooperationbetweenSMEsandexternaltechnology
sources;localandregionaldevelopmentagencies,chambersofcommerceandregionaltech­
nologyadvisorycenterstopromoteawarenessofanddisseminateinformationoninnovation
managementtechniques,technologicalopportunitiesandtechnologytransfermechanismstolocal
companies;researchandtechnologyorganizationstopromotethediffusionofappropriatetech­
nologies,theimplementationoftechnicalstandardsandtheuseofmanagementtechniquessuch
asqualitycorrespondingtotheprovenneedsoftheirclientindustrialsectors;research-industry
oruniversity-industry interfacestopromotetransnationallicensingandtechnologyexploitation;
innovationfinancinginstitutions),
—thestrengtheningofnetworksofscienceandtechnologyparksandsimilarorganizationsto
promotetransnationalandinterregionalcooperationbetweenthem,theirtenantsandcompanies
intheirvicinity:thisincludescontinuationoftheScienceparkconsultancyscheme,apossible
pilotexperimentationoftheSPNETproject(telematicsapplicationsforscienceparksandtheir
tenants)andthepromotionofharmonizedself-evaluationandmonitoringtechniquesforSP
managersandpromoters,
—theexplorationoftheneedtolaunchnetworksoforganizatiorisnotyetinvolvedinSprint,such
asengineeringconsultantsortechnologydemonstrationcenters,largefirms-smallfirmstech­
nologyinterfaceorganizations ,etc.
Inaddition,thiswillimplytheintroductionoflinkagemechanismsbetweenthevariousnetworks
suchastopromotetheirsynergiesandconcretecooperationwithaviewtofosterinnovationand
technologytransfer.WheneverappropriateandincloserelationshipwiththePhareprogrammean
openingofthenetworkstoorganizationsfromeasternandcentralEuropeancountrieswillbe
encouraged .
2.Networksupportmeasures(l)
(a)specificinstrumentstoenhancetheeffectivenessofnetworks
Thisinvolvesinparticular :
—measurestofacilitatetheformationofefficientnetworks,suchasmeanstoassistinthe
identificationandcarefulselectionoffuturepartners(visitsandprofessionalexchanges,
introductoryseminars,etc.).Specialattentionwillbepaidtotheneedsandpossibilitiesof
organizationsfromeasternandcentralEuropeancountries,
—measurestostimulatetheidentification ,elaborationanddisseminationof'bestpractice'with
respecttotechnologydiffusionandnetworkmanagement,
(i)ThesemeasurescouldalsosupportothernetworkrelatedactionswithinCommunityR&TDprogrammestoencourage
SMEs*participation(suchastheCraftactivity).Theywouldbecloselycoordinatedtoensuresynergyandcomplemen­
tarity.

NoC200/10 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities24.7.93
—specificmeasures,inclosecollaborationandcomplementarity withtheStructuralFunds,to
ensurethatthoseregionsoftheCommunitywithaless-developed serviceinfrastructurefor
innovationandtechnologytransfercanparticipatemorefullyinthevariousintra­
Communitynetworkssupportedwithintheprogramme;
(b)actionsofinformation ,awareness,promotionandthetransferofknow-howin
innovationmanagementandrelatedmeasures
Twosetsofmeasuresareforeseenunderthisheading:
—thepossiblefurtherextensionfurthertoitsevaluation,oftherecentlylaunchedexperimental
MINTscheme('Managingtheintegrationofnewtechnology':auditsofthecapacityof,and
conditionsforadoptionbymedium-sizedindustrialcompaniesofanintegratedmanagement
approachtowardsacquiringnewtechnologiesandusingthemeffectivelywithinthebusiness
strategy),whichisacoordinatedattemptbytheMemberStatesandtheCommunity,
throughadecentralized,experimentalscheme,toexchangegoodpracticeandsharethe
resultsofacommonapproachtocreateawarenessandstimulateuseofinnovationandtech­
nologymanagementtechniquesinSMEs,
thestreamlinedcontinuationofthetransnationalcooperativeactivitiesinthefieldofinno­
vationandtechnologymanagementtechniques(design,valueanalysis,quality,technology
watch,marketingofnewproducts,protectionofintellectualproperty,etc.).Thisincludes
exchangesofexperiencesbetweentheMemberStatesandtheregionsonthesupport
measurestheyimplement,theformationofnetworksofexpertsanpromotionorganizations
intherelevantdisciplines,aswellasjointpromotionalactivities,wheneverappropriate
(conference,exhibitions,Europeanprizes,'successstories',etc.);
(c)thelaunchingofinnovationsemergingfromnetworksbyimprovingthedialogue
betweensourcesoffunding,technicalexpertsandinnovators
Thisimpliesthecontinuedsupporttointra-Community investmentforaandtechnology
brokeragemeetingsandtheexplorationofothernecessarymeasuresinthatfield.Itimpliesalso
theevaluationandpossiblepursuitofthetechnologyperformancefinancingexperimental
scheme.Furthermore,thefeasibilityofaCommunitywideelectronicregisteroftechnology
competencesandservicesavailabletoSMEs('Europeantechnologyyellowpages')willbe
studied.
B.Supportingspecificprojectsforintra-Community innovationtransfer
Withinthislineofaction,supporthasbeengrantedtoafirstof'specificprojects'oftransnational
character,demonstratinggoodpracticeinintra-Community technologytransfer,emphasizingindustrial
cooperationandinvolvingtheexploitationofnewtechnologies .Thereforetwoactivitieswillbe
pursued:
—exploitingthefullpotentialofthecurrentprojects.Thisimpliesthat,wheneverpossible,the
on-goingprojectsareenlargedtoincludenewpartners,withspecialattentionbeingpaidto
end-usersandtoregionsnotyetrepresentedinthoseprojects.Italsomeansthatthedissemination
activitiesoftheconcernedprojectsmaybestrengthened ,
—exploringthefeasibilityofreorientatedprojects,emphasizingtheirdemandorientationandtheir
systemic,integratedapproach.Alleffortswillbemadetoorganizetheseprojectsintosectoralor
technologicalclustersinordertomaximizetheirimpact.
Theseprojectsbecauseoftheirsystemic,integratednature,mayinclude,onacase-by-casebasis,partial
supportfortechnologyadaptationactivitiesnecessaryfortransferringthesetechnologiestoanother
sectororregionintheCommunity.Thosetechnologyadaptationactivitiesareancillarytotheoverall
aimoftheactionline,whichisthewiderdiffusionthroughouttheCommunityofexistingnewappro­
priatetechnologies .
InanycasetheseactivitieswillbecoordinatedwithrelevantCommunityR&TDprogrammes,to
ensuresynergyandcomplementarity .

OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunitiesNoC200/1124.7.93
C.Improvingtheinnovationenvironmentthroughabetterunderstandingoftheprocessesinvolvedand
increasedconcertationbetweentheMemberStatesandtheCommission
1.StrengtheningtheEuropeaninnovationmonitoringinitiative
TheEIMIisnowbeingsolidlyestablished.Itsfurtherdevelopmentinvolves:
thecontinuingimplementation ,inclosecollaborationwithEurostat,ofapermanent
Community-wide datacollectingsystemformmonitoringtheinnovationcapabilitiesand
performancesofindustriesandregions—theEIMI-observatory ,
thesystematicdiffusionoftheresultsofrelevantstudiesandsurveys—theEIMIclearing-house,
—thepermanentlinkingofcentresofexcellenceperformingappliedinnovationresearchand
surveysataEuropeanlevel—theEIMInetwork.
TheworkwithinEIMIwillconcentrateonthefourfollowingareasofstudies:
—innovationandthefirm:inthisareaamainprioritywillbetheexploitationoftheresultsof,
first,thecoordinatedinnovationsurveyslaunchedincooperationwithEurostatandcarriedout
bynationalstatisticalofficesandresearchteams(theCommunityinnovationsurvey),and,
second,furtherinvestigationsintotechnologyacquisition,innovationprotectionanddiffusion
behaviourofcompanies, ^
—innovationsystems,infrastructureandsupportserviceswithparticularinterestbeingpaidtothe
infrastructureatregionallevel,totherelationsbetweensmallercompaniesandtheseservicesand
^acloseranalysisoftheprovisionofcertaintypesofservicesthroughouttheCommunity,
—innovationpolicy,withthesystematicanalysisoftherationaleforandtrendsininnovationand
technologydiffusionpoliciesintheMemberStatesandinthetriade.Thevariouslevelsof
governmentwillbeconsidered;inparticularandinclosecollaboration .withtheCommission
servicesresponsibleforregionalpolicies,supportwillbeprovidedtoregionalactorswantingto
assesstheirinnovationpotential,infrastructureandpolicies,
—policyevaluation,inparticulartheevaluationoftheappropriateness ,efficiencyandeffectiveness
ofmajorSprintschemes,aswellasthematicevaluationsofCommunitysupportinthefieldof
innovation,technologicaldiffusionandinnovationinfrastructures .
2.StrengtheningconcertationandtheexchangeofexperiencebetweentheMemberStatesandthe
Commissiontopromoteafavourableenvironmenttoinnovationandtechnologytransfer
Thiswillinvolvetheorganizationofaseriesofreviewsandworkshopsinthefieldofpublic
measuresandpoliciessupportinginnovationandtechnologytransferatregional,nationalor
Communitylevel.Itwillprovideaforumtoexchangeinformationandcompareexperiencesinthe
design,implementationandevaluationofpoliciesandsupportprogrammes .Inlinewiththeobjective
ofeconomicandsocialcohesion,theCommissionwillactasabrokerofgoodpracticesand
contributetotheefficiency,coherenceandmutualadaptationofregional,nationalandCommunity
action,basedontheprinciplesofsubsidiarityandcomplementarity andwiththeaimofestablishing
aregulatory,legal,economicandfiscalenvironmentfavourabletoinnovationandtechnology
transfer.