COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
m COM(90) 153 final - SYN 258 
Brussels, 23 May 1990 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
concerning a specific programme of research and technological development 
in the field of Information Technology 
(1990-1994) 
(presented by the Commission) 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Proposal for a Council decision adopt i ng a 
specific research and development programme in the 
field of information technology (1990-94) 
ANNEX I 
Scientific and Technical Objectives and Content 11 
ANNEX II 
Indicative Breakdown of Expenditures 19 
ANNEX III 
Rules for implementing the programme and activities 
for dissemination and exploitation of the results 20 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
adopting a specific research and development programme in the field of information 
technology (1990-94) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in 
particular Article 130q (2) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission/1) 
In cooperation with the European Parliament/2) 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee/3) 
Whereas by its Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC4>, the Council adopted a third framework 
programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological 
development (1990-94), specifying inter alia the activities to be pursued in the field of 
(1) OJ No C 
(2) OJ No C 
(3) OJ No C 
(4) OJ No L 117,8.5.1990, p.28. 
-4 
information technology; whereas this Decision should be taken in the light of the grounds 
set out in the preamble to that Decision; 
Whereas Article 130k of the Treaty stipulates that the framework programme is to be 
implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity; 
Whereas an estimate should be made of the amount of Community financial resources 
needed to carry out this specific programme; whereas the definitive amounts will be fixed 
by the budgetary authority in line with the financial perspectives covering the period 1988 -
1992 included in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 June 1988<5> and with any future 
financial perspectives covering the period 1993 -1994; 
Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 and Annex I of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, the 
amount deemed necessary for the whole framework programme includes an amount of 57 
million ecus for the centralized dissemination and exploitation of results, to be divided up 
in proportion to the amount envisaged for each activity; whereas in view of the importance 
of this specific programme within the information technology and communications 
activities the estimate of the financial resources needed by this programme is to be reduced 
by 13.52 million ecus, which amount is to be allocated to the centralized activities, in order 
to comply with the second sentence of Article 130p (2) of the Treaty; 
Whereas this programme must be implemented by the Commission; whereas to help 
accomplish this, the Member States are bound, pursuant to Article 5 of the Treaty, to 
facilitate the achievement of its tasks where necessary, notably within a committee; 
Whereas this programme must be implemented essentially by the selection of research and 
development projects to enable them to benefit from Community participation; whereas 
the Commission should encourage the submission of such projects by the usual means of 
publishing calls for proposals in the Official Journal; whereas a special procedure should 
(5) OJ No L 185,15.7.1988, p.33. 
also be devised so as to maintain a degree of flexibility enabling the Commission, in the 
face of the continuous evolution and gradual acceleration of technological progress, also to 
take into consideration spontaneous proposals consistent with the objectives of the 
programme; 
Whereas the projects to be carried out under the programme must be selected with special 
attention to the principle of economic and social cohesion in the Community, the 
transnational nature of the projects and the support to be given to small and medium-sized 
enterprises; 
Whereas it is only in the light of experience gathered in the course of this programme that 
the Commission will be able to propose and the Council to adopt supplementary 
programmes by having recourse to the means provided for in Articles 1301, 130m or 130o of 
the Treaty, if they contribute to the achievement of the programme's objectives, in 
accordance with the option made available by Article 2(2) of Decision 
90/221/Euratom, EEC; 
Whereas, in accordance with Article 130g of the Treaty, the Community's activities aimed 
at strengthening the scientific and technological basis of European industry and 
encouraging it to become more competitive include promoting cooperation on research 
and technological development with third countries and international organizations; 
whereas such cooperation may prove particularly beneficial for the development of this 
programme; 
Whereas Information Technology pervades throughout the economy and society, improves 
decisively the competitiveness of industry and services, as well as easing working conditions 
and many aspects of private life; whereas Information Technology requires important 
efforts in research and development calling for transnational cooperation; whereas 
Microelectronics, Information Processing Systems and Software, Office and Home 
Systems, Computer Integrated Manufacturing and related Basic Research have been 
identified as priorities in Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC. 
-6 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (CREST) has been consulted, 
-7-
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
A specific research and technological development programme for the European Economic 
Community in the field of information technology, as defined in Annex I, is hereby adopted 
for a period of five years as from 1 January 1990. 
Article 2 
1. The Community funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the programme 
under this Decision amount to 1352 million ecus. Of this amount 13.52 million ecus is 
drawn for the centralized dissemination and exploitation of results. The amount thus 
reduced to 1338.48 million ecus includes staff costs which may not exceed 4%. An 
indicative breakdown of expenditure is set out in Annex II. 
2. Should the Council take a decision in implementation of Article 1(4) of Decision 
90/221/Euratorn, EEC, this Decision shall be adapted to take account of the above-
mentioned decision. 
3. The budgetary authority shall decide on the appropriations available for each financial 
year. 
Article 3 
Rules for the implementation of the programme are set out in Annex III. 
Article 4 
The rate of the Community financial contribution shall be laid down in accordance with 
Annex IV to Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC. 
Article 5 
1. During 1992 the Commission shall review the programme and address a report on the 
results of the review to the Council and the European Parliament, together with 
proposals for any necessary changes. 
8-
2. At the end of the programme the Commission shall assess the results obtained. It 
shall address a report thereon to the Council and the European Parliament. 
3. The reports shall be drawn up having regard to the objectives set out in Annex I to this 
Decision and in accordance with Article 2(4) of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC. 
Article 6 
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the execution of the programme. It shall be 
assisted by a committee, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee", composed of 
representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the 
Commission. 
2. The contracts concluded by the Commission shall govern the rights and obligations of 
each party, including the procedures for disseminating, protecting and exploiting the 
research results, in accordance with the arrangements adopted pursuant to the second 
paragraph of Article 130k of the Treaty. 
3. A work programme for each year shall be drawn up and updated where necessary. It 
shall set out the detailed objectives and types of projects to be undertaken, and the 
financial arrangements to be made for them. The Commission shall make calls for 
proposals for projects on the basis of the annual work programmes. 
Article 7 
1. In the cases envisaged in Article 8(1), the Commission representative shall submit to 
the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its 
opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may set according to the 
urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by qualified majority as 
provided for in Article 148(2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council 
is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the Member 
States' representatives within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out 
in that Article. The chairman shall not vote. 
2. The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged where they are in accordance 
with the Committee's opinion. 
3. If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the Committee's opinion, or if 
no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall forthwith submit to the Council a 
-9-
proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified 
majority. 
4. If the Council has not acted within one month of submission of the proposal, the 
proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission. 
Article 8 
1. The procedure laid down in Article 7 shall apply to: 
- the preparation and updating of the work programmes referred to in Article 6(3); 
- evaluation of the projects referred to in point 2 of Annex III, as well as the 
estimated amount of the Community's financial contribution when these projects 
are submitted through the ordinary procedure referred to in point 4 of Annex III 
and the abovementioned amount is more than 5 million ecus; 
- evaluation of all projects submitted through the exceptional procedure referred to 
in point 4 of Annex III, as well as the estimated amount of the Community's 
financial contribution; 
- measures for evaluating the programme. 
2. The Commission may consult the Committee on any matter falling within the scope of 
the programme. 
3. The Commission shall inform the Committee with regard to; 
- the progress of the programme; 
- planned calls for proposals, referred to in Article 6 (3); 
- projects, referred to in point 2 of Annex III, submitted through the ordinary 
procedure, for which the Community contribution is less than 5 million ecus, and 
the results of their evaluation; 
- accompanying measures, referred to in point 2 of Annex III;; 
- concerted actions, referred to in point 2 of Annex III. 
10 
Article 9 
In implementing this programme, supplementary programmes within the meaning of 
Article 1301, participation within the meaning of Article 130m and joint undertakings or any 
other structures within the meaning of Article 130o of the Treaty may also be decided on as 
the need arises. 
Article 10 
Where cooperation with third countries and international organisations aiming at achieving 
the objectives of this programme requires legal undertakings between the Community and 
the third parties concerned, the Commission shall be authorized to negotiate, in 
accordance with Article 130n of the Treaty, international agreements laying down the terms 
of such cooperation. 
Decisions on the conclusion of such agreements shall be adopted in accordance with the 
procedure referred to in Article 130q (2) of the Treaty. 
Article 11 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council, 
The President 
-11-
ÀnnexI 
Scientific and Technical Objectives and Content 
The approach embodied in the third Framework Programme, the scientific and technical 
objectives and the underlying aims which it pursues, form an integral part of this specific 
programme. 
Paragraph I.1.A of Annex II of the Framework Programme forms an integral part of this 
specific programme. 
The following presents an analytical description of the content of the programme based on 
and taking account of the above elements. 
The programme constitutes a new phase of the European Strategic Programme for 
Research and Development in Information Technology (ESPRIT), oriented towards the 
new generations of technologies. 
The programme will be carried out in five areas: 
Area 1: Microelectronics 
Area 2: Information Processing Systems and Software 
Area 3: Advanced Business and Home Systems; Peripherals 
Area 4: Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Engineering 
Area 5: Basic Research. 
Accompanying measures comprise technology transfer and training activities carried out in 
each of the areas. They include special actions, which aim at increasing the potential for 
participation in Community R&D in Information Technology of organisations in peripheral 
regions and likewise their ability to make use of the results. They include acquisition of 
information both within the programme and from the IT community at large, as well as 
measures to create awareness of opportunities and availability of results, and to develop 
synergies between participants and with the FT community at large. They also include the 
Information Exchange Systems for programme participants (IES) and participation in the 
EUREKA project Cooperation for OSI Networking in Europe (COSINE). Specific 
information on projects will be provided in close cooperation with the Community R&D 
Information Service (CORDIS). 
12 
Area 1: Microelectronics 
Emphasis will be on Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), including notably 
multi-function circuits, high speed circuits, optoelectronic circuits, advanced power circuits 
("smart power"), new equipment, manufacturing technology and materials for integrated 
circuits and, in conjunction with other initiatives in the Community such as the Joint 
European Submicron Silicon project (JESSI), the advanced technologies linked to 
submicron silicon. 
Work will be addressed to the major components of the chain of designing, manufacturing, 
testing and applying advanced semiconductor products. The activities will be organised so 
as to link users and producers, ensuring the participation of a wide range of actors to the 
benefit of all. It will address the complete set of technologies that are needed to produce 
new generations of integrated circuits (ICs), on the basis of the work carried out under 
ESPRIT in process technologies, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided 
Testing, and by taking up newly emerging topics. 
An essentially new topic is Manufacturing Science and Technology. Work in this area will 
aim to improve the manufacturing capability of European IC industry by addressing all the 
aspects that are necessary to achieve higher quality low cost ICs. This includes R&D in 
equipment engineering, automation, clean room technology and quality control. 
The following topics will be regarded as priorities: equipment for semiconductor 
processing, covering the most demanding technological steps (lithography, layer processing 
and metrology in particular); packaging and connectivity (comprising electrical and optical 
solutions); advanced materials, addressing silicon-related films and compound 
semiconductor (especially III-V) materials, the latter being of crucial importance for the 
further development in optoelectronics and high speed integrated circuits. 
With respect to IC technology, both higher density and higher speed circuits will be 
pursued as well as integrated systems of increased performance and reduced size and cost 
leading to the "system on a chip". 
Work in high density ICs will centre on 0.5-0.3 micron silicon (Si) complementary metal 
oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. In addition to the actual lithography and other 
semiconductor process and material technologies, CAD tools and systems capable of 
designing and testing at higher complexity levels (between 4 and 8 million transistors of 
mixed memory and logic) will be developed. Work on high density ICs will be carried out 
in conjunction with JESSI. 
13-
Work in high speed ICs will address both silicon bipolar and III-V technologies for digital 
and analog circuits. The work includes semiconductor technology and materials and 
specific aspects of design and testing of high speed ICs (for instance for high frequency 
digital ICs). 
Work will progress towards the "system on a chip" through the development of flexible 
processes that allow the combination of various features such as digital and analog 
functions, non-volatile memory, low voltage, power switching and sensors onto one chip. 
Such features will be integrated into a standard submicron digital CMOS process. The 
increased process complexity requires special measures to achieve sufficiently high yields. 
Special CAD tools which are, for example, capable of simulating the different functions on 
the chips, are also required. 
Technology transfer, training and other accompanying measures will be undertaken where 
there is a specific need for action; special emphasis will be put on prenormative work on a 
standard CAD framework with interfaces allowing for an effective integration of CAD 
systems. Measures to tackle specific skills deficits that can only be addressed in 
cooperation with industry (for instance, those that require access to industrial facilities) will 
be undertaken. Measures to promote uptake of ASIC technology in innovative products, 
especially by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will also be undertaken. 
Area 2: Information processing systems and software 
Concurrent architectures are seen as the key to future breakthroughs in the 
cost/performance ratio of computers. Work in this area will lead to a minimal set of 
machine architectures needed to satisfy selected target applications with around 10 
computing elements. Concurrent systems will improve systems reliability and security. The 
work will include advanced experiments to validate selected parallel architectures. It will 
take the requirements of distributed computing and of real-time applications into account. 
It will, in particular, concentrate on tightly coupled and homogeneous systems. Operating 
systems allowing information sharing between existing systems and newly emerging parallel 
operating systems will be addressed. Technical and scientific workstations with very high 
performance will be based on parallel architectures. 
Future generations of computers will not only need better and more reliable performance, 
they will also need better interfaces, especially man-machine interfaces. Efforts will be 
undertaken aimed at establishing provision of user interface management tools, as well as 
multi-lingual intelligent objects in a distributed operating environment, Stress will be 
placed on systems for the perception and synthesis of information from highly complex 
signals. These concern, in particular, human speech recognition and image understanding. 
-14 
In the majority of IT systems the software component is now seen as the dominant element 
of cost. Constraints in European software production capabilities are now seen as the most 
critical problem for the IT industry. Tools and methods to support systems integration and 
to increase software productivity will be enhanced where significant progress can be 
expected. The work will build on existing or emerging standards. Particular attention will 
be paid to portability of software, re-usability and design of standardised modules. 
Renewed emphasis, concentrating particularly on the transfer of modern design methods 
into common use, will be given to improving productivity, quality and security. 
Industrialisation of software engineering tools and environments will be encouraged by the 
demonstration of applications. This work includes the industrialisation of knowledge 
engineering techniques, in particular as complements to existing conventional systems 
engineering techniques. 
Measures will be undertaken to promote the take up of new software production 
technologies and to increase skill levels on a broad scale. This will include training oriented 
to industrial needs. These measures will build on the results of projects under ESPRIT, 
EUREKA and Member States' programmes concerned with the provision of industrial 
methods and tools. 
Area 3: Advanced Business and Home Systems; peripherals 
Advanced Business and Home Systems will aim for function integration in the business 
environment as well as in the home environment. It will also aim at easing the use of 
systems. An especially high priority will be given to prenormative work. Distributed 
computing including data base management, the corresponding workstations and 
microprocessor systems and technologies will be of major concern throughout the activities. 
The work in distributed computing will, in particular, concentrate on loosely coupled and 
heterogeneous systems. Systems assurance experiments will be carried out, as appropriate. 
In this context, the integration of tools and facilities in specific applications of real user 
interest will be demonstrated, as well as the integration of different streams of activity 
leading to more efficient data flow across organisations. 
Two complementary, but interrelated areas are addressed. 
R&D work on integrated business systems addresses the information flow across 
departments and sites within an enterprise and enables the close integration of various 
activities between functional units. It includes the integration of mobile terminals into 
business information systems. In this context, systems for cooperative work play an 
important role. They allow cooperation through the provision of, e.g., the following 
15 
facilities: cooperative writing, file processing, project management, decision making, 
informal interaction, problem definition and conferencing. The improvement of working 
conditions and job-level qualifications are of major concern. 
The R&D activities concerning intelligent homes and intelligent buildings are partially 
similar to those concerning integrated business, but obey different boundary conditions 
concerning functionality and cost. They aim at integrating IT with other building functions 
such as security, privacy, voice and document communication, heating, lighting and energy 
management. Requirements analysis, functional specifications and prenormative work 
include various aspects of quality of life such as ergonomy and improvement of working 
conditions. 
In the context of business and home systems, peripherals are taking on increasing 
importance. The objective of R&D work in peripherals is to reinforce the scientific and 
technological bases for new generations of peripherals, which are reliable, cheap and 
capable of being produced in large quantities. In order to contribute to the renewal of a 
European industry in the field of components and sub-assemblies for peripherals through 
R&D, synergies between producer and user industries need to be established, and a critical 
mass must be reached. 
The peripherals technology activities include R&D aspects of specific peripheral 
technologies for printers, displays, input and storage devices. Special emphasis will be put 
on flat panel display technologies, magneto-optical storage systems, non-impact printing 
technologies, and scanning technologies. 
Specialised technology transfer and training measures in the field of integrated business 
systems include demonstrations of advanced IT solutions suited, in particular, for small 
enterprises. 
Area 4: Computer integrated manufacturing and engineering 
The activities aim at providing the technology base for open systems, multivendor systems 
and distributed operations in engineering and manufacturing environments as well as to 
contribute to better integration of advanced IT systems components in engineering 
industries. The work will focus on new generations of basic CIM technologies and on 
demonstrating their applicability in selected manufacturing and other engineering domains. 
Synergy with the specific programme on industrial and materials technologies foreseen in 
Decision 90/.../Euratom, EEC will be assured. 
-16-
R&D work will include Technological Infrastructure and Application Experiments. 
Technological Infrastructure work will involve the development of the advanced CIM 
techniques, methods and tools to facilitate manufacturing and engineering applications 
within the different domains where IT is of particular strategic importance. Aimed at 
improving cost-efficiency, flexibility and high quality, the approach will be based on open 
systems concepts supported by appropriate prenormative work, and will recognise the 
multi-site, multi-supplier nature of most engineering enterprises. Topics include logistics 
and distribution, communications and architectures for engineering applications, the 
management of industrial processes, engineering design, robotics and equipment 
technologies (control and instrumentation), mechatronics and microsystems. On-line 
quality assurance technologies will be developed to ensure safe and reliable operation of 
products and processes throughout their total life cycle. 
Building on the results already achieved in ESPRIT, new engineering test-beds will be 
addressed. Vendor industries involved include system integration and software houses, 
manufacturers of computers and communications equipment, machine tools, robots, 
autonomous vehicles, cranes, electronics, control and instrumentation, sensors and 
actuators. Work will be geared to serve the small and medium sized users, who form the 
majority of all engineering enterprises, as well as the large users who lead the field in the 
application of high technology. Collaboration between users and vendors will continue to 
be strongly encouraged. 
Application experiments to validate advanced IT solutions will be carried out in discrete 
parts manufacturing, process industry applications, mass manufacturing, and other 
engineering applications. Attention will be paid to cleaner industrial operations. 
The existing profile of human resources in this domain does not yet match the demands of 
the advanced manufacturing and engineering industries and this will limit progress if not 
swiftly addressed. Technology transfer and training activities will be most effective if there 
is a multi-disciplinary approach, if users are strongly involved, and if they are closely 
coupled with the R&D activities, in some cases actually as part of major projects. 
Specifically tailored education and training actions will include the possibility to involve 
students and young graduates in demonstrator projects. 
Area 5: Basic research 
Basic research actions contribute to maintaining and expanding the knowledge and 
expertise which underpin the scientific basis of European Information Technology. Areas 
that such actions support are selected on the grounds of: 
-17-
- Their potential to produce future breakthroughs or important advances even if they have 
no immediately visible application. 
- Their ability to benefit from the added value which cooperation on a European scale 
provides. 
- Their positioning clearly upstream of R&D efforts, while contributing to the overall aims 
of the programme. 
- The reinforcement of interdisciplinary links. 
Research is planned for the achievement of low noise and high speed elements through the 
use of low temperatures and by incorporation of new high temperature superconductivity 
materials. The need for ultra high complexity components, which will build the hardware 
base for future massively parallel systems, will lead to research in the nanometre scaling of 
electronic circuits. This includes investigations of physical properties of organic and of 
optical materials with high potential for application in IT devices and systems. Synergy 
with activities in material research carried out in the specific programme on industrial and 
materials technologies foreseen in Decision 90/.../Euratom, EEC will be established. The 
research of future hardware possibilities will be complemented by activities on the new 
generation of hardware design methodologies. 
Breakthroughs needed for the effective and efficient software engineering of the future, 
and to some extent of computing systems generally, will be predicated on the strengths of 
the formal description of systems. Therefore the logical and algebraic foundations of 
computer science will be addressed providing the necessary framework for the 
development of concurrent systems, specification and verification techniques, as well as the 
next generation of programming languages and algorithms. With the target of enabling 
reliable distributed systems, basic research will be encouraged on dependable distributed 
systems and integrated data bases. 
Still existing constraints in the foundations of artificial intelligence are limiting the 
necessary improvements in many application areas where a change from currently available 
dataprocessing and networking to more intelligent systems and procedures is required. To 
help overcome this, basic research will be addressed to massive parallelism, 
neurocomputing and other critical issues in this field which include the handling of 
uncertainty and knowledge representation, theories of automated manufacture and human-
computer interaction. 
These measures in technology transfer and training aim at establishing and maintaining 
close links with the industrially-oriented activities within the programme. 
18 
In the context of basic research, the growing problem of skill shortages will be addressed in 
universities and research centres. Both technology transfer and training demand the 
emergence of European centres of excellence in different areas of IT. Basic research is 
uniquely positioned to play an important role in meeting this demand by acting as a catalyst 
for the emergence of such centres of excellence. 
19 
Indicative Breakdown of Expenditures Annex II 
in %, for the period 1990-1994. 
Area 1. Microelectronics 27-31 
Area 2. Information processing systems and software 23 - 27 
Area 3. Home and business systems; peripherals 15 -19 
Area 4. Computer integrated manufacturing and engineering 17-21 
Area 5. Basic research 9-11 
The breakdown between different areas does not exclude the possibility that projects could 
cover several areas. 
-20-
Annex III 
Rules for Implementing the Programme 
and Activities for Dissemination and Exploitation of the Results 
1. The Commission shall implement the programme on the basis of the scientific and 
technical content described in Annex I. 
2. The rules for implementing the programme, referred to in Article 3, comprise 
research and technological development projects, accompanying measures and 
concerted actions. 
The projects shall be the subject of shared-cost research and technological 
development contracts. 
The accompanying measures consist of applying the means to ensure proper technical 
execution, management and evaluation of the programme, as well as adequate 
dissemination and accessibility of the results, and coordination, training and 
consciousness-raising of the participants in the programme. 
The concerted actions are those defined in the Financial Regulation. 
3. The participants in the projects must be natural or legal persons established in the 
Community^, such as universities, research organizations and industrial firms, 
including small and medium-sized enterprises, or associations thereof, in particular 
European Economic Interest Groupings (EEIGs). 
Natural or legal persons established in countries which have concluded agreements 
with the Community foreseeing scientific and technical research, may, based on the 
criterion of mutual advantage, take part in the projects undertaken in the context of 
this programme. The contracting parties under such arrangements shall not benefit 
from Community funding. They shall contribute to the general administrative costs. 
4. The choice of projects shall be carried out according to the following order of priority, 
the first method being the rule, the second the exception: 
(6) For the purposes of this programme, the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN), whose 
headquarters are in Geneva and most of whose installations are on Community territory, may be a party to 
the contracts. 
21 
The participants in the projects shall be selected on the basis of the ordinary 
procedure of calls for proposals referred to in Article 6 (3) and published in the 
Official Journal of the European Communities. 
The Commission may also accept proposals according to an exceptional procedure 
and under the conditions mentioned below, when they make a particularly promising 
and significant contribution as regards the originality of the theme proposed, the 
novelty of the scientific and technical approach and the methodology of execution, 
also taking into account the particular nature of the proposers. 
A favourable technical evaluation of such proposals shall not by itself be a sufficient 
justification for accepting a project; this exceptional procedure may only apply after 
verification that the nature of the project, as defined above, does not justify the use of 
the normal procedure for calls for proposals. 
The exceptional procedure must be completed before the ordinary procedure in such 
a way that the available amount for the Community's financial participation in 
projects retained by the ordinary procedure can be determined precisely. The closing 
date for the exceptional procedure shall be published each year in the Official Journal. 
The amount of the financial participation of the Community for all the projects 
retained by the exceptional procedure will be decided each year, in relation to the 
projects selected according to particularly strict criteria of excellence. In any case, this 
amount may not exceed 15%; it may be revised each year in the light of experience. 
The Commission shall draw up a vade mecum setting out all the rules applicable to 
this exceptional procedure in order to guarantee full transparency. 
5. The projects must involve at least two mutually independent partners established in 
different Member States. 
6. The Commission may encourage the participants to form a European Economic 
Interest Grouping (EEIG) or make other arrangements for carrying out projects, such 
as those on a large scale, permitting decentralized management adapted to the specific 
requirements of the project. 
7. The knowledge acquired during the course of the projects shall be disseminated on the 
one hand within the specific programme and on the other hand by means of a 
centralized activity, pursuant to the decision referred to in the third paragraph of 
Article 4 in Decision 90/221 /Euratom, EEC. 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
1. BUDGET HEADING AND TITLE 
Subsection 6, Item B 6111 
Specific programme of Community RTD activities in the field of Information 
Technologies (1990-1994) 
2. LEGAL BASE 
Article 130 Q (2) of the Treaty. 
3. OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION 
See Annex I of the proposal. 
4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Amounts deemed necessary in MioECU: 
Programme implementation 1338.48 
Centralised action for dissemination and valorisation 13.52 
TOTAL 1352.00 
The indicative internal breakdown of the 1338.48 MioECU for the programme 
implementation is given in Annex II of the proposal. 
Indicative multiannual schedules 
in MioECU 
Commitments 
Payments 1990 
-1991 
345.00 
80.00 1992 
19526 
290.00 1993 
512.00 
305.00 1994* 
286.22 
663.48 TOTAL 
1338.48 
1338.48 
* for the payment appropriations: 1994 and beyond. 
The definitive yearly amounts will be determined by the budgetary authority in 
accordance with the financial perspectives for the period 1990-1992 (annexed to the 
Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 June 1988) and with subsequent financial 
perspectives which may be adopted for 1993 and 1994. 
5. STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE 
In addition to the principal means of action, which are contracts (annex III), the above 
amounts include programme-related staff and administrative expenditure estimated at 
no more than 94 MioECU. 
The expenditure on staff will not exceed 4% of the amount deemed necessary for the 
programme implementation. This implies a maximum of 301 statutory posts (A, B 
and/or C) at any given time during the life of the programme. The infrastructure 
costs related to statutory staff will be borne by Part A of the budget. 
6. IMPLICATIONS FOR REVENUE 
The contributions by third country contractors towards the cost of administration of 
the programme will be reused pursuant to articles 27.2 and 96 of the Financial 
Regulation*1) 
7. TYPE OF CONTROL 
Control will be exercised by: 
- the Programme Management Committee (scientific control) 
- the services of the DG responsible for the execution of the programme, possibly 
assisted by independent experts 
- the Commission's Financial Controller. 
In accordance with Article 2 of the Financial Regulation^), the use of appropriations 
will be subject to analyses of cost-effectiveness and the realization of quantified 
objectives will be monitored. 
External audits may be carried out by the Court of Auditors in accordance with the 
Treaty. 
(1) Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977, as last amended by Regulation 610/90 of 13 Mardi 1990. 
Competitiveness and Employment Impact Statement 
Subject: Proposal for a Council Decision concerning a specific programme of research 
and technological development in the field of Information Technology (1990-
1994) 
I Reason for Introducing Measure 
The proposal is being submitted in order to implement the Information Technology 
part of the third Framework Programme of Community activities in the field of 
research and development (1990-1994). 
II Features of the Businesses in Question 
The proposal is of an industrial nature and is primarily directed to enterprises in 
Information Technology. This sector includes a large proportion of SMEs, which 
already participate in the ESPRIT Programme to a considerable extent. In fact SMEs 
participate in 80% of projects in the second phase of ESPRIT. 
The businesses in question are spread throughout the Member States including 
regions which are eligible for regional aid and eligible under the ERDF. 
III Obligations Directly Imposed on Businesses 
The proposal confirms the principles of existing administrative procedures for 
participation in the programme and takes account of the continuous need for efforts 
in terms of encouraging industrial actors towards further transnational initiatives, 
including an increase of the potential for such cooperation of organizations in 
peripheral Member States. 
There are no disadvantages to enterprises except for the additional costs, quite 
minimal, relating to the preparation of unsuccessful proposals. 
IV Indirect Obligations Likely to be imposed on businesses by local authorities 
None are envisaged. 
V Special measures in respect of SMEs 
The major advantage for SMEs is that all signatories to contracts are treated on an 
equal footing, so that even with a relatively small contribution to make, a contractor 
has the right of full access to and exploitation of results. SMEs participate in all 
technology areas of ESPRIT and in both large pre-planned projects and smaller more 
speculative projects. Their participation is far from secondary. 92 ESPRIT projects 
(25%) have SMEs operating as prime contractors. 
With respect to the technical content of the Specific Programme, new increased 
emphasis will be given to areas such as software, computer integrated manufacturing 
and engineering which are particularly suited to SMEs because of their large presence 
and vital impact in these areas. Aside from the R&D activity per se, accompanying 
measures, some aimed specifically at SMEs, constitute an integral part of the current 
proposal. 
VI Likely Effects on Competitiveness of Businesses and on Employment 
The effects on competitiveness and employment (inasmuch as these can be measured) 
of R&D programmes such as the Specific Programme in IT are and will continue to be 
of an indirect and positive nature in the medium term. ESPRIT has so far permitted 
over 410 SMEs to participate in research and development, thereby enhancing their 
technological capabilities and their international market prospects. An independent 
high-level review of ESPRIT conducted in 1939 report that SMEs are positive about 
the effects of ESPRIT on their competitive position. Beneficial effects quoted include 
: improved access to markets, better understanding of international market needs, 
improved international marketing contacts, improved corporate image and 
acceptability to international customers. Without ESPRIT many SMEs would not 
have the funds available for significant research activity nor would they be able to 
benefit from international collaboration. The Programme is expected to offer to a 
considerable number of high-tech-oriented SMEs chances to participate in 
international projects. 
VII Consultation of Industry 
The proposal is the result of a broad consultation of representatives from Community 
industry and science. The proposal will be submitted to the Economic and Social 
Committee for opinion. 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(90) 153 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 16 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-90-236-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-60682-7 
PRICE 1-30 pages: 3.50 ECU per additional 10 pages: t.25 ECU 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg