MEMORANDUM TOWARDS A EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY
Date: 1985-06-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU industrial policy, EU research policy, industry-research relations, innovation, international cooperation, research and development, research expenditure (EU), research programme, technical cooperation, technological change

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COM (85) 350 

Vol. 1985/0141 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Conformément  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 
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concerning  the  opening  to  the  public  of  the  historical  archives  of  the  European  Economic 
Community  and  the  European  Atomic  Energy  Community  (OJ  L  43,  15.2.1983,  p.  1),  as 
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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 Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983, 
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003 
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erforderlich,  wurden  die  Verschlusssachen  in  dieser  Datei  in Übereinstimmung mit  Artikel  5 
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COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

COM(85)  350  final 

Brussels, 25  June  1985 

MEMORANDUM 

TOWARDS  A EUROPEAN  TECHNOLOGY  COMMUNITY 

~-? JIJiN 19Bs 

..... ~ . .  

~~ 

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

COM(85)  350  final 

Brussels,25  June  1985 

MEMORANDUM 

TOWARDS  A EUROPEAN  TECHNOLOGY  COMMUNITY 

COM(85)  350  final 

CONTENTS 

I. 

THE  CHALLENGE  FACING  EUROPE 

II. 

THE  EUROPEAN  TECHNOLOGY  COMMUNITY 

1.  Legal  and  political  bases 

2.  Objectives 

3.  Types  of  technological  research  and  development  (TRD) 

projects  and  programmes 

4.  Horizontal  back-up  tasks 

5.  Methods  of  cooperation  and  financing  arrangements 
6.  Criteria  and  methods  for  selecting  priority  TRD  programmes 

ANNEX 

-

TOWARDS  A EUROPEAN  TECHNOLOGY  COMMUNITY 

I.  THE  CHALLENGE  FACING  EUROPE 

Technological  progress  plays  a  central  role  in  our  societies  because 
of  its  impact  on  economic  growth  and  job  creation,  social  and  cultural 
progress,  environment  and  security. 
(as 
strategic  factor  - one  which 
communication  to  the  Brussels  meeting  of  the  European  Council  in 
March  1985)  the  Community  must  turn  to  account  in  order  to  regain  its 
competitiveness  and  lay  the  foundations  for  more  vigorous  and  more 
stable  growth  and  to  ensure  greater  economic  convergence  by 
increasing  the  innovative  capacity  of  all  the  Member  States. 

It  is  increasingly  becoming  a 
the·  Commission  stressed  in  its 

The  Community  has  an  internal  market  on  a  scale  similar~: 
to  those  of  Japan  and  the  United  States,  but  it  has  to  face  the 
competition  of  those  countries  with  a  market  segmented  by  many 
barriers  and  with  no  common  technological  strategy:  with  a  few 
notable  exceptions, 
R&D  policies  and  resources  are  applied  by 
the  Member  States  without  any  coordination. 

The  consequences  are  beginning  to  show.  Since  1972  the  annual  growth 
rate  in  real  terms  of  the  production  of  high  technology  goods  in 
Europe  has  not  exceeded  5%  while  the  rate  in  the  United  States  is  7,6% 
and  in  Japan  14%. 1 

Europe's  mediocre  industrial 
in  high-technology  products. 
of 
cover 
190%  to  110%  (1983). 

high  technology 

performance  has  eroded  its  trade  surplus 

Over  a  20-year  period  the  export 
imports  into  the  Community  fell  from 

Europe  launched  the  first  two  industrial  revolutions: 
missing  out  on  the  third?  Can  Europe  be  satisfied  with  its 
continuing  domination 
medium-techriology  products  when  the 
newly  industrializing countries  of  Asia  and  Latin  America  are  ready 
to  take  over?  Must  Europe  meekly  accept  the  brain  drain  to  the 
United  States  and  Let  Japan  take  over  its  market  shares? 

is  it  now 

in 

Can  Europe  maintain  its  standard  of  Living,  reverse  the  unemployment 
trend  and  ensure  that  it  can  stand  on  its  own  feet  without  responding 
to  the  technological  challenges  of  the  outside  world? 

For  a  response  to  these  challenges,  Europe  has  a  potentially  powerful 
armoury: 

1  From  1973  to  1983  the  Community's  specialization  index  for 

trade  in  high  technology  products  fell  from  1,01  COECD  =  1)  to 
0,82  while  that  of  the  United  States  remained  constant  ~t  1,26 
and  that  of  Japan  went  up  from  0,7  to  1,26. 

- 2  -

- For  Europe's  industry,  a  continent-wide  market  rid  of  the  barriers 

now  dividing· it  into  unviable  segments; 

- National  R&D 

efforts  which  have  maintained  the  high  Level  of 
European  science  but  whose  dispersal  deprives  the  Community  of 
the  synergetic  effects  and  the  economies  of  scale  that  would 
stem  from  a  collective  effort  targeted  on  certain  jointly  defined 
strategic  priorities; 

- The  cooperation  among  European  firms  which  has  positive  results 
when  it  can  flourish  under  the  stimulus  given  by  such  research 
programmes  as  ESPRIT,  industrial  programmes  Like  Airbus  and 
strategic  programmes  Like  the  Space  Agency. 

The  Community  must  therefore  as  a  matter  of  urgency  summon  up  its 
considerable  resources  to  reverse  a  trend  whose  present  consequences 
are  Lost 
dependence  and  the  emigration  of  its  finest  research  workers. 

market  shares,  Less  job  creation,  increased  technological 

The  Commission  considers  that  Europe  will  be  able  to  harness 
the  new  technologies  for  a  common  purpose  only  if  a 
genuine  European  Technology  Community  is  established  which: 

- exploits 

the  Community  dimension  to  the  utmost  extent  possible; 

- promotes 

the  greatest  possible  synergetic  ~ffects  from  the 

interactions  of  national  and  Community  efforts. 

Exploiting  the  Community  dimension 

The  Community  dimension  offers  the  following  advantages: 

It  will  guarantee  that  the  demand  for  products  and  services  supplied 
by  European  projects  can  expand  dynamically  as  the  result  of  the 
opening  up  of  public  contracts  and  the  adoption  of  international 
standards  preventing  the  walling-off  of  markets  and  restriction 
of  competition. 

There  is  therefore  a  close  Link  between  the  Commission's  proposals 
for  (a)  completing  the  continent-wide  market  and  (b)  creating  a 
European  Technology  Community. 

- The-Community  will  ensure  that  the  technology  effort  is  closely 
tied  in  with  common  policies  and  in  particular  with  trade  and 
competition  policies; 

- Through  .  cooperation  and  exchanges,  it  will  increase  the 

potential  of  purely  national  programmes  and  reduce  wastage  arising 
from  unnecessary  duplication. 

- 3  -

It  will  give  more  scope  to  the  universities,  individual  research 
workers  and  specialised  SMEs  (which  are  sometimes  overlooked  in 
strictly  intergovernmental  schemes  of  cooperation  owing  to  the 
complexity  of  industrial  groupings  and  institutional  structures). 

- Lastly,  the  Community's  R&D 

instruments  are  immediately 

available  and  can  be  adapted  to  the  needs  of  different  projects 
in  view  of  the  urgency  of  the  action  required.  Some  current 
programmes  (ESPRIT,  BRITE  and  the  definition  phase  of  RACE) 
can  provide  a  framework  for  projects  that  fall  naturally  within 
their  general  field  such  as  information  technologies,  broadband 
networks  and  new  materials. 

Synergetic  effects  of  Community/Member  Stat~s  interattions 

The  aim  is  to  combine  on  the  basis  of  clearly  defined  objectives: 

-

-

-

-

the  use  of  Community  programmes  proper; 

the·development  of  strictly  national  programmes; 

the  pooling  of  national  programmes  by  some  States,  including  non-
Community  countries,  possibly  with  an  additional  Community 
contribution; 

identifying  the  scope  for  the  synergetic  cross-fertilizing  of 
hatiorial  and  Community  programmes~ 

Just  as  it  is  neither  possible  nornecessary  to  bring  everything 
under  the  Community  umbrella,  so  it  would  be  just  as  inappropriate 
to  confine  the  Community's  efforts  to  the  portion  of  public  R&D 
expenditure  which  it  finances  from  its  own  resources,  even  though 
that.  portion_  is tobe substantially expanded.  Bridges  must  be  built 
between  programmes  at  different  Levels  - national,  intergovernmental 
and  Community  -
objectives  in  order  to  integrate  them  into  a  truly  Community  scientific 
and  technological  strategy. 

that  contribute  to  common  scientific  and  technological 

* 

* 

* 

Some  will  argue,  against  the  advantages  of  the  Community  dimension, 
that  the  Community's  decision  making  and  management  procedures  are 
complicated  and  cumbersome.  But  in  fact  the  aim  must  be  to  exploit 
all  the  possibilities  offered  by  the  Treaties  and  where  necessary 

- 4  -

adapt  their  prov,s,ons  in  order  to  9uarantee  that  account  is  taken  both 
of  the  interests  of  all  parties  and  of  the  need  for  prompt  decisions, 
flexible  and  decentralised  management  and  appropriate  financing 
arrangements. 

That  is  the  Commission's  aim  in  this  proposal,  in  the  conviction  that 
the  Community's  institutional  system  - which  needs  to  be  made  more 
effective  and  more  democratic  -
only  guarantee  for  the  European  identity  and  common  interests  againstthe 
weight  6f  national  sovereigntie~  Legitimately  conce~ned  to  put 
national  interests  first. 

remains,  in  the  Last  resort,  the 

II.  THE  EUROPEAN  TECHNOLOGY  COMMUNITY 

1.  Legal  and  political  bases 

The  European  Economic  Community  can  offer  the  necessary  basis  for 
Launching  a  true  European  Technology  Community,  so  designed  as  to 
allow  Member  States  to  reserve  or  restrict  their  participation  to 
certain  programmes  only. 

That  having  been  said,  the  European  Technology  Community  could  be 
brought  into  being  through  a  variety  of  institutional  arrangements, 
which  are  set  out  in  a  separate  paper; 
a  political  commitment,  of  contractual  force,by  Member  States  to  give 
the  ~ew.~Coi~µnity  the  powers  and  resources  to  take  action  in  its 
:field~ 

they  are  all  founded  on 

2.  Objectives 

The  fundamental  objective  is  to  strengthen  the  technological  bases 
of  European  industry  and  to  develop  its  international  competitiveness. 

To  serve  this  objective,  the  Technology  Community  must  have  the 
remit  and  the  resources  to  carry  out  certain  actions  in  the  interests 
of  the  Community: 
programmes  with  the  participation,  which  may  vary  from  one  programme 
firms  and  research  centres 
to  another,  of  the  Member  States, 
, 
and  to  carry  out  horizontal  or  back  up  measures  in  support  of  the 
TRD  programmes. 

technology  research  and  development 

to  conduct 

. 

It  is  not  proposed  at  this  stage  to  put  forward  a  definitive 
plan,  but  the  main  type,s  of  measure,  whether  or  not  they  are -to  be 
conducted  at  the  Community's  initiative,  can  be  set  out  as  follows. 

- 5  -

3.  Types  of  technolo~ical  research  and  development  (TRD)  projects 

and  programmes 

3.1  Research  on  generic  technologies 

The  main  object  of  this  type  of  project  is  to  induce  industrial 
firms  to  join  forces  and  cooperate  with  university  research  centres 
and  public  authorities  for  mastery  up  to  the  development  stage 
of  technologies  whose  specific  applications  will  spread  throughout 
the  industrial  fabric,  modernizing  processes  or  giving  rise  to 
new  products.  These  include  the  technologies  of  composite  materials, 
micro-electronics  and  Optronics  and  those  in  the  huge  field  of 
biotechnologies  (see  Annex). 

By  reason  of  their  very  purpose,  these  projects  are  generally 
restricted  to  the  pre-competitive  stage,  but,  over  and  above  the 
results  expected  from  scie~tific  and  technical  research,  they 
will  increasingly  draw  together  European  firms,  research  centres 
and  public  authorities  into  the  networks  that  will  be  the  foundation 
for  industrial  cooperation  proper  in  production  and  marketing 
structures. 

3.2  Development  and  exploitation  of  joint  facilities  for  basic 

research  purposes 

Europe,  both  Community  and  non-Community,  has  already  started 
on  the  path  of  joint  exploitation  of  Large-scale  equipment  and 
specialized  Laboratories  which  it  would  be  absurd  to  duplicate. 
It  was  the  motive  for  establishing  CERN  in  Geneva  and  the  JET 
project  at  Culham.  Other  projects  of  this  type  are  planned  in 
the  same  spirit,  such  as  the  Synchrotron,  and  the  Oceanography 
Centre.  The  human  and  matetial  capital  which  the  Member  States 
have  already  pooled  in  the  Joint  Research  Centre  (JRC)  can  be 
harnessed  in  a  public  service  mission  which  could  take  the  form 
of  a  programme  on  the  safety  of  the  environment  in  the  broad  sense 
and  the  definition  of  reference  standards. 

3.3  Strategic  programmes 

These  are  technology-intensive  programmes  or  major  talent- and 
resource-mobilizing  projects  whose  specific  purpose  could  be  a 
field  in  the  general  interest  (space  exploration,  for  example) 
or  the  supply  of  advanced  public  services  (telecommunications). 
In  this  type  of  programme  the  R&D  phase  is  only  preparatory  to 
the  public  investment  and  exploitation  phases. 

- 6  -

Beyond  their  specific  purpose,  the  strategic  programmes  would  seek 
to  open  up  a  "critical  mass"  of  public  contracts  in  strategic  sectors 
in  order  to  combine  demand-pull  with  the  technological-push  generated 
by  research  programmes. 

The  programme  of  the  European  Space  Agency  is  the  model  here. 
successes  have  restored  Europe's  confidence  in  its  technological 
and  industrial  capacities  and  shows  what  can  be  done  when  the  States 
of  Europe  aim  at  a  strategic  target  and  agree  to  pool  the  bulk  of 
the  national  resources  they  are  devoting  to  it. 

Its 

Another  model  could  be,  in  telecommunications,  the  RACE  programme 
proposed  by  the  Commission. 

The  IRIS  programme  proposed  by  the  Italian  Presidency  for  the  development 
of  the  European  market  in  the  "social  products"  of  informatics  could 
also  fall  into 

this  category. 

4.  Horizontal  back-up  tasks 

4.1 

International  cooperation 

The  European  Technology  Community  should  open  negotiations  with 
non-Community  countries  and  international  institutions  on: 

-

the  ways  and  means  whereby  it  could  take  part  in  their  research 
programmes  and  they  could  be  associated  with  its  own  TRD  programme; 

international  standards  for  exchanges  of  technology  (intellectual 
property,  competition  rules,  access  to  information,  restrictions 
on  technology  transfers  and  so  on). 

4.2  Coordination  of  national  and  Community  TRD  policies 

Besides  its  own  programmes,  the  European  Technology  Community  would 
also  be  required  to  promote  the  coordination  of  national  and  Community 
policies,  to  propose  the  means  of  strengthening  their  complementary 
aspects;  it  would  seek  to  instigate  concerted  actions  which  it  would 
encourage  by  bearing  coordination  costs  and  possibly  by  meeting  a 
minority  share  of  project  costs. 

4.3  Dissemination  of  knowledge  and  exploitation  of  the  results 

of  Community  programmes 

Community  action  must  not  be  Limited  to  developing  research;  it  must 
also  help  to  exploit  results  which  Lend  themselves  to  commercial 
applications. 

In  some  cases  it  may  be  useful  for  the  Community  to 

- 7  -

have  the  means  to  bear  certain  pre-development  costs,  at  Least  in 
part,  in  particular  in  the  case  of  innovative  SMEs. 

4.4  Stimulation  of  the  Community's  science  and  technology  potential 

This  type  of  horizontal  task  must  be  a  permanent  function  of  a  European 
Technology  Community.  The  aims  and  methods  can  be  defined  on 
the  basis  of  the  Lessons  taught  by  the  current  experimental  programme 
under  the  four-year  programme. 

In  this  context  it  might  be  possible
2
of  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
a  network  of  centres  of  excellence  recognized  and  supported  by 
the  Community.  These  centres  would  agree  to  cooperate  in  programmes 
for  information  exchange  and  research  worker  mobility  defined 
by  the  Community  and  in  framing  the  training  policies  required 
to  meet  any  Community  shortages  of  science  specialists. 

to  act  upon  the  suggestions 
for  setting  up  in  the  Community 

5.  Methods  of  cooperation  and  financing  arrangements 

The  aim  of  the  following  proposals  is  to  reconcile  unity  of  v,s,on 
ar:d  strategic  coherence  at  Community  Level  with  the  greatest  possible 
flexibility  in  the  management  and  financing  of  programmes  and 
in  the  Level  of  participation  by  Member  States  and  their  nationals. 

5.1  A coordination  framework 

The  Community  TRD  strategy  is  at  present  defined  in  a  multiannual 

framework  programme.  This  could  become  a  coordination  framework 
for  Member  States'  and  Community  policies  pursued  in  response 
to  needs  jointly  identified  in  certain  fields.  The  adoption  of 
such  a framework  programme  and its  periodic  review  would  give  all 
the  Member  States  the  opportunity  to  establish  in  every  field 
whether  Europe  has  an  adequate  S-T  base  and  whether  the  resources 
deployed  will  enable  its  industry  to  meet  outside  competition. 

In  the  institutional  system  of  the  Communities, 3  it  is  up  to 
the  Commission  to  fulfil  its  role  as  the  driving  force  by  issuing 
proposals  on  its  own  initiative  for  the  adoption  and  review  of 
the  framework  programme  and  following  up  its  implementation. 

2Esc,  Normann  report,  Information  report  on  EEC  shared-cost  research 
programmes,  Brussels,  1985. 
3
Which  would  also  be  that  of  the  Technology  Community  under  the 
basic  assumption  of  this  paper. 

- 8  -

It  is  up  to  the  Council,acting  on  the  Commission's  proposals  and  after 
consulting  Parliament,  to  adopt  the  framework  programme  and  to  establish  in 
agreement  with  Parliament  the  multiannual  cash  Limit  for  budget  resources  4 
to  cover  the  Community's  participation  in  the  financing  of  TRD  programmes. 

The  Council  decisions  adopting  the  major  specific  programmes  could  conceivably 
be  taken  unanimously,  but  the  ways  and  means  of  implementation  should  then 
be  decided  by  a  qualified  majority  and  with  considerable  delegation  of  executive 
powers  to  the  Commission. 

5.2  Flexible  cooperation  methods 

To  carry  out  ambitious  programmes,  forms  of  cooperation  must  be  found  which: 

- draw  together  for  each  project  those  partners  -

governments,  firms  and 

research  centres  - wishing 
of  the  costs  and  benefits  of  their  cooperation; 

to  participate  on  the  basis  of  a  clear  perception 

- Lead  to  the  establishment  of  industrial  consortia  and  the  organization  of 

intergovernmental  cooperation  in  such  a  way  as  to  harness  the  best  available 
skills; 

-

rely  on  a  European  network  of  research  establishment  and  universities  in 
regular  touch  with  each  other  and  able  to  act  as  centres  for  generating 
research  and  technology  and  disseminating  the  results; 

- allow  participation  by  partners  from  non-Community  countries. 

Without  going  into  the  detail  of  management  approaches  and  financing  techniques, 
the  wide  variety  of  the  methods  worked  out  under  the  Community's  research 
activities  should  be  noted. 

In  precompetitive  research,  the  most  widely  used  and  most  satisfactory 
management  method  at  present 5  is  the  shared-cost  project  whereby  the  Community 
awards  research  contracts  (50%  of  the  cost  financed  from  the  Community  budget) 
to  multinational  groups  made  up  of  university  research  centres,  public 
Laboratories  and  private  firms.  This  method  of  management  has  demonstrated  its 

4

community  financing  is  the  catalyst  for  eliciting  contributions  from  governments 
and  business. 
Community's  budget  procedures. 

These  Latter  sources  of  financing  do  not  fall  within  the 

5

According  to  the  ESC  survey  of  co-contractors  (ESC,  Normann  Report,  op.  cit.). 

- 9  -

effectiveness  in  the  ESPRIT  programme,  which  is  primarily  designed  to 
encourage  trans-European  cooperation. 

Another  method  is  the  concerted  action  involving  several  project  promoters 
who  share  the  financing; 
of  concerting  and  coordination  under  agreements 
concerned  and  certain  non-Community  countries. 

the  Community  defrays  only  the  administrative  costs 
signed  by  the  Member  States 

Finally,  additional  programmes 
wishing  to  take  part; 
field  as  soon  as  the  new  own  resotlrces  decision  has  entered  into  force. 

these  will  no  Longer  be  Limited  solely  to  the  nuclear 

are  financed  solely  by  the  Member  States 

Such  management  methods  can  be  further  adapted  to  take  account  of  particular 
requirements  and  to  allow  for  the  greatest  possible  degree  of  flexibility  in 
participation  by  Member  States  and  their  nationals  in  the  various  parts  of 
the  research  programmes. 

The  concerted  actions  could  be  broadened  to  cover  a  wider  range  of  sectors 
and  strengthen  their  coordination  capacity  with  a  modest  financial 
contribution  from  the  Community. 

The  Community  could  also  make  a  minority  contribution  to  national  or 
multilateral  measures,  public  or  private,  which  are  of  Community  interest; 
this  would  be  an  expanded  application  of  a  method  of  action  already  used  under 
programmes  to  stimulate  the  Community's  scientific  and  technical  potential. 

Where  it  is  a  matter  of  providing  assistance  for  the  exploitation  of 
results  with  the  aim  of  extending  the  support  given  to  precompetitive  research 
(predevelopment,  prototype)  and  promoting  the  application,  especially  by 
innovative  SMEs,  of  the  results,  the  Community  must  be  allowed  to  deploy 
non-budget  resources,  such  as  innovation  loans  and  risk  capital  holdings. 

The  management  tool  used  for  the  JET  programme  -
provided  for  in  the  Euratom  Treaty  - can  serve  as  the  model  for  other  projects 
for  the  joint  development  and  exploitation  of  major  scientific  facilities. 
It  presents  several  advantages: 

the  joint  undertaking 

•  variable  configuration  of  national  contributions 
•  opening 
•  Legal  and  financial  autonomy 
•  variable  Level  of  Community  budget  contributions. 

participation  by  non-Community  countries 

to 

- 10  -

Finally,  for  the  implementation  of  major  strategic  programmes  for  technological 
development,  plans  must  be  laid  for  establishing,  separately  for  each 
programme,  European  agencies  with  legal  and  financial  autonomy.  This  method 
has  been  adopted  successfully  by  the  European  Space  Agency  for  pooling 
national  resources  allocated  to  a  programme  of  common  interest. 

The  Community  nature  of  the  agencies  would  be  given  practical  expression  by 
the  link  with  the  framework  programme  and  the  minority  contribution  which  the 
Community  could  make  in  the  form  of  a  grant  (financed  out  of  own  resources) 
to  the  agency's  budget,  on  the  understanding: 

-

-

that  the  agencies  would  be  principally  financed  by  contributions  from  the 
participating  Member  States; 
Community  budget; 

these  contributions  would  not  pass  through  the 

· 

that  a  minority  contribution  from  the  Community  budget  to  the  agencies' 
operating  expenses  and  a  Community 
·  budget  guarantee  for  loans  issued 
by  the  agencies  should  be  possible  and  should  be  decided  on  a  case-by-case 
basis  by  the  Council  acting  by  a  qualified  majority. 

5.3  Mobilization  of  financial  resources 

The  scale  of  the  funds  needed  to  promote  technological  progress  and  face  the 
competition  from  other  major  countries  means,  as  the  European  Council  has 
recognized  at  successive  meetings  since  June  1983,  that  the  resources  allocated 
to  Community  R&D  must  be  substantially  increased. 

Nevertheless,  even  with  such  an  increase  and  counting  in 
the  Community's  other  financing  instruments  (borrowing/lending,  additional 
programmes, 6  and  so  on)  the  share  of  Community  resources  allocated  to  R&D 
will  still  be  only  a  small  proportion  of  the  total  amount  of  such  expenditure 
in  Member  States'  budgets. 

It  is  therefore  essential  that  national  efforts,  which  will  mobilize  the 
greater  part  of  resources  available  for  TRD,  should  be  targeted  on  common. 
objectives  and  a  clear  identification  of  the  priorities  adopted  by  each 
partner.  For  Community  measures  proper,  the  management  methods  and  financing 
techniques  (summarized  below)  open  up  wide  possibilities  for  adapting  to 
specific  situations,  the  variable  participation  of  Member  States  and  their 
nationals  and  the  association  of  non-Community  countries  or  international 
institutions. 

6

Provided  for  in  the  new  Decision  on  own  resources. 

- 11  -

The  proposed  plan  of  approach  therefore  assumes: 

-

-

that  the  Member  States  are  prepared  to  define,  in  a  Community  context, 
the  strategy  lines  for  action  at  both  national  and  Community  level; 

that  the  European  Council  will  confirm  its  determination 
to  increase  the  share  of  the  Community  budget  devoted  to  the  financing  of 
R&D  programmes. 

- 12  -

MANAGEMENT-METHODS  AND  FINANCING  TECHNIQUES 

Community  framework  programme 

•  Multiannual  budget  endowment  to  cover  all  expenditure  from  the 

Community  budget  provided  for  in  the  ·framework  programme 

1.  Research  programmes 

•  Shared-cost  projects  (e.g. 
and  private  co-contractors) 

50%  Community  budget,  50%  public 

•  Concerted  actions  (for  the  coordination  of  current  research 

activities  in  Member  States).  Expenditure  from  the  Community 
budget  limited  to  covering  the  general  costs  of  concerting 
and  coordination  (about  2%  of  total  cost); 
increased  in  some  cases  for  the  following  purposes: 

it could  be 

-

-

to  increase  the  incentive  to  cooperation,  in  particular 
where  research  activities  are  widely  dispersed  (medical 
research,  for  example); 

to  go  beyond  mere  concerting  of  existing  programmes  and 
encourage  the  development  of  hew  research. 

2.  Development  and  exploitation  of  - joint  facilities 

•  Joint  undertakings  with  or  without  participation  of  the  Community, 

all  Member  States,  non-Community  countries; 

•  Direct  action  by  the  JRC  under  the  Community  budget,  with  the 

possible  addition  of 

•  Additional  programmes  under  national  budgets. 

3.  Strategic  programmes 

either: 

Specialized  Community  agencies 

or: 

Bi-,  tri- or  multilateral  associations  of  public  or 
private  European  undertakings  (on  the  lines  of  Airbus). 

- 13  -

Sources  of  finance: 

•  Minority  contribution  from  the  Community  budget  to  agencies' 

operating  expenditure 

•  Contributions  (under  an  ad  hoe  breakdown)  of  the  Member  States 

(or  of  their  undertakings) 

Trading 
to  Member  States. 

receipts  of  agencies  and  invoicing  of  services 

Community  budget  guarantee  for  agency  Loan  issues. 

4. 

Measures  to-stimulate  the  Community's  S-T  potential 

•  Contributions  from  the  Community's  research  budget,  with 

possible  addition  of  assistance  from  the  structural 
Funds. 

5. 

Aids  to  exploitation  of  results  (defraying  of  predevelopment 
costs) 

•  Loans  to  SMEs  (application  of  new  technologies  and 

innovation) 

(NCI 

IV) 

•  Risk  capital  contribution  (pilot  experiment  now  under  way) 

•  Community  budget  Chapter  75 

•  Invoicing  of  services  rendered. 

(2) 

- 14  -

6.  Criteria  and  methods  for  selecting -priority  i'IH>-programmes 

Scarce  financial  resources  and  even  scarcer  human  resources  (and  Japan's 
example)  suggest  that  only  a  small  number  of  carefully  sele~ted  programmes 
should  be  Launched  at  the  same  time. 
decisive  voice  must  be  given  to  those  who  will  be  committing  their  assets 
and  whose  spirit  of  enterprise  will  be  the  key  to  industrial  success  at 
the  end  of  the  road.  The  aim  is  not  to  explore  every  possible  scientific 
avenue  but  to st:rengthe-nthe  technological  bases  of  European  industry. 

In  the  selection  of  programmes  a 

The  broad  criteria  for  the  selection  of  the  first  List  of  programmes  to 
mobilize  ta!entand  resources  and  serving  precise  objectives  could  be  as 
follows: 

•  they  must  make  a  substantial  contribution  to  strengthening  Europe's 
scientific  and  technological  potentia~ especially  in  fields  where 
the  international  competitiveness  of  its  industry  is  under  threat; 

•  be  of  major  economic  and  social  value  in  harmony  with  the  concerns  and 

characteristics  proper  to  our  society; 

constitute  measures  for  which  the  European  dimension  is  a  major  advantage 
or  even  a  necessity; 

they  must  be  sufficiently  attractive  in  aspiration  and  content  to  draw 
the  best  brains; 

•  they  must  attract  public  support. 

For  the  selection  and  detailed  planning  of  priority  programmes  and  projects 
and  the  definition,  for  each  of  them,  of  participation,  financing 
and  management  methods,  the  following  procedure  could  be  followed: 

•  A high-Level  group  of  senior  officials  under  the  Commission's  authority 
would  be  instructed  to  identify  strategic  options  and  priority  themes 
and  projects,  to  Lay  down  the  terms  of  reference  for  the  detailed 
definition-of  each  programme  and  to  draw  the  conclusions.  This 
executive  group  could  be  assisted  by  Leading  figures  from  research  (in 
particular  members  of  CODEST)  and  industry • 

•  For  each  theme,groups  of  experts  from  industry  and  research  convened 

by  the  Commission  would  define  precise  programmes  with  their  targets, 
costs,  time  scales  and  conditions  of  participation.  Each  group  would 
be  chaired  by  one  of  its  members. 

- 15  -

•  On  the  basis of  this  work,the  Commission  would  draw  up  proposals 

either  for  projects  to  be  implemented  at  the  Commission's  initiative 
or  for  the  means  of  associating  the  Community  with  initiatives  by 
Member  States  which  would  serve  common  objectives • 

•  After  consultation  of  the  high-level  group,  the  proposals  would  be 
sent  to  the  Council,  which  would  decide  on  the  Legal  and  financial 
details  for  each  programme  adopted. 

The  Commission  has  already  made  an  initial  study  of  themes  which  could 
be  adopted~  The  Commission  has  drawn  up  detailed  data  sheets  (attached) 
for  each  of  these  themes,  which  are  to  be  regarded  as  examples  rather 
than  proposals: 

1. 

Information  technologies  and  their  main  applications  e.g.  computer-aided 
manufacturing,  artificial  intelligence  and  the  supercomputer 

2.  Biotechnologies,  in  particular  genetic  and  biomolecular  engineering 

and  their  applications  to  health  and  agro-industry 

3.  New  (e.g.  superconducting  and  ceramic)  materials 

4.  Lasers  and  optics 

5.  Big  science  facilities  such  as  particle/radiation  sources  and 

advanced  windtunnels 

6.  Broadband  telecommunications 

7.  New-generation  means  of  transport 

8.  Use  of  space 

9.  Conquest  of  the  marine  environment 

10.  Education  and  training  technologies 

A necessary  first  step  is  to  instruct  the  Commission  to  launch  forthwith 
the  procedure  for  defining  these  priority  projects  so  that  some  projects 
can  be  approved  by  the  end  of  the  year. 

- 16  -

SYNERGETIC  AND  COMPOUND  EFFECTS 

The  following  project  areas  are  interconnected  in  many  ways  and 

mutually  reinforcing. 

Table  1  shows  the  level  of  interactions  between 

projects. 

To  complete  the  description  and  give  a  synoptic  view  of  the  whole  field,  Table  2 

shows,  for  the  measu~es  proposed,  their  potential  applications  ·and  their 

impact  on  competitiveness  and  employment,  and  Europe's  relative  position 

in  each  area. 

T  A  8  L  E 

PROJECT  INTERDEPENDENCIES 

xxx  very  important 
XX  important 
x  slight 

. very  slight 

Telecommunications 

Superco.,puters 

New  generation  of  transport  systems 

Health-care  technologies 

Education  and  Training 

Space 

Agri CU l tura l  industrial  project 

-
Deep-sea  exploitation 

'Infori-ation 
Technologies 

micro  and  opto-electronics. 
·Artificial  In.telligence  and 
........ ~red  Tnfnrma•inn  Prncessino 

Computer  Integrated  Manufacturing 
Advanced  materials 

. 

New 
l'laterials 

Superconduction 

Aerospace 

prop. 

Lasers  and  optics 

Large 

High-energy  physics 

accelerators 

synchroton  · 

Windtunnels 

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1.  Telecommunications 

2.  Supercomputers 

OBJECTIVE 

TECHNICAL 
An\JlHJl"'C 
stimulate  econo-1  high  / 
~ic  activity 
tJi gh  performanceJ high- / 

diversified 

computation 

I  diversified 

k  d 
3.  New  grneration  Transport  syst~rity  of  transp.  mare 

on fort and  secu

1 

TABLE 

2 

IMPACT 

OMPETITIVITY 

high 

high  in  small 
sectors 
high 

POSITION  OF 

POLYVALENCE 

I EUROPE 

good 

very  high 

EEC  ACTIONS 
CURRENTLY  IN 
TRAIN  OR 
PREPARATION 

. ~ 

~ 

~ACE,  TBB,  video 
conferencing 

EMPLOYMENT 
high/ 

positive 

none 

slight 

very  high 

ESPRIT 

lhigh  / 

positive 

good 

limited 

4.  Health-care  Technologies 

5. •Education  and.Training 

improvement  in 
health  'and  tongt 

. . . . -----------+----,-----,.--~ 

diversified 

high  / 

:optimisation  of  high/ 
human  resources 

d" 

.f.  d 
,vers,  ,e 

fyr 

·  marked  / 

ltonffii~ 
~2  ~q5V~r;1~~t"  .  positive 
importanttdue  ta  high/positive 
ra,nea  both  dirwctlY 
eed  for 
anpgw_er~.-- ___  &  1nd1rec!l.Y_ 

in  specialised  I slight/ 

6.  Space 

High  value 
,;id9ed  services 

high/ 

diversified 

-------:-..__-~---r.:Use of  bios.pher,  high/ 
7.  Agricultural  industrial 

sectors 
!high 

n.-o;•rt' 

· 

8.  Deep-sea  exploitation 

,....,,.. 

for-renewable 
1

~aw  inater·ials  I moderate/ 

. 

diversified 

and  agriculture 

specialized 

--I-f-o-~-.--.-,m-i_c_r_o_&_o_p_t_o ___ -+-.emxi:~vt~.:mgenfco. 
-
9
uric-
•  n 
. 

rma  1 on  ,  l 

t 

Technol  qjes'e  ec  ron1cs 

1 ~  1 n 
~W'en~freatim 01 

positive 

high/ 
·  positive 

within  traditior-weak/ 
al  industries 
very  high 
.. 

medium/ 

positive 

.  . . 
pos1tive 

. 

. 

I 
satisfactory  i  very  l11111ted 
' 

· .. 

high 

good 

__  -~ - - -

good 

good 

good 

I weak 

weak_ 

I full 

.- • 

Technical 
Eaucat1Oft 
Initiative 

potentially 
considerable 

CCR 
DGXII-DGVII I 

none 

biotechnC?logies 

. 

Artificial  Intel 
lJgence  and  ~dvanced  Informa-
t1on  Pr  cess,n 

11.  Computer  Integrated  Manufact-

uring 

· 

New  fllate 
rials, 

-l~vanced  materials 

1~. 
Super conduction 

I <o. 
Aerospace  prop. 

15.  Lasers  and  optics 

L 
artge  acce_ 
era  ors 

· 

Synchroton 
17. 

18.  Windtunnels 

, high/ 

l 
genera 
very  high 

"high/. 

diversified 

scientific  and  I high  i~ the 
tPchnical  progr~llong  term 
scientific  and  J high  long 

technic.progres 

term 
high-in  narrow 
sector 

;hypersonic  pro-
lP_uls ion 
Sc i ent ifi c  and 
tech.progress 

· 

high  narrow 
element.particu  sector 
· 
high/. 

diversified 

Photon-matter 
1nteraction 
i3¥S~RBffN  8~ 
ltran!!lnort 

high/  very 
specialized 

weak  , 

~very  high 

slight 

m!!dium 

medium 

full 

high 

high  in  the 
long  term 
in  the  high  in 
the  long  term 

slight  in  the 
short  term 
slight  in  the 
short  term 

high 

slight 

satisfactory 

very  high 

BRITE 

satisfac~ory 

important 

BRITE 

good 

good· 

high 

high 

marked/ 

diversified 

indirect 

slight 

indirect 

slight 

- high/ 
1

___ diY.eJ"..S.iii"rl 

!essential 

slight 

good 

good 

sl_i ght 

very  high 

l  A~~h  energy  physics  Researcb  into 

:..ery  indirect 

slight 

excellent 

slight 

ESPRIT 

ESPRIT 

ESPRIT 

..... 

-..J 

I 

A N N E X 

POSSIBLE  MOBILIZING  PROJECTS 

The  projects  listed  below  have  been  selected  because  of  their  potential 
they  should  be 
industrial  and  socio-economic 
regarded  as  examples  rather  than  as  final  proposals,  which  will  have  to  be 
examined  in  much  greater  detail  and  discussed  in  depth  and  be  the  subject 
of  consultations  between  the  various  parties  concerned  in  the  political, 
economic  and  scientific  arenas  of  the  Member  States. 

impact.  At 

this  stage 

1.  Information 

technologies 

and 

their  main  applications, 

such 

computer-aided 
supercomputer 

manufacturing, 

artificial 

intelligence 

as 
and 

2.  Biotechnologies, 

in  particular  genetic  and  biomolecular 

engineering 

and  their  applications  in  the  health  field  and  in  agro-industry 

3.  New  materials,  such  as  superconductors  and  ceramics 

4.  Lasers  and  optics 

5.  Large  sci enti fi c 

instruments  such  as  parti cle/radi at ion  sources  and 

advanced  windtunnels 

6.  Broadband  telecommunications 

7.  New-generation  means  of  transport 

8.  Use  of  space 

9.  Mastering  the  marine  environment  and  exploring  the  earth's  crust 

1O.Education  and  training  technologies 

1-1 

1.  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGIES  AND  THEIR  MAIN  APPLICATIONS 

These  technologies  include  microelectronics  and  optoelectronics, 
the 
software  industry  and  all  the  other  disciplines  associated  with  data 
in  other  words  all  the 
processing  such  as  artificial  intelligence, 
techniques 
the  acquisition, 
role 
an 
processing,  transmission  and  storage  of  information. 

that  play 

important 

in 

Large-scale  precompetitive  R&D  activities  are  being  conducted  in  this 
field  at  both  Community  and  national  Levels.  At  Community  level,  the 
for  Research  and 
(European  Strategic  Programme 
ESPRIT  programme 
represents  a  public  and 
Development 
in 
private-sector 
the 
period  1984-88. 

Information  Technologies) 
investment 

to  a  total  of  1.5  mill ion  ECU 

for 

of 

information 

technologies 

applications 

include 
The  main 
intended  to  meet 
telecommunications  (a  speci a L  Community  programme 
requirements 
the  Council), 
in  this  field  has  been  placed  before 
defence,  computer  integrated  manufacture  and  automated  office  systems 
(the  Last  two  sectors,  also  covered  by  ESPRIT,  are  of  major  strategic 
importance  with  regard  to  the  provision  of  products  and  services), 
ALL  are 
and  consumer  electronics  with  its  substantial  growth  rate. 
heavi Ly  dependent  on  both  advances  in  information  technologies  and 
further  development  of  them. 

In  all  these  sectors,  additional  emphasis  should  be  placed  on  two 
specific  fields  of  the  work  conducted  at  various  Levels  within  the 
Community 
then 
artificial  intelligence  and  advanced  information  processing. 

firstly  microelectronic  and  optoelectronics, 

MICROELECTRONICS  AND  OPTOELECTRONICS 

Microelectronics  is  at  the  heart  of 
from  highly  sophisticated  systems  such  as 
observation  satellites  or  professional  and  personal  computers 
watches  and  toys. 

thousands  of  products  ranging 
telecommunications  and 
to 
the  world  turnover  in  this  industrial 

Today, 

1-2 

sector  is  about  US$  30  thousand  million,  but  the  estimated  turnover 
in  other  sectors  in  future  years  which  make  use  of  microelectronics 
amounts  to  more  than  US$  660  thousand  million. 

in  order  to  fulfi LL 

the  visible  part  of 

the  electromagnetic 
Optoelectronics  utilizes 
the  same  functions  as  conventional 
spectrum 
electronics  (e.g.  data  transmission,  processing  and  storage). 
Its 
advantages  are  a  transmission  capacity  which  is  thousands  of  times  as 
great  and  a  speed  which  is  theoretically  1000  times  as  great. 

industry's  share  of 

this  rapidly 
European 
expanding  strategic  sector  is  very  small  : 
about  5  %  of  the  world 
market  in  the  case  of  the  most  advanced  products  and  10  % as  regards 
all  products  taken  together. 

the  world  market 

in 

The  small  volume  of  production  combined  with  the  Later  arrival  of 
microelectronic  products  on  the  market  (mainly  integrated  circuits) 
deprives  European  industry  of  a  source  of  revenue  comparable  to  those 
of  its  principal  rivals  to  finance  the  investments  that  are  necessary 
to  remain  in  the  race  or  even  to  enter  it  as  a  credible  runner. 

European  investments  over  the  Last  two  years  were  between  US  $  300 
million  and  US$  400  million  while  the  US  and  Japanese  firms  invested 
four  to  five  times  as  much  during  the  same  period. 

imperative  necessity 

As  in  case  at  present  in  the  USA  and  Japan,  a  cooperative  approach  to 
in 
is  becoming  an 
research  and  development 
Europe. 
ESPRIT  is  showing  the  way  for  coordinated  research  within 
the  Community:  it  is  hoped  that  proper  financing  will  be  accompanied 
by  a  number  of  major  mobilizing  and  coalescing  projects  in  both  the 
equipment  field  and  materials.  European  production  depends  for  basic 
materials  and  its  most  critical  equipment  on  imports  mostly  from  the 
US  or  more  recently  Japan.·  With  a  few  exceptions  this  dependence 
results  in  Europe  technology  suffering  from  delivery  delays  of  at 
Least  one  year. 
it  is 
to  re-establish  (or  establish)  a  certain  foothold  (even  by 
possible, 

as  Japan  recently  demonstrated, 

However, 

1-3 

aggressive  means  as 
in  a  carefully  chosen 
the  case  of  Japan) 
sector  of  the  market  and,  by  so  doing,  bring  about  further  advances 
and  growth  in  the  sector. 

in 

licence 
integrated  circuits  under 
The  supply  or  manufacture  of 
There 
appears  to  be  both  economically  sensible  and  devoid  of  risk. 
is  a  greater  level  of  integration  aimed  at  obtaining  both  better 
Increasing  amounts  of  system 
performance  and  lower  production  costs. 
manufacturers'  know-how  is  incorporated  into  the  silicon  chips  which 
are  sub-assemblies  with  considerable  added  value,  not  just  "simple" 
components. 

Two  examples  can  serve  as  illustrations 
- semiconductor  memories 
- microprocessors 

Both  these  could  suitably  be  covered  by  a  European  programme  since 
they  are  the  driving  forces  behind  the  development  of  the  integrated 
circuits  industry  and  data  processing  for  which  Europe  now  depends  on 
the  United  States  and  Japan.  Losing  control  over  these  sub-assemblies 
would  seriously  inhibit  innovation  capacities  as  regards  the  design 
an  area  in  which  Europe  has  traditionally  been 
of  complex  systems, 
very  strong,  and  would  result  in  a  brain  drain  and  loss  of  jobs. 

- Random  access  memories.  The  aim  could  be  create  a  64  megabit  memory 
by  1995, 
i.e.  a  chip  with  a  capacity  100  times  that  of  the  present 
advanced  circuits.  The  only  way  to  do  this  is  to  reduce  the  lateral 
dimensions  of  the  structures  (to  less  than  0,5  um),  something  which 

cannot  be  done  by  means  of  the  equipment  available  today, 
probably  based  on 
evolve  a  new  memory  cell  concept, 
dimensions.  The  project  would  call  for  around  2000  man-years. 

and  to 
three 

The  object  would  be 

to  design  and 
Advanced  microprocessor. 
construct,  within  five  year,  a  European-inspired  microprocessor 
incorporating  the  latest  results  in  terms  of  breakdown 
circuit, 
the  aid  of  an 
tolerance, 
appropriate  strategy, 
for  example, 
technologies  and  design 
certain  of 

architecture  and  addressing.  With 

a  joint  development,  using, 

the  micronic  manufacturing 

1-4 

systems  currently  being  studied 
programme, 
would  be  needed  for  this  project. 

the  ESPRIT 
could  result  in  a  standard.  An  estimated  1000  man-years 

the  context  of 

in 

used 

circuits, 

integrated 

these  widely 

systems 
Alongside 
manufacturers  want 
to  reduce  the  gestation  time  for  an  electronic 
assembly  in  order  to  make  it  more  competitive.  One  solution  seems  tb 
be  to  set-up  prototype  workshops  (foundries)  for  the  production  of 
integrated  circuits.  Because  there  is  only  a  very  limited  European 
market  at  present,  this  could  cover  construction  of  the  following: 
- silicon  signal-processing  circuits 
- very  high  speed  GaAs  circuits 

involve  the 

- The  "Silicon  Foundry"  project  would 

rapid  creation 
(approximately  2  years)  of  a  joint  European  workshop, 
first  using 
proven  CMOS-technology,  then  a  mixed  CMOS-bipolar  process,  properly 
adapted  to  this  type  of  application  like  those  developed  under  the 
ESPRIT  programme.  The  most  important  point  remains,  however, 
the 
development  of  CAD  tools  and  the  establishment  of  a  standard  cell 
in  order  to  achieve  fast  and  effective  integrated  circuit 
library, 
involve  1000 
It  is  estimated  that  such  a  project  would 
design. 

man-years  and  investment  in  a  suitable  production  line  (150  million 
ECU). 

Although  there  is  at  present  only  a  very  small  market  for  GaAs 
foundry  products,  there  seems  to  be  a  great  many  applications  : 
•  cache  memories  and  ultra-high-speed  arithmetic  units  for  super 

computers; 

•  processing  of  high-speed  signals  and  random  logic  for  broadband 

telecommunications  or  cellular  radiotelephony  for  example. 

The  considerable 
terms  of  both  equipment  and 
in 
brainpower,  required  for  R&D  in  respect  of  manufacturing  and  design 
technologies  for  ultra-high-speed  circuits  makes  the  idea  of  having 

investment, 

a  European  industrial  consortium  attractive  as  regards  developing 
the  technology  and  establishing  a  pilot  unit.  An  initial  estimate 
suggests  that  1000  man-years  would  be  required  over  five  years. 

1-5 

The  object  of  the  four  projects  described  above  is  to  maintain  or 

improve  Europe's  position  in  the  field  of  professional  electronics. 

In  order  not  to  be  left  behind  on 

the  high-definition  television 

markets  of  tomorrov  and, 

therefore, 

in  an 

important  part  of  the 

consumer  sector,  European  industry  must  provide  for  the  development 

of  a  range  of  specific  integrated  circuits  for  digital  coding  and 

decoding  of 

signals 

along 

similar 

lines 

to 

those 

current Ly 

recommended  for  satellite  television  (DC2-MAC-packet), 

as  soon  as 

possible  after  standards  have  been  defined.  With  the  development  of 

the  equipment  for  production  and  programme-recording, 

the  project  is 

likely  to  involve  around  1500  man-years  over  a  period  of  7  years. 

1-6 

ARTIFICIAL  INTELLIGENCE  AND  ADVANCED  INFORMATION  PROCESSING 

intelligence 
Artificial 
developing  very  rapidly. 
expert  systems  are  announced  at  frequent  intervals. 

is 
is  a 
New,  more  sophisticated  and  more  powerful 

recent  discipline 

fairly 

that 

Expert  systems  provide  a  considerable  improved  service  in  many  areas 
medicine,  biology,  chemistry,  geology,  design  aids 
of  application 
and  fault  detection  in  industry, 
They  have 
repercussions 
in  a L L  branches  of  the  economy  and  expect  a  direct 
impact  on  industrial  competitiveness. 

to  name  but  a  few. 

Although  European  technology  is  well  placed  here  (partly  thanks  to 
Japan  has  proved  in  the  past 
ESPRIT  and  a  few  national  projects), 
that  efforts  which  combine  basic  technology  with  a  careful  choice  of 
markets  can  place  it  in  a  strong  position  in  new  high-technology 
sectors  (for  example  memories).  Government  programmes  under  way  in 
Japan  and  the  United  Stated  and  the  concerted  R&D  efforts  of  American 
software 
companies 
this  fact  alone  should  convince  Europe  of  the  need  to 
technology; 
contemplate  intensifying  its  efforts  in  order  to  avoid  a  subsequent 

focusing  on  artificial 

intelligence  and 

are 

decline  in  its  industrial  competitiveness  in  these  key  sectors. 

The  entire  field  of  artificial  intelligence  and  advanced  information 

processing  is  currently  covered  by  the  Community's  ESPRIT  programme. 
The  efforts  undertaken  should  nevertheless  be  intensified  with  a  view 

to  : 

- enhancing  the  integration  of  simple  artificial  intelligence  systems 
into  the  more  complex  systems  which  more  closely  resemble  human 
thought  processes  and  are  more  capable  of  meeting  the  potential 

needs  of  users; 
improving  the  conditions  of  economic  production  in  order  to  reduce 

-

the  final  cost  of  such  systems. 

the  Lack  of  industrial 
The  diversity  of  the  fields  of  application, 
experience  in  the  use  of  such  systems  and  the  relative  "simplicity" 
of  all  present  day  systems  taken  individually  show  that  a  great  deal 

1-7 

of  investment  still  has  to  be  made  in  order  to  integrate  artificial 
intelligence  into  systems  that  can  be  used  by  professionals  who  are 
not  computer  specialists. 

Such  investment  should  cover: 

1.  The  industrialization  of  the  initial  results  already  obtained, 

focusing  on  : 

software 
systems  will  have  to  satisfy  industrial  production  criteria; 

as  with  any  software  - expert 

technology, 

since  -

the  architecture  of  complex  systems, 
in  order  to  enable  expert 
systems  to  cooperate  with  each  other  and  give  access  to  large 
Such  architectures  will  also  have  to  satisfy 
amounts  of  data. 
response  time, 
external  contraints  relating  to  confidentiality, 
man/machine  interface,  etc.; 

-

the  integration  of  these  components  into  specialized  systems  by 
means  of  design  aids. 

2.  The  intensification  of  research  on  basic  techniques,  with  special 
emphasis  on  modelling:  knowledge  models,  learning  models,  dialogue 
models  and 
in 
particular  from  progress  made  in  education  technologies. 

These  developments  benefit 

reasoning  models. 

3.  Industrial 

awareness 

for 

schemes 

new 
Such  action  can  be  facilitated  particularly  by 
the  disposal  of  those  concerned 

the  uses 

these 

of 

technologies. 
placing  specialized  centres  at 
(see  the  section  on  large  computers). 

Two  examples  of  projects  may  help  to 
desired. 

illustrate  better  what 

is 

1-8 

- Expert  system  for  weather  forecasting  and  the  environment 
- Knowledge-based  multi-sensor  system 

Each  of 
mentioned  above. 

these  projects  illustrates  one  of 

the  first 

two  points 

regard  to  integration  and 

industrial  competence  with 

The  aim  of  the  first  project  is  to  use  existing  basic  techniques  and 
apply  them  to  a  specific  case  of  sufficient  complexity  in  order  to 
improve 
the 
archtitecture  of  complex  systems.  This  project  needs  the  results  of 
representation  and  hardl ing  of 
current  studies  on  the  acquisition, 
knowledge  and  of  systems  interconnection  networks.  The  developments 
will  include  the  programming  of  a  complex  system,  the  construction  of 
a  knowledge  data-base,  and  the  design  and  production  of  architectures 
suited  to  cooperation  between  expert  systems.  The  project  is  expected 
to  take  some  1000  man-years  over  a  5  to  6  year  period. 

should  provide 

the  second  project  is  to 
by  linking  two  fields, 

intensify  studies  of  basic 
The  aim  of 
this 
techniques  ; 
project 
the  work  on 
knowledge  models  to  make  knowledge  accessible  to  acquisition  systems 
via  a  machine/machine  or  man/machine  interface.  The  work  involved  is 
expected  to  require  250  man-years  over  a  period  of  at  least  three 
years. 

sensors  and  knowledge, 

the  stimulus 

intensify 

to 

1-9 

COMPUTER  INTEGRATED  MANUFACTURING 

factory 

automation  within 

a  broader 
is  at 

Encompassing  a  range  of  technologies  that  make  it  possible  to  achieve 
framework  of 
integrated 
operations  and  company  management, 
the  heart  of  a 
continually  expanding  market  and  is  now  affecting  industrial  sectors 
where  it  was  unknown  (for  example,  the  clothing  and  food  industries). 
Statistics  show  that  the  European  market  in  the  computer-aided  design 
and  manufacturing  (CAD/CAM)  sector  alone  was  worth  US$  320  million 
that  this  market  will  represent  US  $  1.050 
in  1982  and  forecast 
million  in  1985  and  grow  by  nearly  50%  to  US$  1.550  million  in  1986. 

CIM 

Precisely  because  it  covers  several  pre-existing  sectors, 
yet  extremely  difficult  to  quantify  CIM  as  a  whole  accurately. 

it  is  as 

Europe's  wealth,  whi eh  was 
in  the  past  based  on  its  ability  to 
produce  goods  with  a  high  added  value  at  competitive  prices,  is  today 
threatened  by  competition  in  this  area  from  other  countries  that 
benefit  from: 

lower  labour  costs  (Asia  or  South  America); 

-
- more  stringent  quality  control  (Japan); 
- huge  internal  markets  (United  States); 
- direct  government  financing  (United  States  and  Japan). 

Progress  in  manufacturing  technology,  which  has  been  made  possible  by 
the  application  of  information  technology  (IT),  will  soon  have  a 
major  impact  on  factors  affecting  production  (such  as  the  effect  of 
labour  cost  on  the  overall  cost  of  production,  or  the 
the  direct 
importance  of 
large  scale  production,  which  is  partly  called  into 
question  by  flexible  manufacturing  systems  or  FMS). 

improvements 

reliability  and 
The  general 
in 
adaptability  of  manufacturing  systems  brought  about  by 
IT  offer 
Europe  a  unique  opportunity  of  regaining  its  predominant  position  in 
the  manufacturing  industry,  provided  it  makes  the  necessary  efforts. 

the  efficiency, 

1-10 

the  United  States,  major  R&D  activities  have  been 
In  Japan  and 
financed  by 
the  state  in  recent  years,  with  remarkable  results: 
public  funds  amounting  to  US  $  444  million  were  thus  spent  in  Japan 
between  1972  and  1982  on  stimulating  the  machine-tool 
industry. 
Japanese  exports  in  this  sector  increased 
During  the  same  period, 
from  about  half  to  three  times  those  of  the  United  States. 

The  Japanese  are  particularly  effective  in  ensuring  that  ideas  and 
energies  are  pooled, 
that  cross-fertilization  takes  place  between 
different  disciplines  and  that  there  is  continuity  between  projects. 

In  the  United  States, 
the  combined  effect  on  CIM  of  expenditure  by 
the  Department  of  Defense  (DOD)  and  civil  financing  is  considerable. 
time  been  actively  supporting 
long 
The  US  Air  Force  has  for  a 
developments  in  CIM,  which  has  made  it  possible  to  provide  decisive 
financial  support  for  a 
the  field. 
Interest  in  advanced  production  technologies  in  the  United  States  has 
In  general,  activities 
considerably  increased  since  the  seventies. 
The 
have  been  coordinated  by  the  DOD  within  the  MANTECH  programme. 
!CAM  (Integrated  Computer-Aided  Manufacturing)  programme,  which  was 
Launched  in  1977-78  by  the  US  Air  Force,  has  been  allocated  rapidly 

large  number  of  projects 

in 

increasing  funds. 

it 

let  slip 

Production  technologies  are  passing 
through  a  transitional  phase. 
is  being  given  of 
the  opportunity 
Europe  cannot 
capitalizing  on  existing  R&D  investments.  It  must  make  optimum  use  of 
the  assets  and  resources  that  exist  in  the  Community. 
The  world 
in  industrial  automation  will  probably  be  worth  something 
market 
between  US  $  65  million  and  75  million 
in  1989,  whereas 
it 
represented  only  US  $  15  million  in  1983. 
A great  economic  effort 
the  European  CIM  market 
needs  to  be  made  to  support  such  growth: 

should  double  over  the  next  four  years. 

Nevertheless,  without·  an  energetic  standardization  and  coordination 
effort, 
the  results  obtained  in  the  different  countries  would  not  be 
able  to  mesh  together,  and  the  risk  of  duplication  of  research  work 

would  be  great. 

(3) 

1-11 

large-scale 

The  economic  and  social  importance  of  CIM  is  decisive,  as  can  be  seen 
A motor  manufacturer  of  the  size  of  FIAT 
from  the  example  of  FIAT. 
threatening  to 
the  recession  (which  was 
owes  its  survival  through 
cause  the  collapse  of  the  firm  in  the  seventies)  to  a  great  extent  to 
in  its  production  processes. 
introduction  of  CIM 
the 
This  clearly  brought  about  major  social  upheavals, 
the 
involves  a  transitional  phase  during 
introduction  of  CIM  systems 
their 
which 
competitive  position 
the 
This  is  an  extremely  delicate 
creation  of  new 
taken  into  account  when  considering 
problem  which  will  have  to  be 
plans  for  European  involvement  in  CIM. 

is  not 
job  opportunities. 

immediately  counterbalanced  by 

it  enables 

improvement 

to  make 

since 

firms 

large 

the 

in 

it 

enable 

technological  dependence  on  the  United  States  and  Japan 
Furthermore, 
would  prevent  Europe  embarking  on  a  positive  reaction  process  which 
its  own 
would 
technological  advances. 
to  envisage 
production  systems  largely  based  on  European  technology  in  which  the 
direct  labour  cost  represents  less  than  10%  of  the  total  cost  of  the 
product. 

the  greatest  benefits 
It 

is  already  possible 

reap 

from 

to 

in  this  area  is  even  more  essential 

these  considerations  that  an  international 
It  can  be  deduced  from 
European  effort 
than  it  is 
desirable,  particularly  since  there  are  examples  which  demonstrate 
the  validity  of  such  an  approach:  one  of  the  most  obvious  examples  is 
the  ESPRIT  programme, 
in  which  the  Community  has  proven  that  it  is 
able  to  act  as  a  major  catalyst  in  promoting  R&D  on  the  technologies 
necessary  for  the  development  of  CIM. 
These  technologies  cannot, 
however,  create  wealth  in  themselves,  as  long  as  they  are  not  applied 
effectively. 

Two  projects,  which  are  described  below  are  therefore  being  proposed 
as  part  of  the  actions  planned  for  the  area  of  CIM.  One  is  aimed  at 
developing  integration  centres  for  the  elements  which  go  to  make  up 
computer-integrated  manufacture,  which  are  the  result  of  research 
and  which 
work  carried  out  by  European  manufacturers  as  a  whole, 
should  make  a  contribution  to  consolidating  their  position  on  the 
is  more 
European  and 

international  markets. 

The  other  project 

1-12 

specific,  namely  to  develop  a  virtually  independant  robot  to  operate 
in  a  hostile  environment.  This  second  project  is  a  concrete  example, 
with  a  particular  topic,  of  the  potential  of  the  new  technologies. 

1-13 

HIGH-PERFORMANCE  COMPUTERS 

The  new  computer  architectures  have  been  designed  either  to  increase 
computational  power  for  numerical-data  processing  (supercomputers)  or 
in 
to  make  possible  the  processing  of  symbolic  (non-numerical)  data, 
such  applications  as  artificial  intelligence. 

The  European 

industry,  which 

the  end  of  1983. 

The  supercomputer  market,  which  had  a  value  of  US$  15.000  million  in 
1984, 
This 
is  expected  to  show  an  annual  rate  of  increase  of  20%. 
market  is  a  US  monopoly  (IBM  and  three  other  companies), 
although  a 
to  fill  certain  gaps 
number  of  Japanese  firms  have  been  attempting 
since 
is  not 
represented  in  this  market,  has  concentrated  its  effort  on  medium  and 
European  users  are  totally  dependent  on  the  US 
low-power  computers. 
and  may  soon  be  similarly  dependent  on  Japan. 
These  users,  however, 
in  such  different  industrial  sectors  as  oi L  prospecting, 
are  found 
aerospace  - particularly  as  regards  wind 
the  chemicals  industry, 
tunnel  applications 
and 
meteorology  to  quote  just  a  few  examples.  Moreover,  only  a  Limited 
number  of  supercomputers  have  been  installed  in  Europe  owing  to  the 
scale  of  investment  required,  with  consequent  disadvantages  for  the 
the  universities 
whole  fabric  of 
(teaching,  research). 

(see  advanced  wind-tunnel  project) 

industry  (designers, 

users)  and 

-

Although  the  symbolic  data-processing  market  is  only  at  the  initial 
stage  of  development, 
it  is  expected  to  show  considerable  growth  as 
the  application  of  artificial  intelligence  becomes  more  widespread. 
Studies  reveal  a  potential  for  expansion  at  least  as  rapid  as  that  of 
Plans  for  the  development  of  appropriate 
the  supercomputer  market. 
the  Japanese  under  their  fifth 
machines  were  first  announced  by 
generation  project  and  a  similar  announcement  quickly  followed  from 
the  US,  where  a  Large  number  of  microelectronics  and  data-processing 
firms  agreed  to  pool  their  efforts. 

1-14 

it  makes  no  provision  for 

Although  ESPRIT  covers  the  design  and  development  of  such  machines  in 
Europe, 
them  to  be  made  avai Lable  to 
Such  experimentation  in  industrial 
industrial  or  university  users. 
contexts  provides 
improvement  of 
the 
design. 

indispensable  assistance  for 

A mobilizing  project  relating  to  new  computer  architectures  could  be 
devised  as  follows: 

1.  Design  and  development  of  new  architectures 

financial  resources, 

The  human  and 
competence, 
for  association  and  cooperation  at  the  European  Level. 

the  Level  of 
required  for  the  development  of  a  supercomputer,  call 

as  well  as 

Architectures  for  symbolic  data-processing  are  covered  by  ESPRIT 
and  some  of  the  relevant  projects  are  already  in  progress. 
A 
types  of 
parallel 

integration  of 

study  of 

these 

the 

two 

architecture  as  a  back-up  to  the  creation  of  information-handling 
systems 
could  make  use  of  expert-systems  architecture  and 
contribute  to  their  development. 

2.  Creation  of  service  centres 

Specialist  service  centres  could  be  created  in  order  to  accelerate 

the  execution  of  certain  studies  and 
the  exploitation  of 
results  obtained  from  ESPRIT  and  the  above-mentioned  projects. 

the 

These  centres  would  be 
complementarity  of  services, 
and  promote  the  use  of  advanced  new  computer  equipment. 

the 
speed  up  the  exchange  of  information 

interconnected  so  as  to  benefit  from 

They  would  make  it  possibl&  to  provide: 

- bases  enabling  the  designers  of  new  architecture  to  evaluate 

their  work  in  progress, 

1-15 

-

-

research  facilities  and  a  framework  for  teaching  and  training 
experiments  for  university  staff, 

the  software  and  basic  equipment  required  by  industry  for  the 
improvement  of  its  software  technology, 

-

the  user  services  required. 

Such  centres  could  be  distributed  throughout  Europe,  possibly  in  a 
specialized  form  such  as: 

- a  supercomputer  service,  operating  as  a  service  office1, 

- an  applications-support  centre  designed  to  familiarize  potential 
operators  with  these  new  computer  facilities,  provide  them  with 
training  in  their  use  and  enable  them  to  assess  their  impact  on 
existing  working  methods, 

- project-support 

centres, 

involving 

industrialists  and 
spread  of  European  products 
participants'  interests  (definition  of  standards). 

the  Commission, 
and 

the  participation  of 
the 
the 

designed  to  promote 
the  convergence  of 

The  scale  of  the 

investment  required  to  launch  such  a  project 

means  that  it  is  difficult,  not  to  say  impossible, 
for  industry 
alone  to  take  an  initiative.  These  difficulties  could  be  overcome 
by 
this 
the  establishment  of  European-scale  cooperation  on 
subject. 

Two  projects  may  help  to  illustrate  how  a  supercomputer  can  be  used 
in  these  fields. 

1  Service  office  :  provision,  within  a  network,  of  a  specialized  service 

shared  by  a  large  number  of  users. 

1-16 

- Supercalculator  for  numerical  data-processing 
encompassing 

calculators 

High-performance 
numerical  data-processing. 

both 

symbolic 

and 

The  aim  of  the  first  project  is  to  increase  computational  power  for 
numerical  data-processing  (100  GFL0PS).  This  can  only  be  achieved  by 
relying  on  a  number  of  complementary  sectors 
microelectronics  (As 
Ga  rapid  components,  seep.  1-4),  software  technology  (programming 
tools),  design  aids,  plus  a  number  of  sectors  where  it  can  be  applied 
(oil  prospecting,  chimical  industry,  aeronotics,  meteorology,  etc.). 
this  project  calls 
Given  the  multi-disciplinary  nature  of  the  teams, 
for  a  high  level  of  coordination  ; 
it  is  expected  to  take  2500  man 
years  over  5  to  6  years. 

The  second  project,  whi eh 
integrates  symbolic  and  numerical  data 
processing  involves  the  study  of  an  architecture  or  rather  a  family 
the  components  of  which  will  be  existing  computers 
of  architectures, 
(supercomputer,  non-von  Neumann  machines)  ; 
it  will  be  adaptable  to 
ranges  of  applications.  This  project  will  benefit  from  the  study  of 
systems  and  provide  a  back-up  for 
architecture  of  multi-expert 
the 
applications  requiring  high  performances  either 

terms  of 

in 

volume  of  information  handled  or  of  the  necessary  response  times. 
is  expected  to  take  some  2000  man-years  over  a  6  year  period. 

It 

2-1 

2.  BIOTECHNOLOGIES 

: 

infrastructures, 

research  support 

the  recent  advances 

in  biomolecular  engineering 

The  first  steps  taken  by  the  Community  to  master  and  exploit  modern 
biotechnologies  date  back  to  the  launching  of  a  research  and  training 
programme  in  the  field  of  biomolecular  engineering  (1982),  which  was 
followed  in  1985  by  the.approval  of  a  more  substantial  biotechnology 
programme. 
These  programmes  are  characterized  by  a  choice  of  topics 
and  implementing  procedures  that  should  make  it  possible  to  remove  a 
set  of  barriers  which  seriously  jeopardize  the  chances  of  exploiting 
in  Europe 
the 
the  failure  of 
inadequacy  of 
fundamental  knowledge  to  keep  up  with  new  methods  of  investigation, 
the  fragmentation  (or  even  divergence)  of  efforts  between  one  country 
and  another  and  between  publicly-funded  research  and  industry,  and 
the  difficulty  of  at  last  reaching  a  critical  mass. 
This  initial 
Community  action  represents  a  capital  of  invested  effort  which,  if  it 
is  to  be  fully  exploited, 
should  be  able  to  give  birth  to  major 
action  projects  that  pursue  commonly-recognized  objectives  and  whose 
The  Commission  is  today  in  a 
repercussions  whould  be  perceptible. 
position  to  implement  such  projects,  which  can  be  developed  on  the 
basis  of 
through 
programmes  in  hand,  to  stimulate  intense  activity  embracing  - without 
any  discrimination  between  disciplines  -
the  many  scientific  and 
technical  achievements  of  our  time,  and  lastly  to  combine  existing 
the 
resources 
Community. 

to  carry  out  pre-competitive  work  of 

that  has  been  built  up 

technological  knowledge 

interest 

to 

These  projects  can  be  classified  under 
three  main  headings  which 
illustrate  effectively  the  qualities  of  living  matter  and  the  nature 
of  its  relationships  with  the  environment  : 

1.  Genetic 

and  biomolecular 

technologies  as  applied 

to 

the 

exploration  of  the  properties  of  living  matter; 

2.  Agro-industrial 

technologies 

for 

the  benefit 

of  better 

cooperation  between  agriculture  and  industry; 

3.  Health 

technologies 
preventive  medicine. 

for 

the  benefit  of 

the  development  of 

2-2 

I.  Genetic  and  Biomolecular  Technologies 

Introduction 

in 

lines, 

However, 

time  giving  rise 

Selection,  on  the  other  hand, 

the  continuity  of  phylogenetic 

Genomes  constitute  the  basis  for  differentiation  between  species  and 
for  their  "competitive"  properties.  One  intrinsic  quality  of  genomes 
through  the 
is  their  capacity  to  reproduce  themselves. 
their 
in 
generations  and 
infinitesimal  variations  which 
reproduction  is  subject  to  continual, 
accumulate 
the  well-known  phenomenon  of 
to 
Evolution  is  registered  by  the  genome  and  is 
evolution-selection. 
inherent  to  life. 
is  artifactual, 
resulting  from  the  "dialogue"  between  genes  and  an  unstable,  changing 
The  process  of  evolution  and  selection  not  only  leads 
environment. 
to  an  enriching  of  the  biosphere  by  diversifying  the  capacities  of 
in  chance  errors 
but  also  results  accidentally 
living  beings, 
(evolutionary 
eras; 
geological 
of 
the 
individual,  genetic  defects  and  handicaped  persons  on  the  scale  of 
It  has  always  been  characteristic  of  human 
human  generations). 
activity  to  exert  a  strong  influence  over  the  selective  pole  of  the 
evolution-selection  binomial, 
by  selecting  animal  and  plant 
e.g. 
species  for  agriculture  and  by  collecting  microbial  stock  for  food 
fermentations. 

cul-de-sacs 

scale 

of 

the  techno logi ea l  society  is 
Towards  the  end  of  the  20th  century, 
faced  with  the  effects  of  a  vastly  increased  capacity  to  understand 
and  master  the  evolutionary  mechanisms  of  biomolecules  and  species, 
which  have  until  now  been  a  mystery  to  us. 
It  is  possible  for  the 
first  time  to  control  both  poles  of  the  evolution-selection  binomial 
leap  forward  which  is  at  the 
simultaneously. 
origin  of  this  unprecedented  situation  comes  from  the  development,  in 
only  ten  years,  of  a  number  of  molecular  tools  which  are  prodigiously 
successful  in  elucidating  the  mechanisms  underlying  the  properties  of 
in•  parallel  with  the  development  of  increasingly 
living  organisms, 
effective  back-up 
retrieving  and  processing 
instrumentation 
biological  data. 

technological 

for 

The 

2-3 

In  the  present  state  of  basic 
projects  would 
technologies 
Community: 

technologfoal  knowledge, 

two  big 
immediately  make  use  of  the  most  advanced  genetic 
industrial 

the  scientific  and 

the  benefit  of 

for 

-

the  description  of  the  genomes  of  a  number  of  higher  organisms  and 
the  genetic  and  molecular  exploration  of  some  of  their  functional 
properties  with  important  implications  for  the  medical  sector  or 
agro-industry; 

- directed  evolution  making  it  possible  to  plan  development  at  the 

level  of  molecules  and  organisms. 

A.  Description  of  the  structure  of  the  genomes  of  certain  higher 
organisms  and  of  the  mechanisms  determining  important  functional 
properties 

This  is  a  task  very  much  of  the  moment  both  because  of  the  size  of 

In 

stake 

the  present 

is  providing 

involved  and  both  of 

is  molecular  biology  which 

synergy  between 
the 
cell 
traditionally  isolated  disciplines  such  as  formal  genetics, 
the  forfront  of  this  mutual 
biology  and  molecular  biology. 
enriching 
formidable 
investigatory  tools  such  as  restriction  enzymes  for  gene  cutting  and 
grafting  (splicing),  molecular  hybridization  techniques  to  identify 
two- or  three-dimensional  electrophoresis 
genes  with  DNA  probes, 
techniques  to  describe  the  polymorphism  of  DNA, 
RNA  or  protein  types 
and  the  kinetics  by  which  they  appear,  specific  marking  by  monoclonal 
the  ever-increasing  number  of  molecular 
antibodies  and,  of  course, 
cloning  vectors  permitting  in  vitro  purification,  amplification  and 
mobility  betwen 
unlimited 
number  of  genetic  properties. 

the  different  hosts  of  a  theoretical, 

study  of  genomes  has  become  central 

The 
because  : 

to  genetic 

technology 

-

immediate  use  of 

the  most 
the  abovementioned  molecular  tools 
consists  in  using  them  to  explore  the  genome  and  the  way  in  which 
it  functions; 

2-4 

-

in  a  more  distant  future, 
their  exploitation  in  medicine,  industry 
and  agriculture  will  depend  on  how  well  the  structures  and  means  of 
regulation  of 
sources  of  new  genetic 
properties)  of  useful  organisms  are  understood. 

the  genomes 

(the  only 

The  genome  contains  all  the  silent  or  expressed  genetic  data  that 
each  organism 
the  genetic  "pool"  of  its  succeeding 
generations. 

transmits  to 

The  project  should  be  approached  in  two  ways 
total  genome  and  on  that  of  the  important  property. 

:  on  the  basis  of  the 

- As  regards  the  whole  genome, 

(genomic 

At  his  Level, 

the  task  is  so  complex  and  important 
that  well-reasoned  choices  must  be  made. 
One  or  two  animal  and 
plant  species  should  be  selected  and  a  full  set  of  data  compiled  on 
libraries),  with  physical  maps  being 
their  genomes 
produced  gradually. 
Since  the  structure  of  genomes  is  not  fixed, 
it  will  be  important  to  gain  a  better  understanding  of  their  stable 
the  si Lent  sections  of  the 
states  and  changes. 
genome  are  particularly  important  and 
the  project  will  have  to 
inc Lude 
the  study  of  genetic  data  sequences  common  to  different 
genomes,  the  study  of  repeated  DNA  sequences  Can  as  yet  unexplained 
minority  factor  in  animals  and  a  majority  one  in  plants),  and  the 
study  of  the  kinetics  of  transposable  elements.  Unless  account  is 
taken  of 
no 
Long-term  protocol  is  conceivable  either  for  the  transfer  of  genes 
the 
to  human  beings  or  for 
between  species 
correction  of  certain  genetic  defects  affecting  human  health. 

internal  organization  of  hereditary  material, 

that  are  useful 

the 

- On  the  basis  of  the  important  property, 

it  is  essential  to  be  able 

reconstitute 

the  metabolic 

to 
the 
expression  of  a  useful  character,  and  to  trace  back  the  molecular 
the  function  subject  to  the  control  of  a  given 
path  which  make 
· It  is  the  expressed  part  of  the  genome  whi eh  is 
number  of  genes. 

intermediaries 

involved 

in 

• 

and  this  task  - whi eh  complements  the  preceding 
then  explored, 
one  -
can  be  satisfactorily  completed  only  if  it  is  perfectly 
targeted  on  a  limited  number  of  properties  that  are  "useful"  (in 
terms  of  their  exploitation  by  man)  or,  at  all  events,  "important" 

2-5 

further  developed. 

latter  aspect  concerns, 

Cin  terms  of  health  and  resistance  to  illness).  This  project  could 
then  provide  a  knowledge  base  and  a  technological  platform  enabling 
preventive  medicine  or  the  improvement  of  animal  and  plant  species 
to  be 
in 
The 
particular,  genetic  engineering  applications  in  agriculture,  which 
the 
are  still  held  back  by  our 
biochemistry, 
that 
importance  of 
determine 
senescence,  reproduction,  hybrid  vigour,  symbiosis,  the  build-up  of 
proteins,  carbohydrates  and  oils,  etc. 
These  characters  must  be 
precisely  defined  in  terms  of  essential  functions  and  underlying 
mechanisms  if  the  effectiveness  of  genetic  engineering  is  to  be 
increased  and  the  scope  of  its  applications  broadened. 

lack  of  basic  knowledge  of 
the  characters 
the  higher  plants 

physiology  and  genetics  of 
economic 

the 

The  number  of  these  essential  functions  and  of  the  corresponding  gaps 
in  the  knowledge  we  could  possibly  have  of  them  is  today  so  great 
that  no 
rational  and  effective  effort  could  be  made  without 
extensively  pooling  the  skills  and  resources  that  have  scattered 
The  pooling  of  all  these  skills 
among  a  few  European  laboratories. 
is  not  merely  necessary  in  order  to  attain  a  critical  mass  in  terms 

of  scientific  investments  and  optimum  distribution  of  research  work; 
the  parallel  development  of 
it  is  also  a  requisite  condition  for 
advanced  research  on  a  few  plants  that  are  cultivated  on  a  large 
scale  and  constitute  some  of 
the  common 
in  terms  of  its  capacity  to  produce  a 
agricultural  policy:  barley, 
high-calorie 
is 
nutritional 
perfectible  Camino  acids),  the  field  bean  as  a  source  of  protein,  and 

feedingstuff  whose 

the  challenges 

facing 

animal 

value 

oilseed  plants,  not  to  mention  the  many  other  species  that  make  it 
possible  to  exploit  natural  fibres  and  secondary  metabolites  or 
merely  constitute  useful  sources  of  genes  for  protocols  involving 
transfer  through  natural  reproductive  barriers  (resistance  genes, 
etc.). 

2-6 

B.  Methods  for  controlling  molecular  evolution 

A project  aimed  at  making  it  possible  to  plan  molecular  evolution  can 
be  tackled, 
as  in  the  preceding  case,  via  an  approach  based  on 
function  (a  peptide  or  an  enzyme  function)  or  an  approach  based  on 
the  encoding  molecule  · (which  on  this  scale, 
is  not  a  genome,  but  a 
simplified  molecular  matrix,  an  RNA). 

The  function-based  approach  is  tackled 
in  the  context  of  protein 
engineering,  which  is  the  subject  of  a  Commission  project  that  forms 
part  of  its  current  biotechnology  programme.  Although  this  project  -
which  is  still  inadequate  when  compared  with  the  number  of  active 
is  becoming 
molecules  whose 
is  sure  to  develop  far  beyond  the  limits  of  the  current 
desirable  -
programme, 
it  will  not  be  included  in  this  sheet  as  a  new  project 
designed  to  strenghten  the  technological  base  already  operational  in 
the  Community. 

functional  analysis 

structural  and 

The  encoding  molecule ·approach  is  concretized  in  the  development  of  a 

in  order  theoretical Ly 

highly  futuristic  technology  designed  to  provoke  the  acceleration  of 
over  a 
molecular  evolution 
compressed  timescale, 
some  of  the  evolutionary  processes  which  may 
have  given  rise  to  life  on  earth.  The  approach  springs  from  a  theory 
that  molecules  organize 
<"the  hypercycle">  based  on 
themselves  spontaneously  in  conditions  in  which  Darwinian  selection 
takes  place. 

to  reproduce, 

the  belief 

in 

the 

illustration 

the  principles  on  which 

this  theory  is  built  have  found 
Some  of 
perfect  experimental 
replication 
in  vitro 
properties  of  a  molecular  matrix  CRNA).  This  system  is  capable  of 
reproducing  the  type  of  events  that  were  probably  involved  in  the 
origin  of  life,  by  producing  random  sequences  of  genetic  information 
through  RNA  reproduction. 
Since  such  reproduction  allows  a  limited 
this  sel f-repl i eating  process  gives  rise  to 
degree  of  inaccuracy, 
The  method  is  aimed  at  establishing 
variations  in  the  phenotypes. 
types  of  sequences  can  appear  in  each  replication  cycle  and 
what 

studying  the  possibility  of  producing  a  spectrum  of  all  the  possible 
types  of  sequences  that  is  sufficiently  dense  to  make  it  possible  to 

2-7 

select  those  which  offer  a  phenotypical  advantage  and  identify  the 
the  acquisition  of  a  property  under 
structures 
investigation. 

responsible  for 

for  known  proteins, 

technology  developed  to  build  this  "machine  for  accelerating 
The 
molecular  evolution"  should  be  exploitable  for  the  screening  of  very 
large  numbers  of  genetic 
those 
to 
for  optimized 
encoded 
biotechnological  properties.  It  will  make  it  possible  to  produce,  in 
accelerated  time,  macromolecules  bearing  genetic  information  of  a 
the  combination  of  which  would  perhaps  not  have 
novel  nature, 
had  the  chance  of  occurring  in  nature. 

information  sequences  similar 

to  select 

in  order 

i.e. 

Biotechnological  applications  are  still  subject  to  the  development  of 
appropriate  technological  processes  for  automated  series  dilution, 
incubation  of  molecular  populations  and  growth 
the  synchronized 
measurements,  all  of  which  will  require  sophisticated  instrumentation 
based  on 
longer  have  to 
depend,  however,  on  any  hypothetical  progress  in  science,  since  it 

laser  and  computer  technology. 

They  no 

has  been  demonstrated 
biological  evolution  and  selection. 

that 

they  are 

founded  on 

the 

logic  of 

II.  Agro-Industrial  Technologies 

developments 

in  knowledge 

notably 
in 
Rapid 
biotechnologies  and  automation, 
the  socio 
economic  environment  in  which  agriulture  operates  as  a  producer  of  a 
great  variety  of  renewable  materials, 
some  of  which  are  produced  in 
excessive  quantities,  while  others  are  insufficient  for  our  needs. 

techniques, 
rapidly  altering 

are 

and 

the  nature,  volume  and  marketing  of  these  products  give 
Furthermore, 
rise  to  problems  which  research  must  help  to  solve, 
in  particular  by 
providing  openings  for  greater  diversification  and  an  improvement  in 
and  in  their  use  by  the 
the  quality  of  the  raw  materials  produced, 
consumer  and 
Such  developments  would 
obviously  reduce  the  cost  of  the  common  agricultural  policy,  which 
currently  accounts  for  the 
the  Community  budget. 
Indeed,  closer  integration  of  agricultural  and  industrial  activities, 

the  industrial  networks. 

lion's  share  of 

2-8 

whi eh  has  become  desirable  and  possible  mainly  through  developments 
in  the  new  biotechnologies,  could  lead  to  favourable  developments  and 
it  is  now  possible  to 
new  openings  for  the  CAP.  Among  other  things, 
transform  agricultural  products  into  chemicals, 
so  introducing  a  new 
flexibility  into  the  use  of  our  resources. 

If  agricultural  production  is  to  be  better  matched  to  the  needs  of 
land 
agricultural 
consumers 
management  and  use  of  agricultural  products  must  be  implemented. 

projects  based  on 

industry, 

and 

A.  Projects  for  improved  Land  use  better  adapted  to  the  market 

- Development  of 

remote-sensing  and  computerized  soil-management 
techniques  in  order  to  achieve  the  optimum  balance,  at  regional 
level,  between  various  types  of  crops,  grassland,  woodland  and 
leisure  areas. 

Improvement  of  the  agronomic  properties  of  crops, 

so  as  to  reduce 

required 

amount  of 

(fixation  of  atmospheric 
fertilizer 
the 
nitrogen)  and  pesticides  in  order  to  cut  input  costs  and  damage  to 
the  environment; 
improved  adaptability  of  plants  to  difficult  eco 
climatic  conditions. 

- Development  of  crops  better  matched  to  the  needs  of  the  consumer 
(such  as  improving  the  nutritional  and  organoleptic  properties)  and 
industry  (polysaccharides,  oils  and  fats  with  special  properties, 
molecules  with  high  added  value,  fibres,  etc •• ). 

B.  Projects  for  better  use  of  products 

- Use  of  starch  and  sugar  as  raw  materials,  under  certain  market 
for  a  wide  range  of  industrial  products  (organic  acids 

conditions, 

and  antibiotics). 

2-9 

- Separation,  treatment  and  new  uses  of  milk  derivatives. 

- Development  of  biosensors  to  verify  the  quality  of  food  products 
to 
the  agri-foodstuffs  production  chain, 

throughout 
respond  more  fully  to  consumer  concern  about  food  quality. 

in  order 

Agricultural  and  agri-foodstuffs  engineering 
especially 

tools, 
through  use  of  advanced  monitoring  and  analytical 

improve 

to 

techniques. 

C.  Demonstration  projects 

- Growing  and  exploiting  industrial  products,  at  farm  level,  based  on 
technical  and  economic 

for 

improved  or  radically  new  species, 
evaluation. 

New  harvesting  and  on-farm  processing  methods,  in  the  spirit  of  the 
agricultural  refineries  described  by  Rexen  and  Munck( 1). 

III.  Health  Technologies 

The  extremely  spectacular  progress  which  is  now  taking  place  in  the 

cell  pathology  and 

fields  of  genetic  engineering, 
scientific 
instrumentation  should  make  it  possible  to  achieve  a  considerable 
improvement  in  diagnostic  methods  (particularly  early  diagnosis)  and, 
as  a  result, 
in  the  rapid  treatment  of  developing  diseases  or  the 
protection  of  individuals  who  are  especially  susceptible  to  certain 
forms  of  attack  from  the  environment. 

The  contribution  of  the  new  technologies  to  preventive  medicine  can 
take  a  wide  variety  of  forms, 
encompassing  basic  applications  of 
genetic  engineering  and  new  developments  in  the  fields  of  scientific 
instrumentation  and  medical  equipment. 

2-10 

A.  Applications  of  genetic  engineering 

Manufacture  of  effective  totally  non-virulent  vaccines 

It  is  now  possible,  by  means  of  gene  cloning  in  bacteria  or  by  the 
to  produce  antigens  (principally 
total  synthesis  of  polypeptides, 
viral)  which  possess  effective  vaccinal  properties, 
and  do  not 
necessitate  the  maintenance  of  expensive  cell  cultures  or  entail  any 
risk  of  the  spread  of  living  micro-organisms.  Foot-and-mouth  disease, 
rabies  and 
intestinal  corona  viruses  are  examples  of  serious  and 
highly  contagious  diseases  in  response  to  which  this  manufacturing 
strategy  could  be  made  rapidly  operational  within  the  Community. 

The  production  of  monoclonal  antibodies 

tissue 

the  ability  to  eliminate 

the  chemical 
Monoclonal  antibodies  have 
stimulated  their  synthesis.  They  are  formed  by 
substances  whi eh 
hybridomas  (i.e. 
laboratory-produced  hybrid  cells  which  combine 
by 
the  ability  of  a  tumour  to  reproduce  indefinitely  with  the  capacity 
of  a  normal 
to  synthesize  a  given  antibody).  Monoclonal 
antibodies  are  already  used  in  general  serology  for  the  purification 
the  diagnosis  of 
of  macromolecules, 
infectious  diseases..  A  community  R&D  effort  could  result  in  their 
immunization 
being  used 
against  viral  or  bacterial  diseases, 
immune 
responses, 
the  localization  and  identification  of  tumour  cells  and 
the  treatment  of  auto-immune  diseases,  and  cancers. 

the  near  future  for  such  purposes  as 

and  blood-typing  and 

the  manipulation  of 

cell-

in 

Synthesis  of  nucleic  acid  probes 

DNA  (or  RNA)  probes,  which  reproduce  a  definite  sequence  of  genetic 
information  capable  of  recognizing  the  same  information  and  linking 
range  of 
it, 
up  with 
applications. 
enables 
genetic  information  to  be  reproduced  from  its  product,  has  made  it 

reverse  transcriptase,  which 

offer 
An  enzyme, 

industries  a  vast 

the  medical 

possible  to  isolate  and  clone  such  information  and,  as  a  result, 
obtain  polypeptides  Cinsul in-growth  hormone, 

to 
etc •• )  whi eh  are  of 

enormous  interest  to  the  pharmaceutical  sector. 

4) 

2-11 

the 

than  antigen  variance  for 

regards  preventive  medicine, 

the  probe  method  provides  a  more 
As 
identification  of 
effective  means 
certain  types  of  (viral  or  bacterial)  attack  to  which  the  organism  is 
subject  and,  as  a  result,  for  the  classification  of  the  virulence  of 
the  strains  and  their  particular  affinity  for  a  given  animal  species 
or  category  of  individual.  Community  research  will  make  it  possible 
to  exploit  the  probe  method  more  effectively  and  to  apply  it, 
in 
to  the  typology  of  numerous  viruses  or  bacteria  which 
particular, 
epidemiologists  require  for  confirming  their  diagnoses. 

B.  Scientific  instruments  and  medical  equipment 

an 

in 

instruments 

can  also  make 

the  United  States, 

to  X-rays)  provides  a  good  example  of  a 

(particularly  medical 
The  development  of  scientific 
electronics)  and  heavy  medical  equipment,  which  is  already  extremely 
advanced 
important 
contribution  to  preventive  medicine.  This  development  requires  an 
extensive  electronics  and  data-processing  infrastructure,  whi eh  is 
lacking  in  Europe.  Nuclear  magnetic  resonance  Ca  technique  for  the 
the  external  measurement  of 
selective  visualization  of  organs  or 
their  metabolism  based  on  their  chemical  properties  rather  than  their 
revolutionary 
opacity 
(UK)  which  has  been 
diagnostic  tool  mainly  developed 
exploited  on  a  large  scale  in  the  US  and  Japan. 
In  this  field  as  in 
treatment  of  deafness  and  eye 
(help  for  hemiplegics, 
many  others 
interpretation  of  radiographs,  etc •• ) 
trouble,  patient  monitoring, 
there  is  a  need  to  combine  the  considerable  breakthroughs  made 
in 
in  the 
electronics  and  data  processing  with  the  advances  achieved 
technology  applied  to  the  living  being. 
In  this  instance  also  the 
scale  of  the  task  to  be  accomplished  makes  a  Community  response  the 
only  viable  option. 

in  Europe 

In  the  case  of  both  genetic  engineering  applications  and  medical 

instrumentation  it  appears 
that  Europe's  backwardness  cannot  be 
attributed  to  a  lack  of  ingenuity  on  the  part  of  its  research  workers 
but  that  it  is  mainly  due  to  the  fragmentation  and  isolation  of  their 
frequently 
activities 
the 
separates  university 
The 
from 
critical  scale  required  for  breakthroughs  in  preventive  medicine  can 

compartmentalization  which 
research 

industrial  application. 

too 

and 

2-12 

only  be  achieved  through  a  pooling  of  resources  and  infrastructures 
in  the  Member  States  and  Community  efforts  to  ensure  that  they  are 
used  in  a  systematic  and  rational  manner. 

3.  NEW  MATERIALS 

take  pride  of  place 

in  all  technological  achievements, 
Materials 
in  technological 
since  they  generally  constitute  a  sticking  point 
Any  nation  or  group  of  nations  which  were  to  lose  mastery 
progress. 
of  this  field  would  find  itself  in  a  state  of  dependence  on  other 
countries,  not  only  for  supplies  of  the  materials  themselves,  but 
also  in  terms  of  the  technological  achievements  made  possible  by  such 

materials. 

The  future  of  such  sectors  as  the  motor  or  aviation  industries, 
success  of  space  programmes, 
kinematic  robots,  biotechnologies  (using  membrane  technology, 
example), 
dependent  on  progress  in  the  materials  field. 

the 
the  development  of  highly  sophisticated 
for 
and  the  development  of  bio-compatible  prostheses  are  all 

through 

fatigue  or  their  deterioration 
than  200.000  mi  L Lion  ECU  each 
The  deve Lopment  of  new  types  of  po Lymers  and  of  automated 
for  example,  would  enable  these 

The  failure  of  materials 
through  corrosion  costs  Europe  more 
year. 
Large-series  production  techniques, 
economic  Losses  to  be  reduced  considerably. 

important 
The  actual  production  of  advanced  or  new  materials  is  an 
economic  activity. 
The  world  market  in  ceramics,  which  is  currently 
worth  more  than  US$  400.000  million  (of  which  a  60¾  share  is  held  by 
increase  to  US  $  20.000  million  over  the  next  ten 
Japan)  should 
It  is  also  estimated  that,  by  the  year  2000,  there  will  be  a 
years. 
market  of  several  tens  of 
in  composite 
materials  and  of  between  US  $  10.000  million  and  20.000  million  in 
technical  polymers. 

thousand  mi L Lion  dol Lars 

is  a  Long-standing 

There 
in 
Europe,  which  still  has  excellent  materials  Laboratories  and  is  in  no 
way  inferior  to  its  overseas  competitors  in  terms  of  the  calibre  of 

tradition  of  materials  development 

its  research  workers. 
The  annual  budgets  for  materials  R&D  of  all 
the  Member  States  put  together  are  simi Lar  to  those  of  the  United 
States  (with  a  Federal  budget  of  US$  1.000  million)  or  Japan  (where· 
the  MITI's  programme  on  new  materials  has  a  budget  of  US  $  5.400 

million  over  ten  years). 
constantly  Losing  ground: 

And  yet,  European  materials  research  is 

3-2 

- European 

laboratories  have  been  greatly  overtaken 

in 

the  new 

materials  openings  that  have  emerged  over  the  last  20  years; 

-

the  major  avant-garde  inventions  in  the  advanced  materials  field, 
such  as  amorphous  metals,  memory  alloys,  electricity-conducting 
polymers,  carbon  fibres,  etc.  have  been  made  in  the  United  States 
and  Japan. 

Nevertheless,  European  researchers  publish  extensively,  but  seem  to 
take  no  interest  in  technological  transfer: 

-

three  out  of  four  patents  concerning  new  materials  are  filed  by 
American  or  Japanese  researchers; 

- hundreds  of  mill ions  of  dollars  are  spent  each  year  either  on 
straight  imports  of  new  materials  or  semi-finished  products  into 
licences  obtained  from  American  and 
the  EEC  or  on  manufacturing 
Japanese  companies; 

-

thousands  of  jobs  are  thus  lost  each  year  to  the  European  economy. 

This  genuine  technology  gap  in  the  materials  field  can  be  attributed 
only  to  the  structural  weakness  of  European  research  (the  Lack  of 

coordination, 
communication  between  administrations  and 
States). 

the  dispersion  of  efforts,  duplication  and  the  Lack  of 
the  Member 

industry  in 

Europe's  innovation  deficiency  in  the  advanced  materials  field  is 

naturally  echoed  by 
involving  a  degree  of  risk. 

the 

lack  of  industrial 

investment  in  an  area 

In  order  to  remedy  this  situation  and  create  major  innovations  or 

two 

lines  of  development, 

facilitate  emergence  of  new  materials,  it  is  necessary  simultaneously 
research  aimed  at 
to  pursue 
constantly  improving  ~xisting  or  "advanced"  materials  and  systematic 
research.  The  study  of  materials  has  made 
broadbased  fundamental 
considerable  advances  in  recent  years  as  a  result  of  the  completion 
or  the  progress 
large-scale  scientific  and 
technical  instruments  such  as  particle  and  radiation  sources  (see  §5 

to  project  stage  of 

namely 

"Large-scale  scientific 

instruments").  Widespread  use  of 

these 

3-3 

the  properties  of  materials, 

instruments  on  a  European  level  should  enable  major  advances  to  be 
made  in  the  field  of  materials.  Research  work  must  focus  not  only  on 
but  also  on  production 
improving 
processes,  utilization  techniques 
etc •• )  and 
testing  methods.  The  categories  of  materials  to  be  considered  are 
fibre, 
sophisticated  ceramics,  advanced  composite  materials  (metal, 
etc •• >  polymers  (of  the  electricity-conducting  type, 
for  example), 
new  alloys,  and  organic  molecules  or  proteins  intended  for  the  new 
"biochips". 

(bonding, 

shaping, 

In  this  area,  a  more  specific  application  could  be  considered,  namely 
a  model  of  human 
chemical  or  biochemical  sensors  working·  on 
perceptive  organs,  which  would  be  likely  to  have  applications  both  in 
medicine  (diabetes, 
in  industrial  process  control 
(see  §2  "Biotechnologies">. 

for  example)  and 

in  addition  to  those  at  the  research 

In  connection  with 
the  field  of  materials  a  specific  action  on 
superconductivity  could  be  commenced.  This  technology  is  capable  of 
numerous  applications: 
level 
such  as  high-energy  physics  or  fusion,  more  industrial  applications 
can  be  envisaged, 
in  particular  in  transport  (magnetic  suspension 
trains)  and  in  the  production  and  transmission  of  electrical  energy 
industry  has  recognized  skill  in 
cables).  European 
(alternators, 
metallurgy,  metal  fabrication  and 
temperature  sciences  and  the 
low 
development  of  cryogenic  systems  at  a  competitive  cost  and  of  the 
technology  and  a  European  production  capacity  for  superconductor 
magnets,  on  demand,  could  provide  important  outlets  for  such  skills. 
A coordinated  programme  dealing  in  particular  with  the  development  of 
and 
new 
niobium/tin) 
the 
system 
techniques  for  the  production  of  superconductor  magnets  capable  of 
bringing  about  significant  progress  in  this  field. 

superconductor  materials 

alloys 
II)  and 

"A15" 
(helium 

the  cryogenic 

example 

itself 

(for 

Another  specific  action  in  connection  with  the  materials  field  could 
be  the  study  of  an  advanced  aerospace  propulsion  system, 
such  as  a 
The  development  of  such  a 
ram-jet  engine  for  hypersonic  speeds. 
specific 
system  with  hydrogen  as 
scientific  and  technological  challenge  for  the  European  scientific 
and  industrial  community.  The  combination  of  work  on  materials,  on 

represent  a 

fuel  would 

the 

3-4 

combustion  phenomena,  on  structures  and  on  aerodynamics  should  ensure 
an  independent  technological  base  for  Europe, 
in  particular  in  very 
high  speed  commercial  aviation.  Once  more  the  field  could  become  the 
centre  of  interest  if  the  necessary  attention  were  given  both  to  the 
problems  of  the  market  and  to  the  constraints  connected  with 
the 
the  European 
protection  of 
aerospace  industry  is  not  itself  capable  of  financing  such  a  high 
risk,  long  term  project. 

the  environment. 

is  clear  that 

It 

4-1 

4.  LASERS  AND  OPTICS 

For  centuries  Europe  had  the  monopoly  of  the  development  in  optics 
- both  its  theoretical  development  and  the  development  of  instruments 
and  components.  However,  over  the  most  recent  decades  Europe  has  lost 
this  monopoly:  many  important  developments  and  new  applications  have 
been  realized,  mainly  in  the  USA  and  to  a  certain  extent  in  Japan. 
But  in  certain  sectors  European  industry  is  still  exporting  more  than 
in  optics  and 
it  imports. 
connected  fields  coupled  with  the  growing  laser  industry  and  the  many 
potential  applications 
for 
foreign 
large-scale  Community 
competition  and  winning  back  some  of  the  lost  ground. 

represent  a  valuable  starting  point 
action 

The  generally  high 

level  of  training 

aimed  at 

facing 

to 

up 

R&D  aimed  at  the  development  of  optics  and, 
could 
improve 
activities  by 
techniques. 
described  below. 

the  competitiveness  of  a 
improving  conventional  technology  and 

lasers 
large  number  of  economic 
introducing  new 
topics  are 

Some  of  these  possibilities  and  certain  R&D 

in  particular,. 

lasers 

Industrial 

for  metalworking 

(basically  Co2  and  Nd.  Yag) 
(drilling,  cutting,  welding,  deburring,  surface  treatment)  currently 
to  200  dollars  per  Watt.  Complete  systems  represent  an 
cost  50 
investment  of  anything  from  100  000  to  1  million  dollars.  Although 
in  particular  because 
the  number  of  industrial  lasers  is  increasing  -
laser  working  offers  a  degree  of  accuracy  and 
flexibility 
unequalled  by  conventional 
for  non-metallic 
the  cost  of  these  systems  must  be  reduced  further  and 
materials  -
higher  yields  must  be  obtained  as  well  as  better  reliability  and  more 

systems, 

least 

at 

a 

accuracy.  Special  solutions  must  be  found  for  low-absorption  metals 
such  as  gold,  silver,  copper,  brass  and  aluminium. 

In  chemistry,  the  development  of  selective  laser  photochemistry  would 
Isotopic 
improve  the  competitiveness  of  small  quantity  manufacture. 
separation, 
the  treatment  of  radioactive  waste  and  chemical  waste, 
the  synthesis  of  high-value  chemical  products  and  pharmaceutical 
products  of  extremely  high  purity  are  other  potential  applications, 
many  of  whi eh  are  a  function  of  the  development  of  lasers  in  the 
ultra-violet  range. 

4-2 

in  certain  cases, 

In  medicine,  the  use  of  lasers  is  increasing  at  almost  an  exponential 
rate  and, 
laser  therapy  has  already  shown  its 
superiority  over  conventional  techniques.  Developments  could  result 
imaging  and  surgery  in 
in  fibre  optical  systems  for  illumination, 
In  particular, 
areas  of  the  human  body  which  are  difficult  to  reach. 
to  be 
the  development 
particularly  suitable  for  medical  applications  by 
reason  of  its 
comprehensive  range  of  frequencies, 
its  high  power  density  and  its 
capacity  for  dimensional  control  of  the  beam  and  its  impulse  length. 

free-electron 

laser  would 

seem 

of 

a 

New  developments 
in  lasers  could  considerably  extend  their  role  in 
such  as  telecommunications, 
fields  where  they  are  already  well-used, 
in  the  precise  and  remote  measurement  of  dimension,  shapes,  speed  and 
acceleration,  and  in  non-destructive  testing. 

and  outside 

in  the  field  of  energy, 

the  use  made 
in 
Finally, 
the  development  of 
thermonuclear  research  for 
extremely  powerful 
lasers  could  result  in  studies  in  parallel  with 
the  development  of  extremely  large  mirrors  for  future  long  di stance 
the 
cable-less 
underdeveloped  nations  of  Africa  and  South  America. 

inertia  confinement 

transmission 

electrical 

systems 

energy 

in 

optical  materials  with 

Many  of  these  applications  depend  on  the  development  of  materials, 
components  and  techniques  such  as  materials  with  a  refraction  index 
gradient; 
(at 
wavelength  of  the  co2  laser); 
techniques  for  cathodic  pulverization 
(sputtering) 
optical 
for 
holographic 
manufacturing  processes  for  semiconductors  materials  ; 
components  with 
the  creation  of 
computer-generated  holograms;  non-linear  optical  effect  materials  for 

infra-red  quality 

adherence; 

functions, 

including 

surface 

coating 

special 

better 

high 

the  manufacture  of  optical  processors;  optical  quality  plastics; 
production  techniques  for  aspherical  elements,  etc. 

No  doubt  the  economic  impact  will  be  considerable.  The  added  value  in 
the  optical  industry  ·(in  particular  lasers  and  optical  instruments) 
amounted  to  approximately  2  700  million  dollars  in  the  United  States 
in  1981.  All  the  market  indicators  predict  considerable  growth.  The 

market  envisaged  in  the  United  States  for  civil  lasers  should  grow 
It  is 
from  US$  210  mill ion  in  1982  to  US$  1  600  mill ion  in  1995. 

4-3 

fibres,  detectors  and 
estimated  that  in  Japan  the  market  for  Lasers, 
complete  systems  will  grow  from  US$  460  million  in  1980  to  US$  65  000 
million  in  the  year  2000. 

Such  growth  will  obviously  have  effects  on  employment: 
in  the  United 
States,  for  example,  employment  in  the  optical  industry  grew  by  about 
. 20¾  in  the  1978  to  1982  period. 

Although  the  examples  quoted  above  are  not  fully  up-to-date  and  refer 
only  to  the  situation  in  the  United  States, 
it  is  clear  that  the 
optical  field  is  one  of  extremely  high  technological  growth,  which  is 
industrial  competitiveness 
capable  of  improving  the  quality  of  life, 
and  employment. 

Two  major  projects  could  be  envisaged  : 
the  development  of  a  continuous  co2
_ laser  of  around  50  kW  within 
-
five  years  could  be  undertaken  at  Community 
the  emphasis 
being  on  problems  (cost,  reliability,  beam  transport  system,  energy 
efficiency  and  power  control,  ways  of  machining  reflecting  metals 
in  the  industrial  use  of  this 
such  as  aluminium,  gold, 
copper) 
treatment  of  metal  and  other 
laser  for  machining  and  surface 
materials. 
In  the  future  it  could  also  be  used  for  other  purposes 
such  as  energy  transmission  between  the  earth  and  satellites  or 
even  defence  in  space. 

level, 

- A  second  line  of  development  could  be 

lasers  emitting  at  short 
wavelengths  (far  UV  or  even  X-ray).  The  most  promising  solution  is 
the  excimer  laser  which  because  of  the  great  variety  of  the  laser 
range  of  wavelengths  suitable  for 
medium  can  generate  a  wide 
selective  photochemistry 
synthesis  of 
isotope  separation, 
extremely  pure  pharmaceutical  and  chemical  products,  manufacture  of 
integrated  circuits  (lithography,  deposition  of  dielectric  films). 
One  objective  could  be 
laser  emitting  1  kW  at  a 
wavelength  below  200  nm  within  five  years. 

to  produce  a 

these  specific  efforts, 

Alongside 
for 
example  for  optical  elements,  windows  and  the  coatings  suitable  for 
laser  wavelengths,  production  techniques, 
for  example,  aspherical 
elements  or  coatings,  and  the  development  of  components  should  be 
actively  pursued. 

into  materials, 

research 

4-4 

the  work  proposed  in  both  the  optical  field  and,  in  certain 
the  laser  field  would  have  spin-off  in  the  field  of  earth 

Clearly, 
cases, 
observation  systems  mentioned  in  point  2.6  above. 

5-1 

5.  LARGE-SCALE  SCIENTIFIC  INSTRUMENTS 

PARTICLE  AND  RADIATION  SOURCES 

the 

forces  which 

them 
been  made  possibi le  by 

Over  the  last  30  years  our  knowledge  of  the  ultimate  components  of 
to  each  other  has  made 
link 
matter  and 
considerable  progress. 
the 
This  has 
implementation  of  more  and  more  powerful  accelerators  and  collision 
the  results  of  research  on  the  unified  theory  of 
rings.  However, 
forces,  kept  as  simple  as  possible  and  based  on  a  reduced  number  of 
particles  and 
in 
enormous  rings  several  kilometres  in  diameter.  These  require  funds  on 
a  scale  only  achievable  at  a  European  level  and  developed  and  cross 
fertilized  by  techniques 
technological  fields 
(materials,  superconductor  magnets,  vacuum  technology,  etc). 

can  only  be  confirmed  by  experiments 

in  all  the  advanced 

forces, 

included 

intended  for 

in  this  same  category  of  equipment  are  the 

large 
Also 
synchrotrons 
light  beams 
generated  by  particle  acceleration  (electrons)  under  the  effect  of 
light  produced  is  suitable  for  many 
external  magnetic  fields.  The 
applications  both  in  research  and  industry  (the  study  of  surfaces, 
spectrometry,  catalysis,  difraction,  x-ray  lithography,  etc). 

the  production  of  intense 

Large-scale  accelerators, 
like  all  the  other  major  apparatus  managed 
under  the  auspices  of  a  number  of  countries,  makes  a  considerable 
contribution  to  bringing  together  the  scientific  community  of  all  the 
participating  countries. 
these 
In  addition, 
projects,  as  well  as  the  importance  and  novelty  of  the  discoveries 
they  allow  helps  to  regenerate  confidence  in  the  destiny  of  Europe 
and  in  its  capacity  to  take  its  proper  place  in  the  world  by  means  of 
an  increasing  joint  use  of  its  human  and  material  resources. 

the  sheer  size  of 

level, 

immediate  and  concrete 

the  construction  and 
On  a  more 
light  generator  would  have 
implementation  of  a  major  synchrotron 
important  socio-economic  spin-off, 
in  particular  with  relation  to 
industrial  applications  of  this  radiation  and  the  multidisciplinary 
nature  of  such  applications,  which  would  make  this  installation  a 
place  for  the  convergence  and  mutual  fertilization  of  almost  all  the 

(reaction  kinetics, 
industrial 
applications  of  photochemistry,  product  analysis,  etc),  in  the  field 

chemistry 

research 

fields 

in 

5-2 

of  materials  (study  and  monitoring  of  their  structure, 
their  surface  properties, 
phases  in  their  preparation, 
complex 
the 
biochemistry,  monitoring  and  analysis  of  products,  etc). 

of  biotechnology·  (structure  of 

field 

the  various 
etc)  and  in 
molecules, 

ADVANCED  WIND  TUNNELS 

level 

tunnel  at 

the  European 

the  use  of  advanced  wind 
The  development  of  aeronautics  requires 
tunnels  which  simulate  flight  conditions  in  the  subsonic,  trans-sonic 
and  hypersonic  regimes.  These  installations  are  indispensable  for  the 
development  of  new  aircraft  and  engine  units.  Having  an  advanced 
aerodynamics  wind 
is  a  necessary 
condition  for  Europe's  competitive  position  in  the  aeronautics  field 
studies  should  be  carried  out  on 
to  be  conserved. 
"numerical  wind 
three-dimensional 
simulators  which  require  computing  power  of  a  Level  which  should  be 
achieved  at  the  beginning  of  the  1990's.  These  numerical  wind  tunnels 
will  enable  mathematical  models  to  be  constructed  of  the  aerodynamic 
flow  round  complex-geometry  obstacles,  and  this  is  crucial  for  the 
and 
development 
a 
structural 
considerable  reduction  to  be  made  in  the  increasing  number  of  hours 
in  the  wind  tunnel  which  could  otherwise  rapidly  become  prohibitive. 

In  addition, 
tunnels"  which 

of 
configurations. 

simulations  would 

highly-integrated 

propulsion  unit 

enable 

future 

fact 

Such 

are 

in 

6-1 

6.  BROADBAND  TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

1.  The 

of 

convergence 

telecommunications, 

and 
the  nature  of  telecommunications, 
audiovisual  systems  will  modify 
upgrade 
(computerized  data 
processing)  and  considerably  expand  the  range  of  services  available 
both  to  enterprises  and  individuals. 

the  use  of  data-processing  equipment 

processing 

data 

Total  investment  in  telecommunications  within  the  Community  over  the 
next  15  years  is  estimated  at  between  one  half  and  one  million  Mecu 
(SOO.ODO  - 1·.000.000  mill ion  ECU).  This  investment  should  primari Ly 
and 
cover 
transmission  lines  by  new  products  offering  greater  technical  and 
economic  advantages. 

replacement 

switching 

equipment 

existing 

the 

of 

These  investments  and  associated  services  will  have  a  direct  impact 
The  establishment  of  "data  motorways"  will  make 
on  employment. 
concrete  the  development  and 
investment  potential  of  the  terminals 
and  new  services  sector  and  help  to  stimulate  employment  based  on  the 
the 
provision  of  equipment 
creation  of  new  industrial  services. 
By  resolutely  progressing  as 
regards  the  "costs  and  performance"  of  advanced  telecommunications 
the 
the  Community  will  become  more  attractive 
services, 
standpoint  of 
introduction  of  new  economic  activities  or  the 
revival  of  activities. 

the  electronics 

industries  and 

from 

the 

for 

Emphasis  should  therfore  be  given  to  the  improvement  of  the  quality 
price  ratio  of  telecommunications  equipment  and  services,  and  to  the 
provision  of  advanced  services  at  acceptable  costs  to  the  user.  This 
thereby  guaranteeing 
will  have  a 
their 
recoupment  of 
operators  satisfactory  conditions 
investments. 

favourable  effect  on  traffic, 
the 

for 

fields 

of  microelectronics, 

The  development  of  these  sectors  will  be  conditioned  by  progress  made 
in 
and 
the 
communications 
progress  will 
Achievement 
necessitate  considerable  efforts  aimed  both  at  the  establishment  of 
advanced 
information-transmission  infrastructures  and  also  at  the 
development  of  terminal  equipment,  services  and  new  applications. 

optoelectronics, 

software. 

such 

of 

6-2 

2.  From 

the 

standpoint, 

technological 

of 
telecommunications  systems  can  be  said  to  be  dominated,  on  the  one 
by  the  generalized  use  of  digital  rather  than  analog  signals 
hand, 
and,  on  the  other  hand, 
by  the  introduction  of  optical  media  to 
replace  the  purely  electronic  means  of  transmitting  and  controlling 
these  signals. 

evolution 

the 

switching, 

transitions 

from  electronics 

The 
to  optics  offers  considerable 
advantages  for  the  different  key  telecommunications  operations  :  i.e. 
transmission, 
processing  and  storage  of  signals.  The 
technology  of  optical  signals  transmission  is  already  comparatively 
advanced  Cat  least  in  the  fibre  optics  sector),  although  the  other 
functions 
laboratory 
development. 

the  preliminary 

are  still  at 

stage  of 

than 

fare  more  efficient 

In  theory,  optical  switching,  signals  processing  and  storage  should 
the  corresponding  electronics-based 
be 
operations.  This  is  because  of  the  considerable  advantage  offered  by 
regards  speed,  mobility  and  wavelength  compared  with 
light  as 
is 
electrons.  A  one-centimetre  square  optical  switching  system 
light  beams  and 
capable  of  processing  10  million 

independent 

switching  each  in  less  than  30  picoseconds. 
In  principle,  an  optical 
thousand 
the  same  size  could  handle 
processor  of 
three  hundred 
gigabits/second,  a  figure  corresponding  to  the  traffic  which  would  be 
generated  by  a  videophone  conversation  between 
the  two  halves  of 
humanity. 

In  the  medium  and  long-term,  optical  techniques  offer  the  prospect  of 
achieving  performance/ cost  ratios  whi eh  will  make  it  possible  to 
provide  advanced 
telecommunications  services  at  rates 
equivalent  to  presen-day  telephone  charges  and  therefore  acceptable 
to  the  majority  of  the  population. 

(broadband) 

3.  Execution  of  the  following  development  projects  could  be  considered  : 

6-3 

a.  Optical  telecommunications  processor 

This  processor  is  the  central  element  around  which 
optical  communications 

system  will  be  built. 

the  entire 
Its  principal 

functions  are  : 
-

input/output  (multiplexing,  demultiplexing,  signals  recognition 
and  conversion,  signals  transmission  and  reception,  etc.)  ; 

- switching; 
- control 

(signal  processing, 

traffic  management, 

systems 

maintenance  and  monitoring)  ; 
interaction  with  operators  and  the  environment. 

-
These  operations  will  be  executed/monitored  using  high-performance 
software  backed  up  by  advanced,  widely  distributed  systems 

architectures. 

Estimated  resources  required 

1500  man/years  over  10  years. 

b.  Miniaturized  radiotelephony 

two  of  the  kew  factors 

in  the 
Mobility  and  accesibility  are 
evolution  of  communications.  Ultra-light  personal  terminals  will 
constitute  the  essential  elements  of  such  progress  in  the  context 
of  public  cellular  radio.  These  developments  will  call  for  major 
efforts  orientated  towards  the  introduction  of  : 
-
- high-density  cellular  radio  systems; 
- a  flexible  frequency  and  traffic  management  method. 

low-power  miniature  radio  transmitter/receivers; 

Estimated  resources  required 

400  man/years  over  5  years. 

4.  The  initiation  of  technological  development  projects  with  a  view  to 
the  introduction  of  broadband  integrated  communications  systems  meets 
all  the  distinguishing  criteria  of _a  major  European  project  offering 
- It  will  stimulate 
widespread  economic  and  social  advantages. 
key 
technological 
(particularly 
areas 
various 
progress 
It  will  also  give  rise  to  a 
microelectronics  and  optoelectronics). 

in 

number  of  applications,  enjoy  considerable  support  from  industry  and 
enable  Links  to  be  established  with  existing  programmes  (e.g.  ESPRIT, 

national  programmes  such  as  ALVEY, 

the  French  electronics  network 

6-4 

programme  and  the  Federal  German  microelectronics  and  information  and 
communications  technology  programmes).  Lastly,  it  will  contribute  to 
the  attainment  of  the  Community's  regional  development  objectives  and 
to  the  creation  of  jobs  and  the  growth  of  exports. 

7-1 

7.  NEW  GENERATION  TRANSPORT  MODES 

The  main 
safety,  environmental  protection,  speed  and  energy  saving. 

requirements  place  on 

future 

transport  models  will  be 

new 

information  and  CIM 

The 
the 
development  of  new  materials  and  base  technologies,  should  be  able  to 
help  reconcile  these  principal  needs. 

together  with 

technologies, 

Speed  Clinked  with  safety  and  environmental  protection) 
should 
related  first  and  foremost  to  both  supersonic  air  transport  (see  the 
section  on  new  materials)  and  high-speed  rail  transport. 

The  safety,  environmental  protection  and  energy-saving  aspects  would 
be  of  prime  concern  to  road  transport  in  order  drastically  to  reduce 
energy 
the  number 
consumption  in  the  ten  years  ahead.  Significant  progress,  based  on 
new  technologies,  could  also  be  made  in  urban  transport. 

atmospheric  pollution 

of  collisions, 

and 

In  the  field  of  road-transport  safety  and  comfort, 
for  ex amp le,  a 
priming  project  should  be  devoted  to  the  development  of  a  satellite 

large  number  of  upstream  sectors, 

from  an  industrial 
assisted  navigation  system  having  the  advantage, 
standpoint,  of  complexity.  This  aspect  would  have  a  knock-on  effect 
on  a 
the 
development  of  digital  road  maps  (high-definition,  compact  VDU  screen 
technologies, 
fixed 
(the  civilian 
receivers, 

the  provision  of  digital 

since  it  involves 

signal  accuracy 

improvements 

links  with 

radio 

and 

to 

navigation  systems  currently  available  are  accurate  to  100  metres, 
which  is  inadequate  for  drivers  of  road  vehicles,  even  on  spacious 
a  project  of  this  type  would  have  multiple 
motorways).  Moreover, 
repercussions  on  other  areas  of  application  (management  of  a  fleet  of 
transport  vehicles, 
automation  of  agricultural  machinery  etc.).  A 
require  12  months  of  specification 
project  of 
definition,  two  years  of  parallel  feasibility  studies  covering  two  or 
three  possible  options,  and  three  to  four  years  of  pre-industrial 
the  end  of  phase  2.  The 
development  of  the  options  selected  at 

type  would 

this 

7-2 

definition  phase  would  require  30  man/years.  The  volume  of  work  in 
the  subsequent  phases  would  depend  upon  the  specifications  arising 
from  Phase  1. 

A  second  priming  project  in  the  field  of  road  safety  could  examine 
the  feasibility  of  an  automated  motorway  transport  system. 
Its  aim, 
which  would  be  wider  than  its  predecessor  as  regards  the  financial 
commitments  needed  and  its  possible  impact,  would  be  the  development 
of  a  full-scale  prototype  automated  motorway.  The  work  involved  would 
thus  be  : 
- system  design 

· -

-

the  development  of  devices  providing  overall  control  of  automated 
vehicle  flows 
the  development  of  access  and  regulation  systems  (in  the  event  of 
accidents  or  unforeseen  breakdowns) 
the  development  of  on-board  control  units 

-
- solution  of  the  problems  involved  in  adapting  conventional  vehicles 

to  automated  movement  conditions. 

Projects  of  this  type  are  naturally  ambitious  and  costly  but,  apart 
from  the  fact  that  it  is  possible  to  derive  benefit  from  the  research 
and  practical  work  on  the  automation  of  rail  and  urban  transport  (in 
which  Europe 
its 
considerable  impact  on  improving  safety  and  the  overall  efficiency  of 
road  transport. 

is  very  advanced), 

account  must  be 

taken  of 

This  second  project  would  need  to  be  spread  over  a  longer  period  of  8 

to  10  years.  It  would  comprise: 

- an  18-month  definition  phase 

a  three-year  feasibility  phase, 
public  and  private 
road-safety 
manufacturers  etc.)  would  compete  with  each  other 

institutions  (transport 
vehicle 

in  which  groups  of  companies  and 
research  institutes, 
equipment 

manufacturers, 

agencies, 

- a 

four 

to 

five  year  experiment  under 

installation  of  equipment, 

real-life  conditions, 
tests  and 

trials, 

(development  and 
conclusions). 

7-3 

The  definition  phase  would  require  roughly  200  man/years.  Any  work 
in  this  sector  would  be  greatly  attractive  both  socially  and 
done 
politically  and  would  spur  technological  development. 
It  would  thus 
have  a  positive  effect  on, 
the  vehicle  and  vehicle 
related  industries  and  would  help  to  boost  the  electronics  industry, 
which  would  also  need  to  become  involved. 

in  particular, 

8-1 

8.  USE  OF  SPACE 

the  American  military  programmes, 

Brought  on  by 
development  of  new  detection  systems  CIR, 
associated  with  on-board  systems 
analysis  of 
restrictions  on 
sensitive  area. 

the  transfer  of  technology 

for 

the  accelerated 
visible,  microwave) 
real-time  processing  and 
increasing 
is  a  highly 

in  what 

received  signals  will  be  accompanied  by 

Unless  Europe  accelerates  its  own  development  of  on-board  sensors  and 
of  processing  and  analysis  systems, 
it  will  fall  further  and  further 
behind  as  far  as  earth  observation  is  concerned. 

techniques  provide  extremely 

Earth  observation 
important  data  for 
climatology, 
sectors: 
numerous 
meteorology,  oceanography,  hydrology,  agriculture  (forecasting  of 
transport, 
harvesting  patterns), 
fishing  and  development  aid. 

raw  materials  (through  geology), 

the  environment, 

protection  of 

Not  only  will  such  data  permit  more  effective 

implementation  of 

Community  policies  in  all  these  sectors,  but  in  a  sensitive  area  such 
as  agriculture,  Europe  cannot  afford  to  be  without  the  data  that 
would  be  available  to  its  competitors. 

Space  is  the  ideal  setting  for  transnational  research  with  spin-offs 
interest  (joint  policies)  calling  for  public 
in  areas  of  common 
funding,  having  a  mobilizing  effect  and  providing  opportunities  for 
cooperation  with  non-member  states. 

taken  by 

the  European  Space  Agency 

The  decisions 
in  January  are 
intended  to  increase  Europe's  autonomy  as  regards  space  exploitation 
telecommunications,  microgravity,  space-related 
(earth  observation, 
science  and 
regards 
launching  systems  (Ariane  programme). 

independence  as 

technology)  and 

to  maintain 

In  order  to  develop  these  techniques  at  European  level,  one  might 
integrated  system  of  observation  and  telecommunications 
consider  an 

satellites,  making  use  of  those  generations  of  satellite  already  in 
existence  such  as  SPOT  (France)  or  ERS-1  CESA),  and  new  developments 

8-2 

such  as  a  large  man-tended  polar  earth-observation  platform. 
latter  is  currently  under  discussion 
participation  in  the  American  space  station  programme. 

The 
the  context  of  Europe's 

in 

apart  from  their  key  role 

Furthermore, 
intra-Community  wideband  communications  network, 
satellites  will  be  needed 
satellites  to  the  analysis  centres. 

in  the  development  of  an 
telecommunications 
to  channel  data  from  earth-observation 

Radioastronomy  using  long  baseline  interferometry  has  been  developed 
considerably  on  earth  (e.g.  Nan~ay,  Cambridge)  and  has  furthered 
If  an  interferometer  of  this  type  could 
exploration  of  the  universe. 
be  put  into  orbit  around  the  earth, 
it  would  be  possible  to  overcome 
certain  constraints  such  as  radio  noise  or  the  limitations  associated 
with  basic  physical  dimensions. 
for  advanced 
techniques  for  assembling  structures  in  space  and  highly  accurate 
pointing  of  antennae  in  orbit. 

It  would  call 

interferometer,  which  would 

By  analogy,  it  is  also  possible  to  envisage  the  sending  into  orbit  of 
require  the 
an  optical 
development  of  new  optical 
in 
conjunction  - see  §4  - Lasers  and  optics). 
Interferometer  techniques 
would  certainly  involve  an  element  of  international  cooperation  with 
the  United  States  and  the  Soviet  Union  in  respect  of  observations. 

(mirrors  and  detectors 

in  addition 

techniques 

From  1988  onwards, 

Pending  an  opportunity  to  take  part  in  the  development  of  a  space 
station  that  should  be  put  into  orbit  in  1992,  Europe  has  already 
thanks  to  Spacelab,  to  carry  out  experiments  on  materials 
been  able, 
to 
in  space. 
manufacture 
participate 
the 
(six-month) 
in 
European  Retrievable  Carrier.  Action  is  proposed  in  order  to  provide 
coordination  back-up  for  the  industries  that  might  be  interested  in 
production  in  space  (pharmaceuticals,  crystals,  biological  processes, 
to  acquire  greater  knowledge  of  the 
etc.), 
available  opportunities. 

space  missions  using 

it  will  be  able 

thus  enabling 

long-term 

them 

Likewise, 
covered  by 
Hermes  manned 

the  aims  of  a  European  technological  programme  are  also 
The  development  of  the 
the  European  space  programme. 
technological 
space  vehicle,  with 
together  with 

should  therefore  be  actively  encouraged, 

its  different 

challenges, 

8-3 

any  work  to  further  the  major  political  objective  that  has  been  set 
of  maing  Europe  fully 
the  manned  exploitation  of 
space. 

independent 

in 

The  main  aims  of  action  relating  to  production  in  space  should  be 

-

to  increase  industry's  knowledge  of  the  utilisation  of  techniques 
for  the  manufacture  and  improvement  of  products  in  microgravity  and 
hard-vacuum  conditions; 
to  promote  the  earliest  possible  use  of  production  in  space  through 
pilot 
industrial-scale 
operations. 

experiments 

the  way 

that 

pave 

for 

These  objectives  could  be  attained  through  : 
-
-

the  overall  coordination  of  a  prospective  user  community; 
the  identification  of  the  candidate  industries  which  have  hitherto 
not  been  associated  with  the  European  space  programme,  but  could  be 
involved  in  the  new  activities  that  are  becoming  possible; 
the  classification  and, 
space  authorities,  development  and 
experiments. 

in  associ~tion  with  the  competent  European 
implantation  of  typi ea l  pi lot 

-

,  A first  step  would  be 

-

to  convene, 
meeting  of  the  prospective  user  industries,  and 
indicative  work  programme 
opportunities  for  those  industries. 

in  association  with  the  ESA  and  the  space  industry,  a 
then  draw  up  an 
to  flight-experience 

that  would 

lead 

This  could  be  supplemented  by  : 
-

the  publication  of  a  notice  aimed  at  the  industries  that  might  be 

in  experimental  opportunities  ; 

interested 
the  selection  of  an 
initial  list  of  pilot  experiments  that  could  be  financed  in  full  ; 
and  the  establishment  of  a  second  list  of  experiments  that  could  be 
financed  on  a  cost-sharing  basis. 

the 
A  schedule  of  costs  can  be  drawn  up, 
identification  and 
comparatively  minor  expenses 
in 
coordination  of 
in  such 
interested 
projects  and  specific  allocations  for  the  typical  experiments.  In  the 

the 
that  might  be 

ranging  between 

the  industries 

involved 

8-4 

the  programme  would  proceed  in  phases, 

latter  case,  a  cost  of  nearly  50  million  ECU  can  be  envisaged.  At  all 
event, 
the  first  of  which 
would  involve  approaches  to  industry, 
followed  by  th  identification 
and  development  of  the  pilot  experiments  and  finally  the  execution  of 
the  experiments  in  orbit. 

9-1 

9.  CONQUEST  OF  THE  MARIN  ENVIRONMENT  AND  EXPLORATION  OF  THE  EARTH'S 

CRUST 

MARINE  ENVIRONMENT 

in  the  conquest  of 

Europe,  with  some  10.000  kilometres  of  coastline  and  almost  two 
million  square  kilometres  of  continental  shelf,  can  play  a  leading 
the  marine  environment  and  exploit  its 
role 
resources  provided  that  it  takes  a  broad  view  of  its  action  and 
formulates  a  plan  capable  of  mobilizing  its  research  and  development 
capacity  to  the  full. 

a  plan 

requires 

The 
implementation  of  such 
technical  difficulties  be  overcome. 
surmounting  these  difficulties  that 
expected. 
which  are  already  expanding  rapidly  (electronics, 
and  robotics), 
materials  science,  metallurgy  and  very  high  pressure  technology. 

that  considerable 
It  is  from  the  work  involved  in 
technological  spin-off  can  be 
in  sectors 
telecommunications 
biology  and 

The  conquest  of  the  sea  implies  a  challenge, 

and  other  areas  such  as  chemistry, 

The  plan  could  be  an  opportunity  to  increase  our  basic  knowledge, 
and  develop  a  host  of 
establishing  a 
technologies  which  could  come  up  trumps  for  Europe  in  the  long  term. 

range  of  new 

targets, 

technology 

lead  makes  for  an  unequal  struggle. 

in 
The  present  position  of  oceanographic  science  and 
Europe  is  favourably  comparable  to  that  in  other  nations,  in  contrast 
in  other  areas  of  advanced  technology 
to  the  situation  prevailing 
Europe 
where  our  competitors' 
leadership  in  this  promising  field,  develop  the  support 
can  assume 
the  resulting  industrial 
technologies  extensively  and  benefit  from 
by  choosing  the  exploitation  of  the 
spin-off  within  a  few  years, 
marine  environment  as  one  of  Europe's  elements  of 
technological 
this  without  excluding  any  other  strategic 
ambition: 
applications. 

and  all 

A  major  objective  would  be  to  develop  the  capability  for  sustained 

physical  presence  of  man  in  the  seas  and  on  the  ocean  floor. 

9-2 

A  key  element  of  the  enterprise  can  be  found 
in  the  design  and 
construction  of  modular  self-propelled  vessels  for  use  as  shelters, 
intention  of 
for  deep-water  exploration  and 
developing  accommodation  capacities  and  diving  depth  in  stages. 

for  work  with 

the 

Two  fields  of  application  from  which  European  industry  could  benefit 
extensively  are  deep  drilling  and  robot  machine  development 
deep 
drilling  for  geological  exploration  and  the  exploitation  of  gas  and 
oil  resources;  development  of  robot  machines  for  various  tasks  such 
as  exploration  for  and  exploitation  of  resources  on  the  sea-bed  or 
inspection  and  maintenance  of  drilling 
it  or 
just  below 
equipment,  pipelines  and  cables. 

the 

to 

for 

suitable 

stage  of 

the  analysis  will  be  confined 

technologies 
This 
those 
possessing  the  greatest  potential  for  applications  and  growth, 
for  plugging 
most 
although  in  themselves  representing  a 
technological  gaps,  which, 
substantial 
the 
existence  of  much  greater  turnovers  downstream  and  are  hence  of  a 
special  strategic  nature. 

constitute  an  essential  condition  for 

reinforcing  existing  skills  or 

turnover, 

STUDY  OF  THE  EARTH'S  CONTINENTAL  CRUST 

For  some  years  earth  science  specialists  have  been  aware  of  the 
paradox 
that  while  great  advances  have  been  made  since  1968  in 
knowledge  of  the  oceanic  crust  as  a  result  of  the  Deep  Sea  Drilling 
the  earth's 
Project, 
continental  crust. 

little  is  known  as  yet  about 

relatively 

results 

can  be 

expected 

from  programmes 

the 
What 
continental  crust  ?  Essentially,  a  better  knowledge  of  structures, 
materials  and  fluids  and  a  number  of  longer-term  practical  benefits. 
More  specifically: 
1.  From  a  scientific  point  of  view  they  will  provide  more  information 

survey 

to 

on  : 
- the  structure  and  composition  of  basement  rock,  deep  sedimentary 

basins  and  fold  systems; 

9-3 

the  nature  and  geometry  of  major  intracrustal  discontinuities 
(large-scale  thrust  faults); 
the  nature  and  depth  of  the  Mohorovicic  discontinuity  between 
the  crust  and  the  mantle  within  the  Lithosphere; 
the  physical  properties  of  rocks;  distribution  and  effects  of 
stresses  at  depth; 
the  study  of  fluid  phases, 
their  role  in  petrogenic  and  dynamic  processes. 

their  origin  and  circulation  and 

-

-

-

2.  The  practical  benefits  will  be  in  the  fields  of: 

- metallogenics  and  mineral  deposits;  development  of  magma  systems 

(granitic  domes),  hydrothermalism  at  depth,  monitoring  the 

structure  of  mineral  concentrations; 

- geothermal  energy,  hydrocarbon  prospecting  (deep  basins),  .. , 
- earthquake  mechanisms  and  earthquake  prevention; 
- storage  of  nuclear  waste; 
- design  and  manufacture  of  drilling  equipment  suited  to  the 

extreme  conditions  encountered  in  deep  drilling. 

Existing  Programmes 

1.  Major  national  reflection  shooting  programmes 

:  DEKORP 

in  the 

Federal  Republic  of  Germany,  ECORS  in  France,  BIRPS  in  the  United 
Kingdom, 
The  aim  of  these 
programmes  is  to  identify  structures  up  to  depths  of  around  50  km. 
Some  bilateral  cooperation  exists. 

in  the  U.S.A., 

and  so  on. 

COCORP 

international  European  Geotraverse  programme, 

implemented 
The 
under  the  auspices  of  the  European  Science  Foundation,  pursues 
similar  objectives. 

2.  Deep  borehole  programmes  : 

- "ultra-deep"  boreholes  · (10  to  15  km) 

Ko La 

the  Appalachians 

(U.S.A.)  and 

in  the  USSR,  a 
the  KTB 

drilling  project 
project  in  the  Federal  Republic; 
- medium-depth  boreholes  (1  to  5  km) 

in 

France,  which  actually  started  up  during  Last  Winter, 

boreholes  of  a  similar  depth  in  the  West  of  the  U.S.A •• 

deep  geology  programme  in 
and 

9-4 

These  boreholes  can  provide  samples  for  direct  analysis  as  well  as  an 
in  situ  geological  and  geochemical 
opportunity  for  all  kinds  of 
measurements  in  the  boreholes.  They  are  proving  essential  as  a  means 
of  verifying  and  clarifying  the  information  obtained  from  large-scale 
seismic  profiling  Can  example  being  the  Kola  drilling  project,  where 
the  initial  assumptions  were  proved  wrong). 

International  Cooperation:  Aims  and  Prospects 

Although  promoters  of 

the  various  programmes 

listed  above  have 

contacts  with  each  other,  genuine  international  cooperation  - which 
is  advocated  by  most  specialists  - has  yet  to  materialize.  Potential 
subjects  for  such  cooperation  would  include: 
-
joint  studies  of  deep  structures  involving  two  or  more  countries; 
- development  of  methods  and  instruments  for  geophysical,  geochemical 

and  hydrological  measurements  and  for  drilling  boreholes; 

- making 

samples 

from 

deep 

boreholes 

available 

to  European 

laboratories; 

- setting  up  of  proper  permanent  laboratories  for  the  study  of  the 

earth's  crust  <"crust  labs"  on  the  lines  of  the  "space  labs"). 

The  potential  benefits  of 
considerable. 

cooperation 
In  addition  to  the  anticipated  scientific, 

these 

in 

fields 

are 
technical 

and  economic  spin-offs, 
depth 
dialogue 
geophysicists),  who  up  to  now  have  had  few  such  opportunities. 

it  can  also  provide  an  opportunity  for  in 
and 

as  geologists 

specialists 

between 

(such 

10-1 

10.  EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING  TECHNOLOGY 

In  order  to  compensate  for 

If  it  is  to  remain  in  control  of  its  economic  and  political  future, 
the  Community  must  re-think  and  step  up  its  efforts  in  the  field  of 
limited 
training. 
education  and 
natural  resources  (energy,  minerals) 
one  must  develop 
technological  resources.  Although  in  their  various  forms 
human  and 
the 
the  latter  account  for  almost  7%  of  the  Member  States'  GNP, 
demand  is  increasing  and  is  being  met  only  in  part  at  present.  Not 
only  is  the  range  of  knowledge  and  specialists  increasing  constantly, 
but  in  numerous  sectors  the  demand  for  specialists  is  growing  all  the 
time. 

in  Europe, 

the 

Consequently,  there  is  now  demand  for: 

a  greater  variety  of  courses 
interdisciplinary  requirements, 

in  order  to  meet  specialized  and 

- better  access  to  sducation  and  training,  making  them  available,  for 
example,  when  and  where  they  are  required  and  not  only  at  certain 
stages  in  an  individual's  life  and  in  specific  places, 

- better  adaptation  to  pupils'  specific  needs. 

It  is  important  to  meet  these  needs  in  order  to  improve  educational 
and  training  performance  in  the  traditional  sense,  but  it  is  also 
essential  to  do  so  in  order  to  meet  the  growing  demand  for  continuing 
education  and  training  among 
The  mismatch 
between  requirements  and  available  capacity  is  one  of  the  causes  of 
the  structural  unemployment  that  is  emerging  during  this  period  of 
technological  development. 

the  active  population. 

The  traditional  approaches  to  education  and  training  have  made  it 
difficult  to  remedy  t~e  mismatch.  However,  progress  in  the  fields  of 
information  and  telecommunications  technology  offers  the  opportunity 

of  adopting  a  fresh  approach, 
and  more  accessible  and  improved  economic  conditions. 

characterized  by  greater  flexibility 

10-2 

to  broadcast 

It  will  not  be 
This  area  is  generally  known  as  education  technology. 
to  combine  data-processing,  telecommunications 
sufficient,  however, 
and  .television 
type  of  programmes  covered  at 
present,  for  example,  by  the  Open  University  of  U.K.  The  development 
the 
of  education  will  make 
potential  offered  by 
technologies  and  will  call  for  very 
great  efforts  to  be  made  over  a  long  period. 

realize  completely 

it  possible 

the  new 

the 

to 

The  proposed  type  of  education  should  enable  all  levels  of  personnel 
to  be  suited  to  the  changing  needs  within  their  organisations  and 
environments  in  such  a  way  that  relevant  education  would  become  an 
integral  and  coherent  part  of  professional  activities. 

The  technological  input  required  to  develop  the  necessary  educational 
instruments  and  equipment  would  be  free  of  any  specific  cultural 
language  and 
largely 
associations  and  could  be 
discipline. 

independent  of 

Education-related  projects  would  meet 

important  social  and  economic 

stimulate  research  and 

needs, 
in  large 
sectors  and  help  to  increase  the  number  of  skilled  workers  available 
on  the  labour  market.  The  resulting  products  and  services: 

technological  development 

- would  offer  opportunities  for  exporting  equipment  and  software, 

- would  stimulate  job  creation  in  industry  and  the  service  sector, 
- would  offer  fresh  opportunities 

in  relation  to 

the  educational 

requirements  of  the  developing  countries. 

learning  capacities 

the  development  of 

one  mobilizing  project  should  be  devoted  to  the 
the  benefit  of 

In  this  field, 
development  of  European 
advanced  technologies.  This  project  should  involve  in  particular: 
-
specifically  for  educational  purposes; 
-
-
and  training; 

the  development  of  microknowledge  models; 
the  development  of  artificial  intelligence  techniques  for  education 

information 

tools  and 

languages 

computer 

for 

-

the  development  of  sub-function  integrated  circuits. 

10-3 

The 

introduction  of  such  a  project  would  require  between  five  and 

seven  years  and  a  research  and  development  investment  the  equivalent 

of  500  man/years  over  the  time-span  of  the  project.