PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL AND MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES ( 1990-1994 )
Date: 1990-05-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: industrial research, materials technology, new technology, research programme

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

C0M(90) 156 final  - SYN 261 

Brussels,  28 May  1990 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

adopting  a specific  research  and  technological  development 

programme  in the field of  Industrial  and Materials  Technologies 

(1990-1994) 

(presented  by the  Commission) 

-  1 -

CONTENTS 

Proposal  for a Council  Decision adopting  a 
specific research  and  technological  development 
programme  in the field of  Industrial  and Materials 
Technologies 
(1990-1994) 

ANNEX I 
Scientific  and  technical  objectives and content 

ANNEX  I I 
Indicative breakdown of expenditures 

ANNEX  I I I 
Rules for  implementing  the programme  and  activities 
for disseminating and exploitation of  the results 

Page 

11 

18 

19 

-  2 -

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

adopting a specific  research  and  technological  development 

programme  in the field of  Industrial  and Materials  Technologies 

(1990-1994) 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Economic 

Community,  and  In particular  Article  130q(2) thereof, 

Having  regard  to the proposal  from  the Commission,^1) 

In cooperation with  the European  Par I iament,(2) 

Having  regard  to the opinion of  the Economic  and  Social  Committee,^3) 

(1) OJ No C 

(2) OJ  No C 

(3) OJ  No C 

-  3 -

Whereas  by  its  Decision  90/221/Euratom, EEC( 4>,  the  Council  adopted  a 

third  framework  programme  for  Community  activities  In  the  field  of 

research  and  technological  development  (1990-94),  specifying  Inter  alia 

the  activities  to  be  pursued  for  contributing  to  the  rejuvenation  of 

European  manufacturing  industry  by  strengthening  Its  scientific  and 

technological  basis  through  research  and  development  work; whereas  this 

Decision  should  be  taken  In  the  light  of  the  grounds  set  out  In  the 

preamble  to that  Decision; 

Whereas  Article  130k  of  the  Treaty  stipulates  that  the  framework 

programme  Is  to  be  implemented  through  specific  programmes  developed 

within each  activity; 

Whereas  the  Joint  Research  Centre  shall  contribute  through  Its  own 

programme  to the  Implementation of  the aforesaid  activities; 

Whereas  an estimate  should  be made of  the amount  of  Community  financial 

resources  needed  to  carry  out  this  specific  programme;  whereas  the 

definitive  amounts  will  be  fixed  by  the  budgetary  authority  In  line 

with  the  financial  perspectives  covering  the  period  1988-1992  Included 
In  the  Inter Inst I tut lonaI  Agreement  of  29  June  1 9 8 8( 5)  and  with  any 

future  financial  perspectives covering  the period  1993-1994; 

Whereas, 

pursuant 

to  Article 

4 

and 

Annex 

I  of 

Decision 

90/221/Euratom,  EEC,  the  amount  deemed  necessary  for  the  whole 

framework  programme  Includes  an  amount  of  57  million  ecus  for  the 

centralized  dissemination and exploitation of  results, to be divided  up 

in  proportion  to  the  amount  envisaged  for  each  activity;  whereas  in 

view  of  the  Importance  of  this  specific  programme  within  the 

"Industrial  and  Materials  Technologies"  action  the  estimate  of  the 

financial  resources  needed  by  this  programme  is  to  be  reduced  by 

6.7 mi 11 ion  ecus,  which  amount  is  to  be  allocated  to  the  centralized 

activities,  In  order  to  comply  with  the  second  sentence  of  Article 

130p(2) of  the  Treaty; 

(4) OJ  No L  117, 8.5.1990,  p.28. 

(5) 0J  No L  185, 15.7.1988, p.33 

-  4 -

Whereas  this  programme  must  be  Implemented  by  the  Commission;  whereas 

to  help  accomplish  this,  the  Member  States  are  bound,  pursuant  to 

Article  5  of  the  Treaty,  to  facilitate  the  achievement  of  Its  tasks 

where  necessary,  notably  within  a  committee; 

Whereas  this programme  must  be  implemented  essentially  by  the  selection 

of  research  and  development  projects  to  enable  them  to  benefit  from 

Community  participation;  whereas  the  Commission  should  encourage  the 

submission  of  such  projects  by  the  usual  means  of  publishing  calls  for 

proposals  In  the  Official  Journal;  whereas  a  special  procedure  should 

also  be  devised  so  as  to maintain  a  degree  of  flexibility  enabling  the 

Commission,  in  the  face  of  the  continuous  evolution  and  gradual 

acceleration  of  technological  progress, also  to  take  into consideration 

spontaneous  proposals  consistent  with  the objectives of  the  programme; 

Whereas  the  projects  to  be  carried  out  under  the  programme  must  be 

selected  with  special  attention  to  the principle  of  economic  and  social 

cohesion  In the Community,  the  transnational  nature  of  the  projects  and 

the support  to be given  to small  and medium-sized  enterprises; 

Whereas  It  Is only  In the  light  of  experience  gathered  in the  course of 

this  programme  that  the  Commission  will  be  able  to  propose  and  the 

Council  to  adopt  supplementary  programmes  by  having  recourse  to  the 

means  provided  for  In  Articles  1301,  130m  or  130o  of  the  Treaty,  if 

they  contribute  to  the  achievement  of  the  programme's  objectives,  In 

accordance  with  the  option  made  available  by  Article  2(2)  of  Decision 

90/221/Euratom,  EEC; 

Whereas,  In accordance  with  Article  130g of  the Treaty,  the  Community's 

activities  aimed  at  strengthening  the  scientific  and  technological 

basis  of  European  industry  and  encouraging  It  to  become  more 

competitive  Include promoting  cooperation  on  research  and  technological 

development  with  third  countries  and  international  organizations; 

whereas  such  cooperation  may  prove  particularly  beneficial  for  the 

development  of  this  programme; 

- 5 -

Whereas  it  is necessary,  as  Annex  II  to  Decision  90/221/Euratom,  EEC, 

provides,  to  promote  the  basic  technical  research,  the  integration  of 

the new  technologies  for  the user  industries and  the acquisition of  the 

scientific and  technical  knowledge necessary  for establishing  standards 

and  codes  of  good  practice  facilitating  the  transfer  of  these 

technologies; 

Whereas  the  Scientific  and  Technical  Research  Committee  (CREST)  lias 

been consulted, 

HAS ADOPTED  THIS  DECISION: 

- 6  -

Article 1 

A  specific  research  and  technological  development  programme  for  the 

European  Economic  Community  in  the  field  of  Industrial  and  materials 

technologies,  as  defined  In Annex  I,  is hereby  adopted  for  a period  of 

five years  as  from  1 January  1990. 

Article  2 

1.  The  Community  funds estimated  as necessary  for  the execution  of  the 

programme  under  this  Decision  amount  to  748  million  ecus.  This 

amount  includes  670 million  ecu  for  the  execution  of  the  activités 

approved  by  the  present  decision,  and  78  million  ecus  for  the 

activities  which  the  JRC will  contribute  to  the  programme  and  which 

will  be  subject  of  a separate  decision  of  the Council. 

2.  From 

the  above  sum  of  670  million  ecus,  an  amount 

of 

6.7  million  ecus 

is  drawn 

for 

the 

centralized 

action 

dissemination  and  exploitation.  The  funds  thus  reduced 

of 

to 

663.3 million  ecus  Include  staff  cost,  which  may  amount  to  a 

maximum  of  3%. 

3.  An  Indicative allocation of  funds  is set  out  In Annex  II. 

4.  If  the  Council  takes  a  decision  in  implantation  of  Article  1(4) of 

Decision  90/221/Euratom,  EEC,  this  decision  shall  be  adapted  to 

take  Into account  the  aforementioned  decision. 

5.  The  budgetary  authority  shall  lay down  the  available  appropriations 

for  each  financial  year. 

Article  3 

Rules  for  the  implementation  of  the  programme  are  set  out  in Annex  I N. 

-  7  -

Article  4 

The  rate  of  the  Community  financial  contribution  shall  be  laid  down  In 

accordance  with Annex  IV to Decision  90/221/Euratom,  EEC. 

Article  5 

1.  During  1992  the Commission  shall  review  the programme  and  address a 

report  on  the  results of  the  review  to the Council  and  the  European 

Parliament,  together  with  proposals  for  any  necessary  changes. 

2.  At  the end of  the programme  the Commission  shall  assess  the  results 

obtained.  It shall  address  a report  thereon  to  the Council  and  the 

European  Par I lament. 

3.  The  reports  shall  be  drawn  up  having  regard  to  the  objectives  set 

out  in Annex  I to this Decision  and  In accordance  with Article  2(4) 

of  Decision  90/221/Euratom, EEC. 

Article  6 

1.  The  Commission  shall  be  responsible  for  the  execution  of  the 

programme.  It  shall  be  assisted  by  a  Committee,  hereinafter 

referred  to  as  "the  Committee",  composed  of  representatives of  the 

Member  States  and  chaired  by  a representative of  the  Commission. 

2.  The  contracts  concluded  by  the  Commission  shall  govern  the  rights 

and  obligations  of  each  party,  including  the  procedures  for 

disseminating,  protecting  and  exploiting  the  research  results,  In 

accordance  with  the  arrangements  adopted  pursuant  to  the  second 

paragraph  of  Article  130k of  the  Treaty. 

3.  A work  programme  for  each  year  shall  be  drawn  up  and  updated  where 

necessary.  It  shall  set  out  the  detailed  objectives  and  types  of 

projects  to  be  undertaken,  and  the  financial  arrangements  to  be 

made  for  them.  The  Commission  shall  make  calls  for  proposals  for 

projects on  the basis of  the annual  work  programmes. 

-  8  -

Article  7 

1.  In the  cases  referred  to  in Article  8(1), the  representative of  the 

Commission  shall  submit  to  the Committee  a draft  of  the measures  to 

be  taken.  The  Committee  shall  deliver  its opinion  on  this  within  a 

time  limit  which  the  Chairman  may  set  in  accordance  with  the 

urgency  of  the  matter.  The  opinion  shall  be  delivered  by  the 

majority  provided  for  In  Article  148(2)  of  the  Treaty  for  the 

adoption  of  decisions  which  the Council  is called  upon  to make  on a 

proposal  from  the  Commission.  When  voting  takes  place  in  the 

Committee,  the  votes  of  the  representatives  of  the  Member  States 

shall  be  weighted  as  specified  in  the  abovementloned  Article.  The 

Chairman  shall  not  take  part  in the  voting. 

2.  The Commission  shall  adopt  the measures  envisaged  when  they  conform 

to  the opinion  of  the  Committee. 

3.  When  the  measures  envisaged  do  not  conform  to  the  opinion  of  the 

Committee,  or  when  no  opinion  has  been  delivered,  the  Commission 

shall  without  delay  submit  to  the  Council  a  proposal  on  the 

measures  to  be  taken.  The  Council  shall  act  by  a  qualified 

major Ity. 

4.  If  the  Council  has  not  acted  within  one  month  of  submission  of  the 

proposal,  the measures  proposed  shall  be  adopted  by  the  Commission. 

Article  8 

1.  The  procedure  laid  down  In Article  7 shall  apply  to: 

the preparation  and  updating  of  the work  programmes  referred  to 

In Article 6(3); 

evaluation  of  the  projects  referred  to  In point  2 of  Annex  III, 

as  well  as  the  estimated  amount  of  the  Community's  financial 

contribution  when  these  projects  are  submitted  through  the 

ordinary  procedure  referred  to  In point  4 of  Annex  III  and  the 

abovementloned  amount  is more  than  5 million  ecus; 

-  9  -

evaluation  of  all  projects  submitted  through  the  exceptional 

procedure  referred  to  in point  4 of  Annex  III,  as  well  as  the 

estimated  amount  of  the Community's  financial  contribution; 

measures  for  evaluating  the  programme. 

2.  The  Commission  may  consult  the  Committee  on  any  matter  falling 

within  the scope of  the  programme. 

3.  The Commission  shall  Inform  the Committee  with  regard  to; 

the progress of  the  programme; 

draft  calls  for  proposals, referred  to  In Article 6(3); 

projects,  referred  to  In  point  2  of  Annex  III,  submitted 

through  the  ordinary  procedure,  for  which  the  exceptional 

procedure  referred  to  In point  4 of  Annex  III,  as  well  as  the 

estimated  amount  of  the Community's  financial  contribution; 

accompanying  measures, referred  to  in point  2 of Annex  III; 

concerted  actions, referred  to  In point  2 of  Annex  III. 

Article  9 

In  Implementing  this  programme,  supplementary  programmes  within  the 

meaning  of  Article  1301,  participation  within  the  meaning  of  Article 

130m  and  joint  undertakings  or  any  other  structures  within  the  meaning 

of  Article  130o  of  the  Treaty  may  also  be  decided  on  as  the  need 

arises. 

- 10  -

Article  10 

Where  cooperation  with  third  countries  and  international  organisations 

aiming  at  achieving  the  objectives  of  this  programme  requires  legal 

undertakings  between  the Community  and  the  third  parties  concerned,  the 

Commission  shall  be  authorized  to  negotiate,  In  accordance  with 

Article  130n  of  the  Treaty,  international  agreements  laying  down  the 

terms of  such  cooperation. 

Decisions  on  the  conclusion  of  such  agreements  shall  be  adopted  in 

accordance  with  the  procedure  referred  to  In  Article  130q(2)  of  the 

Treaty. 

Article  11 

This Decision  is addressed  to the Member  States. 

Done  at 

, 

For  the Counc 11, 

The  President 

-  11 -

Annex I 

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT 

This  specific  programme  fully  reflects  the  approach  embodied  in  the  Third  Framework 

Programme  in terms of scientific and technical goals. 

Paragraph 2 of Annex II of the Framework  Programme, with the exception of the  conditions 

relating to measurement and testing (for which another specific programme exists), form an 

integral part of the present specific  programme. 

The environmental aspects of products and processes and the working environment will be 

included as strategic elements in all parts of the programme.  This will require links with other 

programmes covering the environment, health, and measurement and testing to take account 

of  advances  in risk assessment  and toxicology. 

Integrated projects will be supported in selected areas where a range of technologies  need 

to be brought together.  A particular example is the transport area - also taking into account 

the  logistical  aspects  of  harmonisation  and  standardization  -  where  such  projects  could 

include the  "clean car" and aeronautical technology  (subject to  a positive evaluation of  the 

present  action  in area 5 of the  BRITE/EURAM Programme).  Other  projects  might  include 

construction,  production  engineering  (eg.  clean  manufacturing)  and  clothing.  Links  with 

EUREKA projects will be encouraged, in line with the BRITE/EURAM experience of integrating 

certain results with EUREKA projects. 

The following presents an analytical description of the content of the programme, based on 

and taking account of the above elements. 

Area  1.  Materials - Raw Materials 

-  12  -

The  objective  is to  contribute to  improving the  performance  of  materials  at  a  cost which 

permits competitive industrial exploitation over a broad range of applications not restricted 

to a few high performance items. The accent is on the innovative use of industrial minerals, 

metals  and  materials,  including  their  exploration,  exploitation,  recovery,  transformation, 

production and recycling. 

Raw Materials 

Here  the  goal  is  the  improvement  of  existing  processes  and  mastering  of  new  and 

competitive technologies. 

Research will address the development  of methods for  process application and testing of 

technologies  so improving yield  and enabling  new  mines to  open  and  others to  become 

more economic. 

Special attention will be given to integrated techniques and modelling for the exploration of 

mineral  deposits  and  for  the  exploitation  and  processing  of  minerals  and  rocks,  and  in 

particular, of those resources of complex nature containing basic and strategic metals. 

Research providing a better understanding of integrated systems will be pursued to underpin 

advanced  exploration  methods  for  hidden  deposits,  hydrothermal,  biological  or  chemical 

processing, mining and quarrying technologies and those needed for the production of high 

purity  metals,  fired  clay  and  industrial  minerals.  Work  on  new  and  improved  drilling 

technologies  for  cost  effective  exploration  and  exploitation  will  be  undertaken.  Special 

attention  will  be  directed  to  prenormative  research  concerned  with  occupational  safety 

conditions and the environmental impact of the exploitation technologies to be developed. 

-  13  -

Recycling 

Here  the  goal is to  reinforce  the  scope  and  effectiveness  of  recycling technologies. The 

economic and strategic consequenses  of the loss of many valuable  metals and materials, 

including those in short supply will be minimised. The environmental damage  arising from 

harmful effluents will be reduced. 

A particular goal is the development of new process technologies for facing the challenge of 

exploiting  the  residues,  particularly  waste  and  scrap,  containing  conventional  as  well  as 

precious and strategic metals, arising from the major branches of the manufacturing industry 

such as electronics, electromechanics, automobile, aeronautical, metallurgy, petrochemical, 

construction  etc.  Attention  will  also  be  directed  to  the  complex  challenge  of  recycling 

composite and advanced materials. 

Research  on technologies  for  physical  and/or  chemical  separation  of  metals  containing 

residues will be encouraged  in order to increase the scale  and efficiency  of recycling and 

increase  the  applicability  of  recycled  materials.  Research  will  also  cover  thermal 

technologies,  hydrometallurgy  and  refining  applied  to  processing  of  complex  residues, 

composite materials, new materials, alloys and multi-element scraps. 

-  14  -

New and Improved Materials 

Here the goals are developments in conventional mass commodity materials with enhanced 

properties  and  performance  at  a  reasonable  cost; advanced  structural  materials for  high 

performance systems (i.e. metals, ceramics, polymers and their associate composites); and 

advanced functional materials (such as conducting polymers, power superconductors, high 

performance magnets and novel electronic materials) including their processing. 

In the field of conventional mass commodity materials, attention will be applied to production 

and quality control technologies and the rules for long-term behaviour prediction required for 

meeting consumer requirements such as consistency and reliability. 

Research will be directed to new developments or radical innovations in advanced materials 

for  key  engineering  applications  which  may  also  have  important  spin-off  effects  in other 

industrial areas. 

A  particular  emphasis  will  be  placed  on  developing  materials  with  specified  properties, 

exploiting  advances  in  understanding  of the  effects  of  structure.  Techniques  for tailoring 

materials  towards  precise  requirements  will  be  addressed  and  should  result  in  an 

improvement of R&D effectiveness  in this field. 

With  regard  to  technical  ceramics,  attention  will  be  directed  to  the  improved  control  of 

microstructure and processing technologies and to the fundamental problems associated with 

reliability and brittleness. 

-  15  -

In research into composite engineering the technologies  needed to address the problems 

associated with large scale production will be tackled. 

For  polymer  materials,  research  will  aim  at  a  better  understanding  of  the  relationships 

between  structure,  morphology  and  properties.  The  development  of  new  and  improved 

processing technologies for producing reliable components will also be addressed in order 

to  extend  the  application  of  this  class  of  materials. 

In  particular,  research  will  aim  at 

developing  technical  thermoplastics  which  retain  their  mechanical  properties  at  higher 

temperature and which can be produced through the lower cost thermal processing routes. 

In the case  of superconductors, the challenge is to increase the  maximum  critical current 

density  and  capacity  together  with  advances  in  application  technologies  including  cable 

production, formation and reliability. 

The  research  in this  area will  be  complementary  to  work  which will  be  carried  out  in the 

specific programme on information technology (IT) foreseen in decision 90/.../EEC, Euratom 

on materials for specific IT applications. 

Prenormative  work  needed  to  accelerate  the  applicability  of  new  materials  will  include 

research  relating  to  their  classification  together  with  their  characterization  to  establish 

performance and minimise their impact on health and the environment. 

Area 2. Design and Manufacturing 

The objective  is to  improve the  capability  of industry to  design and manufacture  products 

which are, at the same time, highly competitive and environmentally and socially acceptable. 

-  16  -

Research  will  be  directed  to  advanced  enabling  disciplines  such  as  mechanics, optics, 

acoustics,  fluid  dynamics  and  process  engineering,  and  their  integration  into  new 

technological  developments  such  as  optomatronics  (optics,  materials  and  electronics), 

mechatronics  (mechanical  engineering,  computing  and  electronics),  zero  loss  cutting 

technologies, microtechnology  and molecular engineering. 

Design 

Research on design will address the impact on product performance, manufacturing and life 

cycle costs. This approach will link the information requirements inherent in the engineering 

design  process  (material  product  form,  fabrication  and  function)  with  the  organisational 

procedures and the human factors that underlie the process.  This work will complement the 

product  modeling  approach  which  is  a  leading  IT  theme,  in the  specific  programme  on 

information technologies foreseen in decision 90/.../EEC, Euratom. 

Research will address failure modes and defect analysis, by modelling techniques based on 

fracture  mechanics, tribology,  fluid  dynamics,  corrosion  analysis,  etc. 

Implementation  of 

these  design  approaches  may  require  the  adaptation  of  software  tools  for  specific 

applications. 

Design research will be directed towards design for ease of maintenance, recycling or reuse 

with  a  view  to  reducing  whole  life  costs.  Research  on  improved  modelling  and  rapid 

prototyping  techniques  will  support  the  engineering  design  process  addressing  product 

validation, optimisation and prediction of service behaviour.  Prenormative research will aim 

at the drawing up of codes of good design practice. 

-  17 

Manufacturing 

Research on the quality of manufacturing will address the use of efficient and cost effective 

manufacturing processes and integrate other aspects including the design interface, quality 

control and the working environment. 

Attention will be directed to flexible small-batch production technologies and also to mass 

production technology in order to meet an emerging need for identical technical products in 

large  quantities.  In particular,  appropriate  materials  application  and  related technologies, 

such as those for precision engineering or incorporation of ceramics into a mass production 

environment, will be addressed as well as technologies for shaping, machining and assembly 

of miniaturised components. 

Research will be directed to the adaptation of established CI M systems to meet the special 

needs of industry and particularly those of small and medium sized undertakings. 

Research on net or near  net shaping and forming processes will be supported  in order to 

reduce costly and environmentally damaging wastes. 

Research  in chemical  engineering  will develop  integrated  approaches.  Subjects  of  study 

could include process modelling, separation technology, molecular engineering, catalysis and 

surface science and chemical sensors. Fundamental research into mixing and stirring, and 

particle and powder technology will be supported in order to develop a better understanding 

than is provided by current empirical approaches. Research will also be directed to providing 

the understanding of particular processes as a basis for software tailored to particular needs. 

18  -

Annex II 

INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN OF  EXPENDITURES 

in  %, for  the period  1990-1994. 

Area  1. Materials  -  Raw  Materials 

-  Raw  Materials  and  Recycling 

-  Materials 

12 

50 - 60 

Area  2. Design  and  Manufacturing 

30  - 40 

The breakdown between different  areas does not exclude the possibility that projects could cover 

several  areas. 

-  19 

Annex  111 

Rules  for  Implementing  the  Programme 

and Activities  for  Dissemination  and  Exploitation  of  the  Results 

1.  The  Commission  shall  Implement  the  programme  on  the  basis  of  the 

scientific  and  technical  content  described  In Annex  I. 

2.  The  rules  for  Implementing  the programme,  referred  to  in Article  3, 

comprise  research 

and 

technological 

development 

projects, 

accompanying  measures  and  concerted  actions. 

The  direct  research  activities  carried  out  by  the  JRC  will  be  the 

subject  of  a separate  Council  Decision. 

The  projects  shall  be  the  subject  of  shared-cost  research  and 

technological  development  contracts. 

The  accompanying  measures  consist  of  applying  the  means  to  ensure 

proper  technical  execution,  management  and  evaluation  of  the 

programme,  as  well  as  adequate  dissemination  and  accessibility  of 

the  results,  and  coordination,  training  and  consciousness-raising 

of  the participants  in the  programme. 

The  concerted  actions  are  those  defined 

In  the  Financial 

Regulation. 

3.  The  participants  In  the  projects  must  be  natural  or  legal  persons 
established  In  the  Community6,  such  as  universities,  research 

organizations  and  industrial  firms,  Including  small  and  medium-

sized  enterprises,  or  associations  thereof,  in particular  European 

Economic  Interest  Groupings  (EElGs). 

6  In  the  context  of  the  present  programme,  the  European  Centre  for 

Nuclear  Research  (CERN),  based  In Geneva, most  of  whose  Installations 

are  located  In  the  Community,  may  participate  In  contracts. 

-  20 -

Natural  or  legal  persons  established  in  countries  which  have 

concluded  agreements  with  the  Community  foreseeing  scientific  and 

technical  research,  may,  based  on  the  criterion  of  mutual 

advantage,  take  part  in  the  projects  undertaken  in  the  context  of 

this  programme.  The  contracting  parties  under  such  arrangements 

shall  not  benefit  from  Community  funding.  They  shall  contribute  to 

the general  administrative costs. 

4.  The  choice  of  projects  shall  be  carried  out  according  to  the 

following  order  of  priority,  the  first  method  being  the  rule,  the 

second  the exception: 

The  participants  in the projects  shall  be selected  on  the basis of 

the  ordinary  procedure  of  calls  for  proposals  referred  to  In 

Article 6  (3) and published  in the Official  Journal  of  the European 

Commun 11 i es. 

The  Commission  may  also  accept  proposals  according  to  an 

exceptional  procedure  and  under  the  conditions  mentioned  below, 

when  they  make  a  particularly  promising  and  significant 

contribution  as  regards  the originality  of  the  theme  proposed,  the 

novelty  of  the  scientific  and  technical  approach  and  the 

methodology  of  execution,  also  taking  into  account  the  particular 

nature of  the proposers. 

A  favourable  technical  evaluation  of  such  proposals  shall  not  by 

Itself  be  a sufficient  justification  for  accepting  a project;  this 

exceptional  procedure  may  only  apply  after  verification  that  the 

nature  of  the  project,  as defined  above, does  not  justify  the  use 

of  the normal  procedure  for calls for proposals. 

The  exceptional  procedure  must  be  completed  before  the  ordinary 

procedure  In  such  a  way  that  the  available  amount  for  the 

Community's  financial  participation  in  projects  retained  by  the 

ordinary  procedure  can  be  determined  precisely.  The  closing  date 

for  the  exceptional  procedure  shall  be  published  each  year  in  the 

OffIclal  Journal. 

-  21  -

The  amount  of  the  financial  participation  of  the  Community  for  all 

the  projects  retained  by  the  exceptional  procedure  will  be  decided 

each  year,  in  relation  to  the  projects  selected  according  to 

particularly  strict  criteria  of  excellence.  In  any  case,  this 

amount  may  not  exceed  15%;  it may  be  revised  each  year  In the  light 

of  experience. 

The  Commission  shall  draw  up  a vade mecum  setting  out  all  the  rules 

applicable  to  this exceptional  procedure  In order  to guarantee  full 

transparency. 

5.  The  projects  must  provide  for  participation  by  at  least  two 

mutually  independent  partners  established  in  different  Member 

States. 

6.  The  Commission  may  encourage  the  participants  to  form  a  European 

Economic  Interest  Grouping  (EEIG)  or  make  other  arrangements  for 

carrying  out  projects,  such  as  those  on  a  large  scale,  permitting 

decentralized  management  adapted  to  the  specific  requirements  of 

the  project. 

7.  The  knowledge  acquired  during  the  course  of  the  projects  shall  be 

disseminated  on  the  one  hand  within  the  specific  programme  and  on 

the  other  hand  by  means  of  a  centralized  activity,  pursuant  to  the 

decision  referred  to  in  the  third  paragraph  of  Article  4  In 

Decision  90/221/Euratom,  EEC. 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT (1) 

1.  BUDGET HEADING AND TITLE 

Part  B of the general budget 

Subsection  6, Item 6121 

Specific  programme  of  Community  RTD  activities  in  the  field  of  Industrial  and  Materials 

Technologies  (1990 - 1994V 

2.  LEGAL BASE 

Article  130 Q(2) of the Treaty. 

3.  OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION 

See Annex I of the proposal. 

4.  FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 

Amounts deemed  necessary in MIO ECU : 

Programme  implementation 

Centralised  action for  dissemination  and  exploitation 

TOTAL 

663.30 

6.70 
670.001 

The  indicative  operational  breakdown  of  the  ECU  663.3  million  for  the  programme 

implementation  is given in Annex II of the proposal. 

1 excluding JRC activities (78 MIO  ECU) 

Indicative multiannual schedules 

Commitments 

Payments 

1990 

- 

- 

1991 

139 

13 

1992 

170.87 

94.50 

1993 

198 

154 

19942 

155.43 

401.80 

TOTAL 

66330 

663J0 

The definitive yearly amounts will be determined by the budgetary authority in accordance with the 

financial  perspectives for the period 1990-1992 (annexed to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 

June  1984) and with subsequent financial perspectives which may be adopted for  1993 and 1994. 

5.STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE 

In addition to the principal means of action which are contracts (annex III), the above amounts 

include programme-related  staff  and administrative expenditure estimated  at no more than 35 

MIO ECU. 

The expenditure on staff will not exceed 3% of the amount deemed necessary for the programme 

implementation.  This implies a maximum of 81 statutory posts (A, B and/or C) at any given time 

during the life of the programme.  The infrastructure costs related to statutory staff will be borne 

by Part A of the budget. 

6.IMPLICATIONS FOR REVENUE 

The  contributions  by  third  country  contractors  towards  the  cost  of  administration  of  the 
programme will be reused pursuand to articles 27.2 and 96 of the Financial Regulation3. 

7.TYPES OF CONTROL 

Control will be exercised by  : 

the Programme Management Committee (scientific  control) 

the services of the DG responsible for the execution of the programme, possibly assisted 

by independent experts 

the Commission's Financial Controller 

2 for the payment appropriations  : 1994 and beyond 

3  Financial  Regulation  of  21  December  1977,  as last  amended  by  Regulation  610/90  of 

March 1990. 

In accordance with Article 2 of  the  Financial  Regulation(3),  the use of  appropriations will be 

subject  to  analyses  of  cost-effectiveness  and  the  realisation  of  quantified  objectives  will  be 

monitored. 

External audit may be carried out by the Court of Auditors in accordance with the Treaty. 

STATEMENT OF IMPACT ON COMPETITIVENESS AND EMPLOYMENT 

1- 

The main reason for introducing the measure 

The proposed programme is aimed at promoting collaborative technological research to enhance 

the competitive position of the Community's manufacturing industries, in particular SMEs.  An 

important purpose of this European Community programme is to bring together complementary 

research of industrial firms, research institutes, universities and other organizations from different 

countries in the Community through transnational cooperation. 

2. 

Features of the businesses in question 

The proposed programme is directed at European manufacturing industries where there is a need 

to  improve  technology  in  order  to  enhance  competitive  performance.  The  target  companies 

include  a  large  proportion  of  SMEs  such  as  those  which  already  participate  in  the 

BRTTE/EURAM and Raw Materials and Recycling programmes. 

3. 

Obligations imposed directly on business 

The same obligations are imposed on all institutions participating in the programme including : 

conformity  of  the  proposed  research  with  the  technical  annex  of  the  project,  transnational 

cooperation, sharing of costs, free site-access to Commission agents, participation in seminars and 

meetings of contractors organized by the Commission, and annual reports of activities and results. 

4. 

Indirect  obligations  likely  to  be  imposed  on  business  by  national,  regional  or  local 

authorities 

No such obligations are foreseen following the implementation of this Council decision. 

5. 

Special provisions in respect of SMEs 

Subject to the success of the pilot scheme, the Commission will support Feasibility Awards to help 

small and medium sized undertakings establish the feasibility of a device, process or concept as 

a means of enhancing their potential to find a partner in a subsequent call for proposals under 

the shared cost action.  The Commission will support up to 75 % of the cost of research lasting 

up to six months.  High standards of evaluation will ensure that the awards are highly competitive 

and recognized as prestigious. 

The Commission will support Cooperative Research which will help companies, particularly small 

and medium sized undertakings generally not having their own research facilities,  to carry out 

R&D to address their common problems. 

When a choice has to be made between projects of similar technical merit and likely industrial 

impact, preference will be given to those projects involving SMEs. 

A particular advantage for SMEs in participating in the programme is that all signatories  to a 

contract  are treated  on  an equal  footing;  even when making a relatively  small  contribution, a 

contractor has the right of  full  access to the foreground  information  arising from  the research 

project. 

Likely effects on : 

a. 

The competitiveness of business 

As the programme is aimed at research not leading directly to new commercial products 

or processes, there will be no immediate effect  on the competitiveness of businesses. 

In the longer term, the programme is directed at improving the technological competences 

of European industry in general and of small and medium sized enterprises in particular. 

A number of projects in the programme will deal with technical problems specific to SMEs. 

The  majority  of  the  participants  in  these  projects  will  be  SMEs.  The  results  of  the 

projects, if successful, will be of real benefit  to SMEs in the longer term. 

As the technical work develops, dissemination of information  about the research results 

will commence. 

b.  Employment 

The effects on employment  (inasmuch as these can be measured) of the programme are 

and will continue to be of an indirect and positive nature in the immediate term. 

Consultation of representative organizations 

The Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee (IRDAC), in which the European 

Trade Union Confederation  (ETUC), the European Centre for Public Enterprises (ECPE), the 

Union  of  Industries  of  the  European  community  (UNICE)  and  the  Federation  of  European 

Industrial Cooperative Research Organizations (FEICRO) are represented, has been consulted 

during the preparation of the new programme, and has been consulted on the technical subjects 

of the programme. 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM (90) 156 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

13 16 

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ISBN 92-77-60709-2 

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