RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION - ANNUAL REPORT 1996
Date: 1996-09-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: activity report, research and development, research policy, technological change

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  09.09.1996 
COM(96) 437  final 

RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL 

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITffiS  OF THE 

EUROPEAN UNION 

ANNUAL REPORT 1996 

(Presented by the Commission) 

<L 

S U M M A RY 

This is the  second  Annual  Report by the Commission  on research  activities. The  requirement 
for  an  annual  report  was  introduced  by  Article  130p  of the  EC  Treaty, which  stipulates  that 
each  year the  Commission  should  send  a report to the European  Parliament  and  the  Council. 
This report includes  information  on research and technological  development  activities and the 
dissemination  of  results  during  the  previous  year,  and  the  work  programme  for  the  current 
year. 

With  this  annual  report  an  overview  is  provided  of  the  whole  spectrum  of  Community 
research  activities. Part  One of the report offers  the reader a "snapshot" of the situation  at the 
end of  1995 as well as an account of the work programme and milestones  for  1996. Part  Two 
covers  more detailed  information  on the research  activities undertaken  in  1995, mainly  under 
the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  (1994-1998)  (but  also  including  the  projects  which  were 
still  continuing  under  the  Third  Framework  Programme  (1990-1994))  grouped  in  "Activities 
in  1995"  and  "work  programme  for  1996"  respectively. 

*  *  * 

For  Community  research  policy,  1995  was  again  an  active  year.  It  was  the  first  full  year  of 
implementation  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  (1994-1998).  The  presentation  and 
processing  of  calls  for  proposals  and  the  establishment  of  project  contracts  continued 
throughout  the  year. 

As  a  result  of  the  enlargement  of the  European  Union  at  the  beginning  of  1995 through  the 
accession  of  Austria,  Finland  and  Sweden,  the  Commission  proposed  an  adjustment  to  the 
budget  of the Fourth  Framework  Programme  (both European  Community  and Euratom).  The 
final  adoption  of  the  proposals  by  the  Parliament  and  the  Council  was  completed  in  March 
1996. 

In  1995,  the  Commission  presented  its  concept  of  research-industry  Task  Forces,  a  joint 
initiative  of  three  Commissioners,  to  improve  consultation  and  the  coordination  of  research 
activities.  The  Task  Forces  focus  on  the  following  areas:  New-generation  aircraft, 
Educational  Software  and  Multimedia,  The car  of  the  Tomorrow,  Transport  Intermodality, 
Environment  -  Water,  Vaccines  and  Viral Diseases,  The  train  and  Railway  Systems  of  the 
Future,  Maritime  Systems  of  the  Future . 

In  1995, a new programme monitoring and evaluation scheme was introduced. The monitoring 
of  the  18  specific  programmes  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  and  Framework 
Programme  monitoring  was  carried  out  by  independent  external  experts. 

In  May,  the  Commission  presented  its  communication  on  scientific  and  technological 
cooperation  with  the  New  Independent  States  of  the  former  Soviet  Union.  In  October,  the 
Commission  presented  its  communication  on  perspectives  for  international  cooperation  in 
research and technological development, on which a Council resolution was adopted in March 
1996. Furthermore, the European Union continued discussions on scientific  and  technological 
cooperation with Mediterranean countries as well as with the associated countries from  Central 
and  Eastern  Europe.  The  negotiations  on  bilateral  scientific  and  technical  cooperation 
agreements  with  Canada  and  Israel  were  concluded. 

In December, the  Commission  published  a Green Paper on Innovation, the aim of which was 
to  initiate  widescale  consultation  on the problem  of  innovation  in  Europe.  The  Green  Paper 
considers  the  different  factors  involved  in  innovation,  analyses  the  existing  situation  and 
makes  proposals  for  future  action. 

In addition,  the Commission  has further  strengthened  its activities both to promote  economic 
and  social  cohesion  in Europe through research  and training,  and to improve  coordination  of 
national  RTD  policies  through  cooperation.  In  June  1995,  the  Research  Council  adopted 
conclusions  on  the  coordination  of  Member  States'  science  and  technology  policies 
emphasizing  the  importance  of regular  exchange  of  information  on  national  RTD  activities. 

The scope  of  research  activities  in  1995 - and  the  importance  of  the  Community's  research 
efforts  in  general  -  can  be  illustrated  in  a few  figures  relating  to  the  Fourth  Framework 
Programme  activities,  covering Member States plus  the countries  of the European  Economic 
Area  and ofEFTA:  2 660 new projects  involving 12 185 participants  were launched  in 1995; 
a  total  of  10  695 projects  were  running  at  the  end  of  1995\ corresponding  to  ECU  2  037 
million in total payments.  74 874 transnational collaborative links in multi-partner  shared-cost 
action  between  research  teams  spread  throughout  the  Communityhave  been  counted.  The 
number of collaborative  research links between Member States and third countries  was 3 237. 

*  *  * 

In  1996,  the  Commission  will  continue  its  work  to  ensure  efficient  implementation  of  the 
specific  programmes  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme. 

In  January  1996  the  Commission  presented  its  proposal  for  a  financial  supplement  to  the 
Fourth  Framework  Programme  (EC  and  Euratom)  amounting  to  ECU  700  million,  based  on 
the provisions  in  the  decisions  adopting  the Fourth  Framework  Programme  in April  1994. 

In  1996, the Task Forces will continue their work and discussions on the concept will  continue 
so  as to  capitalize  on  the  experience  of this  new  approach. 

^ 

During  1996, the Commission will launch discussions on preparation  for the Fifth  Framework 
Programme  by  publishing  a  strategic  policy  document  by  summer  1996.  The  need  is  to 
concentrate  research  efforts  so  as to  ensure  the  continued  efficiency  and  effectiveness  of  the 
research  and  technological  development  activities  of  the  European  Union,  as  well  as  to  help 
to stimulate the competitiveness  and growth of European industry and to promote  employment 
and  the  quality  of  life  of  Europe's  citizens. 

Other major  topics which the Commission plans to address this year include further  discussion 
on the innovation  process; international  scientific  and technological  cooperation;  coordination 
of  national  RTD  policies;  evaluation  and  management  of  programmes,  including  also  an 
assessment  of  Community  research  activities  during  the  five  preceding  years;  and  further 
simplification  of  management  procedures. 

*  *  * 

//  is  the  Commission's  hope  that  readers  will  find  this  annual  report  convenient  and 
informative,  both  for  those  already  involved  in  Community  research  and  fdr  those  who 
discover  it  through  this  report.  It  is  the  aim  that  it  should  be  seen  as  a  useful  reference 
document,  a  common  knowledge  base for  researchers,  enterprises,  research  organizations, 
research policy planners,  politicians  and indeed all those who have the competitiveness  of the 
European  Union and  the  welfare  of  its citizens  close  to  their hearts. 

SUMMARY 

CONTENTS 

P A RT  O N E:  The  Community's  research  and  technological 
development  policy  in  1995-96 

I. 

II. 
III. 
IV. 
V. 
VI. 

General  objectives  and  achievements 
Implementation  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme 

Framework  and  lines  of  action  for  the  Community's  RTD  policy 
in  1995-96 
1.1 
1.2 
International  cooperation 
Innovation  and  dissemination  of  R&D  results 
Training  through  research 
Coordination  between  European  and  national  policies 
Prospects  for  1996 

P A RT  T W O:  RTD  activities  in  1995  and 
work  programme  for  1996 

First  activity  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  of  European 
Community  and  Framework  Programme  for  Euratom 

Information  and  communications  technologies 
1. 
2. 
3. 

Telematics  applications  of  common  interest 
Communications  technologies 
Information  technologies 

Industrial  technologies 
4. 
5. 

Industrial  and  materials  technologies 
Standards,  measurements  and  testing 

Environment 
6. 
7. 

Environment  and  climate 
Marine  sciences  and  technologies 

Life  sciences  and  technologies 
Biotechnology 
8. 
Biomedicine  and  health 
9. 
Agriculture  and  fisheries 
10. 

de 

Page 

2 
3 
7 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 

21 

21 
23 
27 

30 
33 

35 
38 

41 
42 
44 

idL 

Energy 
11. 
12. 
13. 

Non-nuclear  energy 
Safety  of  nuclear  fission 
Controlled  thermonuclear  fusion 

Transport 

Targeted  socio-economic  research  programme 

Second  activity  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme 
International  RTD  cooperation 

Third  activity  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme 
Dissemination  and  optimization  of  results 

Fourth  activity  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme 
Training  and  mobility  of  researchers 

Joint  Research  Centre 

Competitive  scientific  and  technical  support  activities 

P A RT  T H R E E:  Projects,  contracts  signed  and  payments  in  1995: 
Annual  basis  and  Framework  Programme 

Calls  for  proposals  1995 

New  projects  and  projects  in progress 
Table  1 
Table  2 
Specific  programmes  (FP4)  - New  projects 
Table  3 A  &  3B  Specific  programmes  (FP3  and  FP4)  - Overview  of projects 
Table  4 
Table  5A  &  5B  Specific  programmes  (FP4).  SCA  by type  of participant 
Specific  programmes  (FP4).  SCA  by  objective  1 regions 
Table  6 
FP4.  SCA  - Collaboration  links 
Table  7 
Calls  for  proposals  1996 
Table  8 
FP4.  SCA  by  average  value  of  the  projects 
Table  9 
Funding  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  and  the  Euratom 
Table  10 
Framework  Programme 
Commitments  1984-1998  (current  prices) 
Commitments  1984-1998  (1992  prices) 

Table  11 
Table  12 

Main  abbreviations  and  acronyms  used 

48 
52 
53 

55 

58 

60 

64 

66 

69 

73 

75 

76 
77 
78 
80 
84 
86 
87 
88 
93 

94 
95 
96 

97 

PART ONE 

THE  COMMUNITY'S  RESEARCH  AND  TECHNOLOGICAL 
DEVELOPMENT  POLICY  IN  1995-96 

L 

FRAMEWORK  AND LINES OF ACTION FOR THE COMMUNITY'S  RTD 
POLICY  IN  1995-96 

Introduction 
The  European  Union's  research  and  technological  development  (EU  RTD)  policy  aims  to 
strengthen  Europe's  scientific  and technological  bases  and thus to contribute to the  development 
of  the  competitiveness  of  European  industry  and  to  promote  the  quality  of  life  of  Europe's 
citizens.  EU  RTD  policy  complements  Member  States'  national  research  efforts  and  supports 
other  Union  policies  such  as on agriculture,  cohesion,  transport,  environment,  health,  education, 
energy,  etc. 

The  European  Union's  RTD  policy  is  implemented  by  means  of  research  programmes  which 
associate companies  - including  SMEs  - universities  and research  centres from  various  European 
countries  in joint  research  projects.  The  research  themes  covered  by  EU  RTD  are  defined  in 
The  current  Fourth  Framework  Programme 
multiannual  Framework  Programmes  (FP). 
(1994-1998) has a total budget of ECU  13  100 million, respectively  ECU  11  764  million for  the 
EC Framework  Programme  and ECU  1 336  million for the Euratom  Framework  Programme.  In 
January  1996 the Commission  proposed that this figure  would be increased  by ECU  700  million 
of which ECU  595  million is allocated for the EC  FP and ECU  105 million for the Euratom FP. 

The  Joint  Research  Centre  (JRC)  with  its  seven  institutes  is  the  Community's  research  centre, 
which  carries  out  research  directly,  contributes  to  the  implementation  of  the  Framework 
Programmes  and  provides  scientific  support  for  other  Union  policies.  A  summary  of  its  own 
1995  annual  report  (COM(96)158  final)  and  major  initiatives  for  1996  figures  in  Part  Two. 

The  Commission  is  assisted  and  advised  in  the  development  of  RTD  policy  in  particular  by 
IRDAC,  a committee  composed  of  representatives  from  the  highest  levels  of  European  industry 
and  the  European  Science  and  Technology  Assembly  (ESTA),  which  comprises  eminent 
representatives  of  the  scientific  and  industrial  research  community. 

In  1996 EU RTD  activities  are focused  on the implementation  of the specific  programmes  of the 
Fourth Framework  Programme (1994-1998) and on experimentation with the new concept of Task 
Forces,  which  focus  on  important  topics  and  encourage  better  coordination  of  research  and  use 
of  its  results.  Also  during  1996,  discussions  on  the  supplementary  funding  of  the  Framework 
Programme  will  be  continued  and  the  Commission  will  launch  the  preparation  of  the  Fifth 
Framework  Programme. 

1.1  GENERAL  OBJECTIVES  AND  ACHIEVEMENTS 

Major  political  events 

Adjustment  of the  budget  for  the  Framework  Programmes  to  enlargement  of  the  EI I 

As  a  result  of  the  enlargement  of  the  European  Union  at  the  beginning  of  1995  with  Austria, 
Finland  and  Sweden  as  new  Member  States,  the  Commission  proposed  an  adjustment  to  the 
budget  of the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  by  7% (COM(95)145).  This  was  in  line  with  the 
financial  perspectives  of the Union adopted  in November  1994, when  EU  institutions  agreed  on 
a  7% increase  of the  budget  devoted  to  internal policies.  It also  incorporated  within  the  FP  the 
financial  contributions  which  the  three  new  Member  States  had  previously  made  as  associated 
States.  The  Commission  proposal  was  to  distribute  this  increase  linearly  between  the  specific 
programmes. 

This proposal  required  co-decision by the Council  and Parliament  as regards the EC  Framework 
Programme  and the  opinion  of Parliament  as regards the Euratom  Framework  Programme.  The 
first reading  by Parliament  took place  in July  1995 and the Council  adopted  a common  position 
in November  1995.  The common position stated that the operating  funds  for  research  activities 
will  be  raised  linearly  by  6.87%  in  line  with  the  contributions  already  made  by  the  three  new 
Member  States in  1994.  Funds allocated  for  staff  and  administrative  purposes  will  be  increased 
by 4% maximum  on average.  Overall, the total  budget  for the Programmes  will  be increased  by 
ECU  800  million  (6.5%).  The European  Parliament  approved  the  Council  common  position  in 
January  1996.  The  final  adoption  of  the  proposals  led  to  Decision  No  616/96/EC  of  the 
1996  and  Council  Decision 
European  Parliament 
No  96/253/Euratom  of  4  March  1996. 

the  Council  of  25  March 

and 

Task  Forces 
Early  in  1995, the  Commission  took  a  major  initiative  to  boost  the  contribution  of  research  to 
industry  and  to  society  at  large,  by  setting  up  a  series  of  Task  Forces.  The  role  of  the  Task 
Forces  is to  foster  a  closer  and  more  productive  relationship  between  industry  and  the  research 
community  by  coordinating  and  focusing  the  Community's  research  resources  on  prominent 
industrial  and  social  needs.  By  doing  this,  the  Task  Forces  are  also  expected  to  add  visibility 
to  EU  research  and  show  that  it  has  tangible  benefits  to  citizens  at  large. 

Eight  Task  Forces  have  been  set  up  to  date,  in  the  following  areas: 

New-generation  aircraft 
Educational^ software  and  multimedia 
The  car  of  tomorrow 
Transport  intermodality 
Environment  -  water 
Vaccines  and  viral  diseases 
The  trains  and  railway  systems  of the  future 
Maritime  systems  of  the  future. 

The  Task  Forces  are  an  essential  part  of  the  Commission's  strategy  to  improve  the  impact  and 
reduce  the  fragmentation  of  research  across  the  EU.  They  serve  to  focus  discussions  with 
industry  and  other  interested  parties  and  are  intended  to  concentrate  resources  both  from 
Community  research programmes  and throughout the EU on prominent  areas of future  industrial 
and societal need, in line with other policies (such as on the environment, the information  society, 
education and training, social and economic cohesion, regional development, transport and health). 

They  are organized  and  staffed  by  the  Commission,  but  rely  on  inputs  from  all  parties  involved 
in  strengthening  the  link  between  research  and  industry.  They  take  account  of  the  lessons  of 
good practice that  have emerged  from  the Framework  Programme, in particular the avoidance  of 
technology  prescription,  and  they  draw on the considerable  experience  which has been  gained  in 
research coordination  within  specific  RTD programmes  by means of clustering  research  projects, 
concertation  activities,  etc. 

The  Task  Forces  are  pilot  actions,  designed  to  demonstrate  the  advantages  of  research  and 
cooperation  and  of new approaches  integrating  different  policy  frameworks.  They have  a three 
fold  mission: 

to  define  research  priorities  and  identify  technology  bottlenecks,  in  conjunction  with 
industry  -  including  SMEs  - and  users; 

to  coordinate  relevant  activities  around  a  nucleus  of  clearly  identified  objectives, 
beginning  with  relevant  activities  under  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme; 

to  investigate  other  options  -  financial,  regulatory  -  which  will  contribute  to  effective 
implementation  by  industry. 

The  Commission  first  presented  the  Task  Force  concept to the  Council  of Research  Ministers  in 
March  1995.  Further  accounts  were  later  given  to^the  Council  of  the  activities  of  the  Task 
Forces, as well  as to the Parliament  and the Economic  and  Social  Committee  and in October  the 
Commission  provided  a  summary  report  to  the  Council  and  Parliament  on  their  state  of 
implementation  (SEC(95)1824)  together  with  more  detailed  reports  from  the  Task  Forces 
themselves. 

Positive  opinions  on  the  principles  of  the  Task  Forces,  in  particular  their  focus  on  wide 
consultation  in identifying  priorities  for  research  and their potential  role  in coordinating  research 
activities,  have  been  given  by  ESTA,  IRDAC  and  CREST,  as  well  as  a  number  of  programme 
committees.  Evidently  a  number  of  practical  aspects  remain  to  be  settled. 
The  Task  Forces  are  intimately  linked  to the  Commission's  proposal  for  supplementary  funding 
of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  and  the  Euratom  Framework  Programme.  This  proposal 
(COM(96)12) arises from  the provision  in the decisions taken in April  1994 adopting the  Fourth 
(EC) Framework Programme and the Euratom Framework Programme for a financial  supplement 
amounting  to  a  total  of  up  to  ECU  700  million  to  be  decided  by  June  1996.  The  proposal 
identifies  the  themes  addressed  by  the  Task  Forces  as  priority  areas  for  focusing  and 
It  advocates  additional  funding  for  five  of  these  themes  -  New-
concentration  of  research. 
generation  aircraft,  Car  of  tomorrow,  Educational  software  and  multimedia,  Transport 
intermodality and Environment-water  -  as well as (for the Euratom Programme) Nuclear  safety. 

The Task Forces' proposals will help to coordinate research  in these areas and on the three  other 
Task Force themes, i.e.  Vaccines and viral diseases, Trains and railway systems of the future  and 
Maritime systems  of the future.  In all cases, however, the legal conditions for the  implementation 
of  the  Framework  Programmes  will  be  respected.  In  particular,  research  will  be  administered 
through  the  specific  programmes,  in  full  respect  of the  established  procedures. 

Significant  results  have  already  been  achieved  by  the  Task  Forces  in  consulting  industry  and 
users,  in diagnosing  the problems  and  challenges  facing  the EU and  in developing  action  plans. 
They  have  already  given  a  new  visibility  to  the  EU's  research  activities  and  caught  the 
imagination  of the industrial  and research communities, allowing rapid mobilization  of  scientific 
and  technical  expertise  and  effective  cooperation  between  the  various  services  of  the 
Commission. 

IRDAC  and  ESTA  activities  1995-96 

Following  the  Commission  decision  of  7 September  1995, a new  role was  outlined  for  IRDAC 
(the  Industrial  R&D  Advisory  Committee  of  the  Commission)  and  an  increase  in  membership 
agreed.  IRDAC  will  in  future  address  more  strategic  issues  (no  longer  purely  RTD),  and  its 
membership  now  numbers  19  senior  industrialists  appointed  in  a  personal  capacity  and 
5  representatives  of European  associations: the Union of Industries  of the European  Community 
(UNICE),  the  European  Centre  for  Public  Enterprise  (ECPE),  the  European  Association  of 
Contract  Research  Organizations  (EACRO), the  Federation  of  European  Industrial  Cooperative 
Research  Organizations  (FEICRO),  the  European  Trade  Union  Confederation  (ETUC)  and  the 
European  Union  of  Crafts  and  Small  and  Medium-sized  Enterprises  (UEAPME). 

In  1995  IRDAC  published  opinions  in the  following  areas:  international  cooperation  (scientific 
and 
technological  cooperation  with  Central  and  Eastern  Europe,  developing  countries, 
non-European  industrialized  countries), the  Joint  Research  Centre  and  coordination  of  national 
policies. 
In  addition,  as  a  start-up  of  the  discussions  on  the  Fifth  Framework  Programme, 
IRDAC published the booklet  "Let's talk Research" in which senior industrialists give their views 
on  the  future  of  research  in  Europe. 

In  1996  IRDAC  will  organize  round-tables  on  IPR,  services,  information  and  communications 
technologies,  life  science, industrial  and materials technologies, environment  and energy.  Other 
round-tables  will  deal  with the  Green  Paper  on Innovation,  regulation  and  research,  and  SMEs. 
A  special  working  party  will  be  set  up  on the  "efficiency  of  European  industry". 

IRDAC will present its advice on the Fifth  Framework Programme at the end of May  1996.  The 
IRDAC  plenum  will  be  held  on  24  October  1996. 

The  European  Science  and  Technology  Assembly  (ESTA)  was  set  up  in  1994. 

This  Commission  advisory  body  currently  brings  together  96  eminent  academics  and 
industrialists. 

The  Assembly  holds  plenary  meetings  twice  a  year.  The  20-member  Bureau  elected  by  the 
Assembly  meets  about  four  times  a  year.  A  number  of  working  parties  provide  support. 

The topics discussed  to date include  evaluation of the projects  and programme  under the  Fourth 
Framework  Programme, issues concerning the coordination  of national policies, such as the  role 
of  the  research  Councils  or  identification  of  the  weaknesses  or  gaps  in  the  development  of 
Europe's  scientific  base  and  of ways  of remedying  them, the role  of  basic  research  in  EU  RTD 
activities, closer relations between academic and industrial partners in the research field, Europe's 
competitive  position  in  science  and  technology  and  its  implications  for  the  Fifth  Framework 
Programme,  relations  between  Europe  and  Asia  in connection  with  scientific  and  technological 
development  and  the  options  for  inertial  confinement  for  controlled  thermonuclear  fusion. 

A  progress  report  on  these  subjects  was  given  at  the  Assembly's  plenary  meeting  on  16  and 
17 April  1996.  This  laid  the  foundation  for  rapid  finalization  of  certain  reports  (on  fusion, 
evaluation  and basic research), which were formally  submitted to the Commission  in May  1996. 
The  others  will  be  finalized  in  the  months  ahead. 

The efforts  made to broaden the interface between the Commission and ESTA will continue, with 
greater  involvement  of  the  programme  managers  in  the  working  parties  and  more  regular 
interaction  between  ESTA  and  the  Commission  units  concerned  with  general  Community  S&T 
policy  in particular.  In addition to finalization  of the work in hand and the establishment  of new 
working  parties  (to  be  discussed  at  the  Bureau's  meeting  in  July  1996), in  1996  ESTA  will,  in 
particular,  be  involved  in the  preparatory  work  on the  Fifth  Framework  Programme. 

Contracts  signed  and  payments  made  in  1995: annual  basis  and  Framework  Programme 

The  1995 economic  and financial  data in Part Three refer  to the Fourth Framework  Programme 
and  the  Euratom  Programme  (ECU  13  100 million). 

The annual section (Tables  1  to 9) analyses only the indirect action started or already in progress 
in  1995: on  31  December  1995, a total  of  10 695 projects  were  in progress. 

The  analysis  by  content  (number  of projects, participants,  Member  States, etc.)  is based  on  the 
contracts  signed  in  1995 under  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  (Tables  1, 2,  5, 6,  7 and  9). 
A  total  of  2 660  new  contracts,  involving  12  185 participants  and  with  a  Community 
contribution of ECU  2  033  million, were signed.  Analysing the shared-cost activities alone, the 
projects  were generally  substantial, with an average  Community  contribution  of ECU  1 million 
and an average of four  Member  States and 6.5  participants per project  (see Table  1).  Generally, 
a  greater  effort  was  made  on  coordination  to  ensure  that  the  different  programmes  apply  a 
common  basis  for  analysis.  An  analysis  by  type  of  participant  has  been  provided  for  projects 
worth  ECU  1 545  million.1  The  analysis  by  objective  1  regions  (Table  6)  covers  projects 
accounting  for  a  total  of  ECU  1 575  million.  Finally,  74  874  collaborative  links  between 
European  Union  countries  have been  reported  (Table  7).  Tables  2, 5, 6 and  7 contain  analyses 
by  specific  programme. 

Cf.  Table 5A: out  of  ECU  1911.05 million,  no breakdown by type of participant  could be provided  for  the 
programmes  on transport  (ECU  64.58  million),  dissemination  (ECU  30 million),  S/T  support  (ECU  20.08 
million)  and  fusion  (ECU  251.51  million),  i.e.  for  a  total  of  ECU  366.17  million.  Consequently,  ECU 
1544.88  million  (1911.05  -  366.17)  was  broken  down. 

All the projects  not completed  in  1995 (preparatory,  monitoring  and  support  measures,  Second, 
Third  and  Fourth  Framework  Programmes  and  Euratom  Programme)  are  included  in  the  total 
Community  research  funding  in  Table  1.  A  total  of  ECU  2  037  million  was  paid  in  1995, of 
which ECU  1 059  million was under the Third Framework Programme (Table  3 A) and ECU  582 
million  under  the  Fourth  (Table  3B).  The  contracts  entered  into  under  the  Third  Framework 
Programme  in  1994  and  signed  in  1995  have  not  been  analysed  by  content  to  simplify  the 
analysis  but  account  for  less  than  ECU  100 million  (96)  for  DG  XII  alone. 

The  launch  of  the  Framework  Programme  called  for  extensive  evaluation  procedures  (some 
4  500  experts  sat  on the various evaluation  panels).  Commitments  were made, up to the  limits 
of the appropriations available, and the contracts signed in 1995 (ECU  2  033  million) reflect just 
part  of the budget  commitments  entered  into in  1995.  For DG XII, for  example, the  difference 
between the commitments entered into under the Fourth Framework Programme in 1995 (ECU  1 
350  million)  and 
(ECU  710  million)  was 
ECU  640  million. 

the  contracts  actually 

that  year 

signed 

In the  multiannual  section  (Tables  10 to  12), Table  10 indicates  the  breakdown  of  the  funding 
between the various  specific programmes, indirect action and direct action by the JRC under the 
Fourth  Framework  Programme  and  the  Euratom  Framework  Programme.  Tables  11  and  12 
indicate the  amounts  committed  to Community  research  between  1984 and  1998 at current  and 
1992 prices. 

1.2 

IMPLEMENTATION  OF  THE  FOURTH  FRAMEWORK  PROGRAMME 

Pattern  of  participation 

Community research is carried out through transnational research projects.  Proposals are invited 
in  public  calls  for  proposals  and  the  projects  are  selected  generally  in  accordance  with  the 
following  procedure.  Commission  staff  check conformity  with objective  criteria and  eligibility 
of the proposals.  Advice on the evaluation and grading of the proposals  is provided  by  external 
experts.  The Commission  then prepares a list of projects  to be funded  and this list  is  submitted 
to  the  programme  committee  for  opinion  before  the  Commission  adopts  the  final  decision. 

The external  experts  monitoring  the  specific  programmes  of the Fourth  Framework  Programme 
have  noted  that  the  research  programmes  strengthen  existing  links  between  participants  in  the 
research  projects  and  encourage  the  establishment  of new  links.  Programmes  like  Information 
and  communication  technologies  and  Industrial  and  materials  technologies,  for  example,  have 
substantial  numbers  of  new  participants. 

However,  rigorous ^assessment  of  the  number  of  new  links  formed  in  the  programmes  is  a 
complex  exercise.  On  the  one  hand  new  links  are  formed  already  in  the  preparation  phase  of 
a proposal  and therefore  new links are created  even when the proposal  is unsuccessful.  On the 
other hand, some new links may be the result of the mobility  of a key person to another  institute 
or  enterprise. 

Impact  on  industry 

There  are various  aspects to  participation  by  industry  in  European  research.  First,  by  virtue  of 
its  role  within  the  IRDAC,  ESTA,  Task  Forces  and  also  the  CEN,  industry  plays  a  part  in 
shaping  research. 

8 

By participating  in Community  RTD projects,  industrial firms collaborate with other  companies 
and  research  teams  and  have  access  to  the  results  of the joint  research. 

Finally, the first, second  and third  areas of activity  in the Fourth Framework  Programme  enable 
European  industry  to  benefit  from  the  results  of  research  conducted  by  others  and  from 
international  openings. 

The  figures  in  Table  5a  and  5b  reveal  a  high  level  of  participation  by  industry.  Analysis  of 
ECU  1 billion  allocated  in  1994  by  type  of  participant  shows  that  industry  took  38%  of  the 
contributions  made  by  the  Community  and  26%  of  the  contracts  awarded  to  European 
participants.  Analysis  of  ECU  1 545  million  granted  in  1995  showed  that  industry  accounted 
for  44%  of  the  Community  contributions  and  40% of the  European  participants. 

The number  of  SMEs participating  in  1995 was  1 782, giving a relative  share of 20% compared 
with  17%  in  1994.  In  1995  SMEs  took  15%  of the  Community's  contribution  to  RTD. 

As  regards  the  contribution  to  industrial  competitiveness,  in  1995 the  RTD  activities  produced 
significant  results,  such  as  new  and  potential  products  and  processes,  patents,  proposals  for 
standards  or  transfers  of  technologies,  from  many  programmes,  notably  on  Information  and 
communication  technologies,  Industrial  and materials technologies,  but  also  on  Biotechnology, 
Agriculture  and  fisheries,  and Non-nuclear  energy.  Hundreds  of patents  and  new products  and 
processes  were  reported  under  programmes  like  the  Communication  technologies  programme. 

Part  Two  of  this  report  describes  the  procedures  and  technological  and  industrial  development 
objectives  for  each  programme. 

As reported  in the  "Panorama of EU  industry  1995",2 RTD partnerships  come first amongst  the 
various  forms  of  alliances  formed  between  undertakings  in  the  quest  for  greater  industrial 
competitiveness. 

Measures  to  stimulate  access  to  RTD  by  SMEs 

The web of  SMEs is an economic and social asset for the competitiveness of European  industry 
as  a  whole  and  for  employment.  In  sectors  such  as the  aviation  or  car  industries,  but  also  in 
the  information  technology,  mechanical  engineering,  clothing  or  leather  sectors,  they  account 
for  a significant  proportion  of production.  Some 60% of the 7 000 undertakings  in the  aviation 
industry  are  SMEs.  The  motor  vehicle  parts  and  accessories  sector  employs  almost  as  many 
workers  (approximately  one  million)  as  the  car  industry  which  it  supplies.3 

This  has  raised  awareness  of  the  importance  of  RTD  for  SMEs  on the  part  of  the  businesses4 
and  of  the  Commission  alike. 

2 

3 

4 

Cf  "Panorama  of  EU  industry  1995", pp  35 to 40  "A  European  approach  to  strategic  alliances". 

Cf  "Panorama  of  EU  industry  1995",  section  11.20. 

70%  of  the  participants  in  CRAFT  projects  gave  international  competitiveness  constraints  as  their 
motivation  for  participation. 

To  promote  and  facilitate  participation  by  SMEs  in  the  Community's  RTD  programmes,  the 
Fourth Framework Programme  includes a package of technology  stimulation measures  targeted 
on SMEs with little  or  no research  capacity  of their  own and  on small  high-technology  firms. 

These  measures  are  of  two  types: 

1. 

2. 

a two-stage submission procedure: Community  "awards" are granted to help partnerships 
consisting  of  two  SMEs  to  prepare  a  full  research  project.  On  the  basis  of  an  outline 
plan (stage  1), the Commission can grant the SMEs an award covering  the  "exploratory 
phase"  so that  they can complete  a full  proposal  for  submission  in stage  2.  The  project 
itself will be carried out with other partners, either as cooperative research or as another 
type  of  research  project; 

cooperative  research:  this type  of project  (cooperative  research  action  for  technology  -
CRAFT)  is designed specially for SMEs with little or no research capacity of their  own. 
The  SMEs  proposing  the  project  leave  all  or  part  of  the  RTD  work  to  one  or  more 
research  bodies. 

In addition,  a network of  "focal points" (the CRAFT network) has been set up to provide  SMEs 
with information  and assistance with preparation of dossiers at national,  regional or local  level. 
The  objective  is  to  limit  the  time  and  formalities  needed  to  prepare  RTD  projects  and,  in  the 
final  analysis,  to enable  SMEs to convert  ideas  into RTD projects  and,  possibly,  technological 
innovations. 

In the  course  of  the  Third  Framework  Programme,  the CRAFT  scheme  tripled  the  number  of 
SMEs5  participating  in  the  research  projects  in  the  Industrial  and  materials  technologies 
programme.  Another  3 5 00  SMEs  received  exploratory  or  feasibility  awards. 

In  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme,  the  CRAFT  formula  has been  extended  to  seven  other 
programmes.  Participation  by  small  businesses  has  increased,  particularly  in  the  specific 
programmes  on  Telematics,  Information  technologies,  Standards,  measurements  and  testing, 
Environment and climate, Biotechnology, Biomedicine and health, Agriculture and fisheries, and 
Non-nuclear  energy.  Table  5a  shows  that  1 782  small  firms  participated  in  the  shared-cost 
activities  under  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  in  1995. 

The current level of participation by SMEs in European research must be improved.  A working 
party  responsible  for  inter-programme  coordination  of  implementation  of  the  technology 
stimulation  measures  is  working  on  this. 

RTD policy  and  economic  and  social  cohesion 

In line with the  1993 communication  on cohesion and RTD policy,6 the Commission  is ensuring 
that  all  involved  in  science  and  technology  in the  less-favoured  regions  of the  European  Union 

5 

6 

From  600  at*the  start  of  the programme  to  1800 by  the  end. 

"Cohesion  and  RTD  policy  -  synergies  between  research  and  technological  development  policy  and 
economic  and  social  cohesion  policy",  COM(93)203  final  of  12 May  1993. 

10 

have  an  opportunity  to  participate  fully  in  its  RTD  policy  in  order  to  establish  lasting 
cooperation  with  all  regions  in  Europe, particularly  the  less-favoured  regions. 

Table  6  provides  a  means  of  calculating  the  coverage  of  all  objective  1 regions  in  terms  of 
number  of  projects  (46%),7  participation  (14%)8  and  value  (17%).9  These  figures  can  be 
compared with the proportion of the European population living in these regions (26.6%) or with 
the 6% of  all the  European  Union's researchers there  (full-time  researcher  equivalents  based  on 
the  1989  and  1991  Eurostat  figures).  These  regions  also  receive  aid  for  research  from  the 
Structural  Funds,  which  will  total  ECU  3  775 million  between  1994  and  1999.10  One  of  the 
roles played  by  the  Fourth  Framework  RTD Programme  in economic  and  social  cohesion  is to 
help researchers  and  laboratories  from  these regions  to join  the  European  research  networks. 

In the  third  area  of  activity  of  the  Framework  Programme  (dissemination  and  optimization  of 
results  -innovation  programme),  on  15 September  1995  DG  XIII  and  DG  XVI  issued  a joint 
call  for  proposals11  for  the  implementation  of  regional  innovation  and  technology  transfer 
strategies  and  infrastructures  (RITTS),  regional  innovation  strategies  (RIS)  and  regional 
technology  transfer  (RTT) projects.  A budget of ECU  21  million was allocated to the  outcome 
of  this  call  for  proposals  (of  which  ECU  15 million  was  from  the  European  Regional 
Development  Fund). 

In  the  fourth  area  of  activity  under  the  Framework  Programme  (training  and  mobility  of 
researchers),  a  working  party  of  the  programme  committee  has  evaluated  the  initial  impact  of 
the general lines of action and specific  measures adopted to promote cohesion:  additional  year's 
grant  to  help  researchers  from  objective  1 and  6  regions  to  return  to  their  region  of  origin, 
support  for  networking,  in  the  form  of  funding  for  laboratory  equipment,  support  for  stays  in 
these  regions  by  experienced  researchers  and priority  for  young  researchers  from  these  regions 
for  participation  in  Euroconferences. 

At the same time, awareness-raising activities under the Framework RTD Programme in the less-
favoured  regions  are  continuing,  in the  form  of  studies,12  seminars13  and  conferences14. 

7 

Number  of projects  with at least one participant  from  an objective  1 region  in relation  to the total  number 
of  projects. 

Number  of  participants  from  objective  1 regions  in relation  to  total  number  of  participants. 

Value  of  projects  involving  at  least  one  participant  from  an  objective  1 region,  in  relation  to  the  amount 
spent  on  all  projects. 

C0M(96)109  final  of  20  March  1996  "Community  structural  assistance  and  employment". 

O J N o C 2 4 0,  15.9.1995, p.  15. 

"Research  and technological  development  in the rural  and island regions of the European  Union", 
Josy  Richez-Battesti,  Dynmed,  EUR  16643 FR/EN,  1995. 

"Technology  management  in enterprises/regional  administrations  in  the  less-favoured  regions  of 
the  European  Union",  AYSE,  1995. 

11 

In  1996 the Commission  will organize a conference  in Brussels on comparison  of the  strategies 
on  regionalization  of  RTD  and  innovation  policies  in  different  parts  of  the  world,  particularly 
in the  Triad  (Europe,  USA  and  Japan). 

The  mobilisation  activities  in  the  less-favoured  regions  will  continue,  with  three  mobilisation 
seminars  in  Spain, Finland  and  Sweden,  a conference  in France on RTD  in the rural  regions  of 
the  European  Union  and  symposiums  in  Italy,  Ireland  and  Germany. 

The  European  Commission  is  also  planning  a forward  study  to  determine  the  impact  of  future 
enlargements  on  the  Framework  RTD  Programme  and  on  the  parts  of  the  regional  policy  of 
relevance  to  the  scientific  and  technical  capacity  of the  regions  in potential  Member  States. 

R&D,  growth  and  employment 

The  relationship  between  R&D,  growth  and  unemployment  has  long  been  discussed  by 
economists.  Two ideas predominate:  first,  that in the long term R&D contributes to growth and 
employment  by  increasing  the  demand  for  and  quality  of products  and  also  the  productivity  of 
the  factors  of production;  second,  that the  link between  R&D  and the  creation  of new  markets 
and jobs is neither  simple nor direct and, under no circumstances, linear.  In practice, innovation 
leading  to  changes  on  the  markets  and  in  production  processes  produces  knock-on  effects  at 
various  times  and  of  many  different  forms  between  production,  market  creation  and  research. 

Investment  in  European  R&D  contributes  to  growth  and  employment  in  four  main  ways: 

By  establishing  collaboration  between  teams  (businesses,  universities,  research  centres) 
from  different  countries, European research complements the research by companies and 
States  and  capitalizes  on  the  external  economies  stemming  from  cost-sharing  and 
networking; 
this  allows  exchanges  of  information  and  generates  the  critical  mass 
Indicators  of  the 
required  in  order  to  reap  the  benefits  of  the  large  internal  market. 
networking  efforts  include  some  81  000  collaborative  links  established  in  1995  or  the 
equivalent  of  20  000  researcher  years  supported  by  the  Community.15 

Changes  in  employment  and  in  the  way  work  is  organized  have  brought  with  them 
changes  in  the  pattern  of  demand  for  labour: 
socio-economic  research  is  being 
conducted  at  European  level  and  in  numerous  countries  to  prepare  the  way  for  and 
support the necessary  changes on the labour market, particularly  with the aid of training. 
In  the  research  sector,  the  fourth  area  of  activity  in  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme 
(training  and  mobility  of  researchers)  aims  at  striking  a  better  balance  between  supply 
and  demand  for  researchers.  Finally,  the  multimedia  educational  software  Task  Force 

Mobilisation seminars: 

- 

03/02/95 
21/09/95 
12/10/95 
04/12/95 

Naples (I) 
Santa Maria Imbaro (I) 

.  Magdeburg (D) 

Stadtschlaining (A) 

"Managing science and technology  in the regions" - Fifth  STRIDE conference,  8-10 June 1995. 

i5 

One researcher year costs an estimated total of ECU 100 000.  On this basis, the indirect action under the 
Framework Programme (ECU 2 000 million in 1995) would fund the equivalent of 20 000 researcher years. 

12 

is  aiming  at  providing  new  skills  for  the  workforce,  particularly  in  SMEs. 

In  order  to  target  research  more  effectively  on  innovation,  the  European  Union 
encourages interactions between producers of research and users of the results.  The third 
area of activity in the Fourth Framework  Programme (dissemination  and optimization  of 
results)  sets  out  to  increase  the  number  of  meetings  and  exchanges.  In  addition  to  the 
funding  provided  for the third  activity,  1% of the total budget for the Fourth  Framework 
Programme  is  allocated  to  dissemination  arid  take-up  of  results  under  the  first  activity. 
Finally,  the  Green  Paper  on  Innovation  unveiled  a package  of  measures  to  convert  the 
scientific  and  technological  potential  into  profitable  innovations,  while  the  contribution 
of  the  Task  Forces  responds  to  the  demand  for  strategic  guidelines. 

The  quality  of  its  R&D  and  the  training  and  education  of  its  workforce  (intangible 
infrastructure)  make  Europe  attractive  for  investors  and  create  comparative  advantages 
for  its companies.  The programmes on Information  and communication  technologies  or 
Biotechnology  focus  on  the  high-technology  sectors  creating  the  most jobs,  while  the 
Industrial  and  materials  technologies  programme,  for  example,  targets  on  industries 
where  high  quality  research  could  help to  save jobs  in  industries  which  are  particularly 
big  employers  (1.7  million jobs  in  the  car  industry,  9  million  jobs  in  the  construction 
industry,  1.6  million  in  the  textile  sector,  etc.). 

Management 

• 
Simplification  and speeding-up of evaluation, selection and funding  procedures for RTD projects 
are the Commission's  constant concerns.  In  1994 a first simplification  measure was taken in the 
form  of  the  decision  to  publish  calls  for  proposals  on  set  dates  (15  March,  15 June, 
15 September  and  15 December). 

In  July  1995  the  Commission  adopted  a new  model  contract  for  RTD  projects.  The  objective 
of  the  new  contract  is  to  increase  competitiveness  and  to  ensure  that  the  project  results  and 
technology  transfer  opportunities  made  possible  by  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  are 
exploited  to the fullest  extent possible, whilst still respecting the legitimate commercial  interests 
of  all  participants.  This  new  model  contract  is  shorter  and  simpler  than  the  former  model 
contract.  It  also  gives  increased  protection  in  the  area  of  intellectual  property  rights  (IPR). 
Furthermore,  the  new  model  contract  ensures  better  dissemination  and  exploitation  of  research 
results  by  requiring  the  submission  of  a technology  implementation  plan  before  the  end  of  the 
project  and  the publication  of results  enabling  interested  third  parties to request  licenses  for  the 
technology  developed.  Significant  progress  has  also  been  made  in  the  administrative  domain, 
which  will  among  other  things  make  it easier  for  SMEs to participate  in research  programmes. 

At the  end  of  1995  a working  party  on evaluation  of proposals  was set up  with the  objective  of 
producing  a  code  of  practice  providing  the  common  terms  of  reference,  on  which  each 
programme  will  base  its  own  code. 

As  part  of  the  constant  examination  of  its  management  procedures,  the  Commission  will 
organize  a  seminar  in  1996  with  representatives  of  the  European  industrial  and  research 
communities.  The  seminar  will  focus  on the various  stages  of programme  implementation  and 
will seek views on ways to improve the quality, efficiency  and transparency  of RTD  programme 
management. 

13 

Information  and  communication  are key  aspects  of the  Community's  research  and  development 
policy.  Every year the Commission organizes numerous conferences,  seminars, etc.  In addition 
to  the  events  funded  by  the  contracts  themselves  (1  275  in  1995),  the  Commission  directly 
supports  over  200  conferences  and  seminars,  particularly: 

-  1995 European  week for  scientific  and  technological  culture  (8/11) 
-  European  Union contest for  young  scientists  (5/9 and  13/9) ' 
-  Conference  on public  understanding  of science  and  technology  (30/11 -  2/12  1995). 

In  addition  to  the  scientific  publications  directly  connected  with  the  specific  programmes 
(13  000  in  1995), the  Commission  awards  special  grants  for  specific  publications. 

The Commission  is extremely active in publishing general  information  brochures on RTD, with 
Internet  is  playing  an  increasingly  important  role  in 
6  000  copies  ordered  every  month. 
disseminating  them. 

In  1995 the  Commission  continued  its efforts  to improve  access to the Framework  Programme. 
In  particular,  on  24  July  1995  the  Commission  launched  its  own  EU  RTD  home  page  on  the 
World  Wide  Web  (Internet)  under  the  European  Commission's  EUROPA  site,  which  is  the 
Commission's main server on WWW.  The objective  of the service provided  by the  Commission 
is  to  operate  as  an  up-to-date  and  reliable  source  of  information  on  all  RTD  activities  of 
relevance  to  outside  users. 

Finally,  the  Commission  conducts  studies ranging  from  evaluations  to economic  and  budgetary 
analyses. 

As regards  staffing,  99 new posts were created  in  1995, bringing  the research  management  staff 
up to  1 453  authorized posts by  1 January  1996, of whom  812 are Category  A staff.  Given  the 
number  of joint  multinational  projects  in  progress,  the  number  of  teams  involved  and,  more 
generally,  the  nature  of  the  Commission's  organizational,  administrative  and  management  role 
in  the  research,  this  total  is  reasonable. 

Table  9 demonstrates  the importance of small projects  (50% of the projects  take just  15% of the 
budget  and  80% just  50%) in all the activities.  The average value of the contracts varies  widely 
from  one  programme  to  another,  from  ECU  0.2  million  for  Dissemination  and  optimization  of 
results  to  ECU  1.6  million  for  all  three  programmes  on  Information  and  communication 
technologies.16 

Monitoring  and  evaluation 

A  new  programme  monitoring  and  evaluation  scheme  was  introduced  in  1995.  It  is  based  on 
the  legislative  requirements  of the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  and  its  specific  programmes 
It  involves 
and  on  the  advice  from  CREST  on  monitoring  and  evaluation  of  May  1995. 
independent  external  experts, provides  a quick  response  to programme  developments  and  gives 

Cf.  Table  9:  For  all  three  programmes  (Telematics,  Communication  technologies  and  Information 
technologies),  the  total  amount  available  was  ECU  808.29  million  (220.85  +  208.10  +  379.34)  for  516 
projects  (182  +  109  + 225),  i.e.  an  average  of  ECU  1 566  000  per  project. 

14 

advice  on key  issues. 

The  general principles  will be explained  in a communication from the  Commission  concerning 
independent  external  monitoring  and evaluation  of Community activities  in the area of research 
and  technological  development. 

The  monitoring  of  the  18  specific  programmes  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  was 
launched  in  1995  and  has  been  carried  out  by  18 panels, each  composed  of  three  independent 
external experts with industrial, academic and evaluation experience.  In December  1995 a high-
level  Framework  Programme  Monitoring  Panel  was  established  which  based  its  work  on  the 
reports of the specific  programme monitoring panels.  All the monitoring panels completed  their 
work  at the  beginning  of  1996. 

The  Commission  has  carried  out  national  impact  studies  to  complement  the  evaluation  of  the 
specific  programmes.  A  synthesis  report on the national  impact  studies  assessing the effects  of 
Community RTD policy on the national research landscape in each Member State and examining 
the  interactions  between  Community  and  national  RTD  policies  has  been  published  as  well  as 
programme  evaluation  reports: 

Philippe de Montgolfier  & Jean-Pierre Husson : National impact studies synthesis 
final  report.  May  1995; 
Evaluation  of the  ECLAIR  and  FLAIR programmes  (1988-1993  &  1989-1993), 
EUR  16192  (1995); 
Evaluation  of  the  STEP  and  EPOCH  programmes  (1989-1993),  EUR  16207 
(1995); 
Mid-term  evaluation  of the  MAST  II  programme,  EUR  16610  (1995); 
Evaluation  of  the  BRIDGE  programme  (1990-1994), EUR  16650  (1995); 
Final  evaluation  of  the  centralized  action  for  dissemination  and  exploitation  of 
RTD  results  (VALUE  II)  (1991-1994); 
Final  evaluation  of  the  strategic  programme  for  innovation  and  technology 
transfer  (SPRINT)  (1991-1994). 

The Commission organized an international conference on the evaluation of research, technology 
and  development  in  April  1995  in  Thessaloniki.  This  conference  brought  together  more  than 
200  evaluation  experts  from  different  European  Union  and  non-EU  countries. 

At  the  end  of  1995  a  steering  group  consisting  of representatives  of  industry  and  the  managers 
of  the  specific  programmes  was  set  up  to  guide  the  discussions,  under  the  third  activity,  to 
establish  a common  methodological  basis for  monitoring  the results  of the projects  in the  RTD 
programmes. 

In  1996, the Commission  will carry out another monitoring exercise similar to that of  1995 and 
will  evaluate  the  management  and  the  progress  of  the  Community  action  during  the  five 
preceding years.  The Commission will communicate the conclusions of this five-year evaluation 
to  the  other  institutions  of  the  European  Union  before  presenting  its  proposals  for  the  Fifth 
Framework  Programme. 

15 

IL 

INTERNATIONAL  COOPERATION 

Introduction 

During the past year,  international  scientific  and technological  cooperation  has become  an even 
more significant  aspect of the European Union's research and technological  development policy. 
A  wide  range  of  activities  within  the  INCO  programme  has  been  implemented  by  the 
Commission  and  also concrete  initiatives  have been undertaken to establish  relations  or expand 
existing  cooperative  arrangements  with  a  number  of  countries.  Detailed  information  on  the 
INCO  activities  is  set  out  in  Part  Two.  Some  important  points  are highlighted  here. 

2.1. 

Commission communication on perspectives for international cooperation in research and 
technological  development 

International  scientific  and technological  cooperation has become an important and  integral  part 
of  the  European  Union's  research  and  technological  development  (RTD)  policy  during  recent 
years.  In  October  1995  Mrs  Cresson  presented  to  the  Research  Council  the  Commission's 
proposed  guidelines  on  international  scientific  cooperation  (COM(95)  489  final).  In  order  to 
respond  to the  important  developments taking place in recent years, the  Commission  is  seeking 
to  reinforce  industrial  participation  in  this  context  and  to  strengthen  the  external  dimension  of 
RTD policy.  The use of additional  instruments to  fund  RTD projects,  such  as PHARE,  TACIS, 
Meda  or  the  EDF  will  be promoted  when  necessary. 

The  Commission's  communication  was  discussed  by  the  Council,  European  Parliament  and 
CREST  between  October  1995  and  March  1996.  The  Council  adopted  a  resolution  on 
international  RTD cooperation in March  1996. The resolution approves the five global  objectives 
given  in  the  Commission  communication,  which  aims  to  strengthen  international  cooperation 
according  to  the  following  measures: 

strengthen  European  competitiveness  and  develop  technologies  for  future  markets; 
develop  partnerships  in  science  and  technology,  in  particular  with  third  countries  of 
strategic  interest  to  the  Community; 
share  responsibility  and  conduct  RTD  on  economic  and  social  challenges; 
promote  RTD  relevant  to  the  needs  and  priorities  of  developing  countries  for  fostering 
their  sustainable  growth; 
share  S&T  information  and  contribute  to  large-scale  and  cross-frontier  science  and 
technology. 

2.2.  European  Union  and  R&D  cooperation  with  Eastern  Europe 

In  May  1995  the  Commission  presented  a  communication  on  scientific  and  technological 
cooperation with the New Independent  States (NIS) of the former  Soviet Union  (COM (95)  190 
final),  which  presents the future  guidelines  for  scientific  and technological  cooperation  with  the 
former  Soviet  Union.  This  communication  forms  an  integral  part  of  the  general  international 
RTD  strategy.  The emphasis  in cooperation with NIS  should be on larger  RTD projects.  These 
projects  should  involve  industry  and should be nearer to the market than the activities under the 
previous  PECO  and  COPERNICUS  programmes.  The  discussions  on these  guidelines  with  the 
Member  States  will  be  continued  during  1996. 

16 

The  International  Association  for  the  Promotion  of  Cooperation  with  Scientists  from  the  New 
Independent  States  of  the  former  Soviet  Union  (INTAS)  was  set  up  in  June  1993. In  October 
1995, the  Council  approved  the  extension  of  Community  participation  in  INTAS  until  the  end 
of  1998  and  strengthened  the  Commission's  role  in the  Association. 

In  1995  the  Community  continued  its  support  for  the  International  Science  and  Technology 
Centre  (ISTC) created  in November  1992 by the European Union, the United  States, Japan  and 
Russia  in order to  encourage  military  scientists  and engineers  from  the  former  Soviet  Union  to 
retrain  for  civilian  occupations  and  speed  up the  disarmament  process. 

2.3.  European  Union  and  cooperation  with  Mediterranean  countries 

Discussions  on  the  further  development  of  scientific  and  technological  cooperation  with  the 
Mediterranean  countries  were  initiated  under  the  French  EU  presidency  in  1995.  The  French 
Ministry  of  Higher  Education  and  Research  and  the  Commission  organized  a  seminar  on 
"Europe  of  Research  and  the  Mediterranean"  which  took  place  in  March  1995  in  Sophia-
Antipolis. The Euro-Mediterranean  Conference  in Barcelona  in November  1995 underlined  the 
importance of science and technology in EU-Mediterranean cooperation policy. The main actions 
include  strengthening  of  the  research  capacity  of  Mediterranean  third  countries,  promotion  of 
joint  research  activities  and  support  to  technology  transfer.  A  monitoring  committee  has  been 
set  up to  follow  and  advise  on  future  developments.  In  1996, discussions  are  continuing  under 
the  Italian  EU presidency  and  the  Commission  plans  to  present  a communication  on  scientific 
and  technological  cooperation  with  Mediterranean  third  countries. 

III. 

INNOVATION  AND  DISSEMINATION  OF R&D  RESULTS 

Generally,  intellectual  and  industrial  property  in Europe is being discussed  to  examine  whether 
companies are suffering  from  conditions less favourable  than those enjoyed  by their  counterparts 
in the USA or Japan  in order to protect their research results and, if so, what the solutions  could 
be  to  remedy  the  situation. 

Green  Paper  on  Innovation 
By  publishing  a  Green  Paper  on  Innovation  (COM(95)  688  final)  in  December  1995,  the 
European  Commission  has  initiated  a  widescale  consultative  process  on  the  problem  of 
innovation  in  Europe.  The  Green  Paper  considers  the  different  factors  involved  in  innovation, 
the  existing  situation  is  analysed  and  proposals  for  future  action  are  suggested. 

It  is one  of  the paradoxes  of  the  European  Union  that  despite  its  internationally  acknowledged 
scientific  excellence,  it  launches  fewer  new  products,  services  and  processes  than  its  main 
competitors.  This  paradox  has  received  much  attention  during  recent  years  as  innovation  has 
become  one  of the  main  driving  forces  in  economic  competitiveness. 

There  are  numerous  obstacles  to  innovation  identified  by  the  Green  Paper.  First,  inadequate 
research  and  development  input  in Europe.  For  example,  in  1993 the  European  Union  devoted 
2%  of  its  GDP  to  research  and  development,  compared  with  2.7%  in  the  United  States  and 
Japan. In addition, in  1992 industrial  research financed  by businesses represented  1.3%  of GDP 
in  Europe,  compared  with  more  than  1.9%  in  the  United  States  and  Japan.  Furthermore, 

17 

European RTD covers a wide range of areas, while the United  States and Japan concentrate their 
efforts  on  a  number  of  priority  areas.  There  are  also  a  number  of  structural  obstacles  to 
innovation  like complex legal and administrative  procedures, unsuitable  financing  systems, low 
level of use of industrial property rights and the insufficient  mobility of students and  researchers 
in  the  European  Union  between  private  and  public  entities. 

The  Green  Paper  spells  out  13 lines of action each  containing  a number  of  concrete  proposals, 
almost  130  in  all,  with  which  to  fuel  the  debate.  But  in  accordance  with  the  principle  of 
subsidiarity, there is a need to distinguish clearly between responsibility  at Community,  national 
and  local  levels. 

The  Commission  plans  to  draw  up  a  synthesis  report  in  June  1996  based  on  the  consultation 
process  with  interested  parties, together  with,  if  necessary,  an  action  plan. 

IY, 

TRAINING  THROUGH  RESEARCH 

Human  resources  are a key  factor  in the development  of the future  learning  society,  which  will 
be  based  on  the  simultaneous  development  of  the  information  society,  the  impact  of  the 
scientific  and  technological  world  and  the  internationalization  of  the  economy. 

There  is  a  clear  link  between  research,  and  education  and  training.  The  development  of 
multimedia  educational  software,  which the  Commission  is  supporting  through  the  creation  of 
the  Task  Force  on  educational  multimedia  software,  is  a  particularly  important  example. 
Furthermore,  the  ability  to  renew  and  innovate  will  depend  on  the  links  between  the 
development  of  knowledge  in  research  and  its  transmission  through  education  and  training. 
Therefore,  action  which  strengthens  the  links  between  research  and  education  should  be 
encouraged  in  order  to  develop  students'  aptitudes  to  invent  and  to promote  innovation. 

In  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  two  specific  programmes,  on  Training  and  mobility  of 
researchers  and  Targeted  socio-economic  research,  include  action  which  specifically  supports 
these targets.  Also, all other specific  programmes  in the Fourth Framework  Programme  include 
a  training  component  giving  a  possibility  for  transnational  cooperation  to  hundreds  of 
researchers. 

White  Paper  on  Education 

The  White  Paper  on  Education  and  Training  (COM(95)  590  final),  which  the  Commission 
presented  in  November  1995, discusses  future  developments  in  this  field.  The  White  Paper  is 
based  on  the  ideas r of  the  White  Paper  on  Growth,  Competitiveness  and  Employment,  which 
stressed  the  importance  of education  and training  for  the competitiveness  of European  industry. 
Among  the  main  problems  addressed  in  the  White  Paper  on  Education  and  Training  are 
employment  and  social  exclusion,  particularly  among  young  people.  The  White  Paper  focuses 
on  two  main  objectives:  (a)  to  give  everyone  access  to  a  broad  base  of  knowledge  and  (b)  to 
build  up  everyone's  qualifications  for  employment  and  economic  life. 

18 

Y. 

COORDINATION  BETWEEN  EUROPEAN  AND  NATIONAL  POLICIES 

In  1995  the  Commission  communication  entitled  "Research  and  technological  development: 
achieving  coordination  through  cooperation"  (COM(94)438)  was  followed  by  a  wide-ranging 
debate  by  the  Community  institutions,  leading  to  a number  of  resolutions  and  opinions. 

For  example,  on  9 June  1995  the  Council  adopted  conclusions  on the  coordination  of  research 
and  technological  development  policies,17  which  emphasized  exchanges  of  information  on 
national  RTD  activities  and  the  key  role  of  the  programme  management  committees  in  this 
connection.  On  28  September  1995  the  Council  adopted  a resolution  on  CREST18  supporting 
the  Commission's  proposal  to  reinforce  this  Committee's  role.  Now  its  mandate  focuses, 
essentially,  on  coordination  of  RTD  policies  and  on  the  strategic  guidelines  for  Community 
RTD. 

On  15  June  1995  the  European  Parliament  adopted  a  resolution  on  the  coordination  of  RTD 
policies.  In particular,  this  stressed  the need to target  CREST's  mandate  and  to extend  the  role 
of  the  programme  committees  by  means  of  systematic  exchanges  of  information  and  greater 
trans-programme  coordination.  Parliament  also  endorsed  the  Commission's  proposal  to  start 
debates  on  topics  of  general  interest  which  could  improve  coordination. 

On 26 October  1995 the Economic  and  Social  Committee  adopted  an own-initiative  opinion  on 
the  coordination  of  research  policies  (Doc.  CES  570/95).  This  emphasized,  in  particular,  the 
Task  Force  concept  and  establishment  of  a  system  for  prior  exchange  of  information. 

On  18 July  1995  IRDAC  adopted  an  opinion  on the  coordination  of  RTD  policies,  in  which  it 
stressed  the  importance  of coordination  in order to make more  efficient  use of public  resources 
allocated  to  research. 

The  principal  measures  taken  in  1996  will  follow  up  the  abovementioned  conclusions, 
resolutions  and  opinions,  which  the  Commission  is  now  implementing  by  taking  specific 
measures  such  as: 

Establishment  of  a  system  for  exchanges  of  information  on  national  RTD  activities 
In line with the Council conclusions of 9 June  1995, the Commission has set up ad hoc advisory 
committees  for  systematic  exchanges  of  information  on  national  RTD  activities.  Information 
is  exchanged  regularly,  targeted  on  preselected  areas  in  which  greater  coordination  proves 
necessary.  This  also  provides  an  early  warning  of  the  new  activities  started  in  the  Member 
States.  Each ad hoc committee  will  submit  an annual report to CREST.  Discussions  and  work 
have started on the, 18 specific  programmes concerned.  The first annual reports will be available 
at  the  end  of  1996.  They  will  focus  on  a  limited  number  of  fields  for  coordination  and, 
possibly,  make  recommendations.  These  reports  will  be  discussed  and  analysed  by  CREST, 
which could  make recommendations  to contribute towards deciding  the  strategic  objectives  and 
priorities  of  the  Community's  RTD  policy. 

Council conclusions of 9 June  1995 on the coordination of research and technological development policies. 

Council  resolution  of  28  September  1995 on  CREST,  OJ  No C  264,  11.10.1995,  p. 4-. 

19 

Discussion  on  topics  of  common  interest  for  coordination 
The Commission will encourage, prepare (in collaboration with the Member States) and monitor 
discussions  on  topics  of  common  interest,  such  as  indirect  support  for  RTD  and  large-scale 
facilities.  These discussions will be held within CREST in particular, which has included  these 
subjects  in its work  programme.  As regards the indirect  support  for  RTD, the Commission  has 
ordered  a  comparative  study  on  the  measures  taken  in  the  Community  countries  and  in 
non-Community  countries  such  as the  USA  and  Japan. 

Implementation  of  the  Council  resolution  of  28  September  1995 on  CREST 
The  work  started  at  the  end  of  1995  to  implement  this  resolution  will  continue  in  1996.  In 
particular,  this will  entail  defining  and  implementing  the  Committee's  work programme,  which 
targets  on  activities  such  as coordinating  RTD policies  and  defining  the  Community's  strategic 
priorities. 

YL 

PROSPECTS  FOR  1996 

In  1996,  meetings  of  the  Council  of  Research  Ministers  are  scheduled  on  7 October  and  5 
December. 

In  January,  the  Commission  presented  its  proposal  for  supplementary  funding  of  the  Fourth 
Framework  Programme  (COM(96)  12 final) by  ECU  700 million,  based  on a provision  in the 
1994  decisions  on  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme.  The  Commission  proposes  focusing 
research  on key areas of interest to the whole Community. The Commission  hopes for  adoption 
of  its  proposal  during  1996. 

The research-industry  Task Forces will continue their work to develop consultation with external 
bodies, to improve  links between research and industry  as well as to coordinate  Community  and 
national  RTD  activities  in  selected  areas.  It  is  helpful  that  experience  of  their  work  can  be 
gained  before  the  launch  of  the  Fifth  Framework  Programme. 

During  1996,  the  Commission  will  launch  preparatory  discussions  on  the  Fifth  Framework 
Programme  among  the  Member  States  and  all  other  interested  parties  by  issuing  discussion 
documents which aim to address the key issues of future  research policy of the European  Union. 
The  Commission  intends  to  publish  a  strategic  policy  document  on  the  Fifth  Framework 
Programme  by  summer  1996. In  its  future  strategy  the  Commission  will  concentrate  its  efforts 
on  issues  which  will  help  to  improve  the  efficiency  and  effectiveness  of  EU  research  and 
technological  development  activities  as well  as to  stimulate  the  growth  and  competitiveness  of 
European  industry  and  to promote  employment  and  the quality  of  life  of  Europe's  citizens. 

The Commission will pay particular attention to further  improvements in management  efficiency 
through  simplifying  procedures  and by increasing flexibility  and transparency  of  administration. 
The  evaluation  and  monitoring  exercises  will  also  be  continued. 

In  the  field  of  international  cooperation,  three  new  communications  on  scientific  and 
technological  cooperation  will  be  addressed,  i.e.  those  concerning  the  emerging  economies, 
Mediterranean  eountries  as  well  as  Central  and  Eastern  Europe.  Negotiations  of  the  bilateral 
cooperation  agreements  on  research  and  technological  development  will  be  continued  with 
Switzerland  and  with  South  Africa  and  will  be  started  with  the  United  States  too.  The 
Commission  will  support  the  evaluation  of  COST  activities  during  1996. 

20 

Mrs  Edith  Cresson,  the  Commissioner  responsible  for  research,  education  and  training,  has 
decided  to  associate  training  activities  of the European  Union  with  those  of  research  activities, 
namely  with the  present  TMR  programme  and  its predecessor  the  Human  capital  and  mobility 
programme, and to name this activity  after  Madame Curie in order to raise its profile  and  make 
it  more  identifiable  with  the  beneficiaries.  This  new  scheme,  called  "Marie-Curie  grants",  will 
be  officially  launched  in  Brussels  in  a conference  scheduled  for  the  second  half  of  1996. 

The information  society is developing quickly and the Commission will be active in many ways. 
The  specific  RTD  programmes  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  contribute  to  the 
development  of  the  information  society.  The  Commission  will  present  communications  and 
organize  conferences  on  this  important  topic  and  provide  the  electronic  highways  with 
information  on  many  aspects  of  the  EU's  policy.  The  Commission  Action  Plan  of  July  1994 
("Europe's way to the information  society") set out the priorities for the measures for  1995-1996. 

The  Intergovernmental  Conference  launched  in  March  1996  is  scheduled  td  discuss  the 
institutional  reforms  required to reinforce  political union and to prepare  for  further  enlargement. 
In  its  opinion,  the  Commission  has,  among  other  things,  expressed  hope  for  changes  in  the 
decision-making  procedures  that would  bring greater  flexibility  and  efficiency,  inter alia  in the 
area  of  research  policy. 

PART  TWO 

RTD  ACTIVITIES  IN  1995  AND  WORK  PROGRAMME  FOR  1996 

21 

FIRST  ACTIVITY  OF THE  FOURTH  FRAMEWORK  PROGRAMME 
OF  COMMUNITY  RTD  ACTIVITIES 
AND  EURATOM  FRAMEWORK  PROGRAMME 

INFORMATION  AND  COMMUNICATIONS  TECHNOLOGIES 

1.  TELEMATICS  APPLICATIONS  OF  COMMON  INTEREST 

Activities  in  1995 

1995 was  the  pivot  year  between  the  Third  and  Fourth  Framework  Programmes.  The  specific 
programme  Telematics  applications  of  common  interest  (1991-1994)  ended  with  the  signature 
of  the  last  contracts.  The  specific  programme  Telematics  applications  of  common  interest 
(1994-1998)  entered  its  active  phase  with  the  launch  and  evaluation  of  the  first  two  calls  for 
proposals. 

The  Telematics  applications  programme  of  the  Third  Framework  Programme  comprised  311 
projects, concerted actions and accompanying measures in seven areas:  trans-European networks 
between government  departments, transport  services, health care, flexible and distance  learning, 
libraries,  linguistic  research  and  engineering,  telematics  systems  for  rural  areas.  Most  of  the 
projects yielded significant  technical and economic results (establishment of reference data bases, 
filing  of patents, proposals  for  standards, marketing  of products,  etc.).  In the health  care  field, 
for  example,  one-third  of  the  60  activities  launched  led  to  the  marketing  of  new  products  that 
are  now  widely  used  or  exploited  by  health  professionals.  In  the  transport  sector,  a  total  of 
4  000 man-years  deployed  involving  500 partners, 30 towns  and  13 transport  "corridors"  led to 
improved  technological  know-how  (27  "best  practice"  and  439  end  products),  the  approval  of 
functional  specifications  by  users  and  manufacturers  (42  new  specifications),  the  validation  of 
67 prototypes  through  38 demonstration  projects,  the proposal  of interoperability  standards  (via 
Technical  Committee  278  of the  CEN)  and  the  conduct  of  socio-economic  impact  assessments 
(environment, energy, safety, efficiency,  comfort).  In the area of flexible and distance education, 
more than 200 organizations, one third of them  SMEs, engaged  in 34 projects  and  14 concerted 
actions  designed  to.  improve  access  to  teaching  resources  via  networks  dedicated  to  specific 
groups  of  learners  (European  network  linking  15 technology  training  resource  centres, plan  for 
a  European  open  university  network,  multimedia  school  disseminating  distance  education 
courses,  etc.), to  create  new  learning  paradigms  with  the  aid  of  pilot  applications,  to  integrate 
hardware  and  software  products  and  communication  systems  on  prototypes  and  to  develop 
software  tools  for  the  more  efficient  design  and  production  of  multimedia  training  resources. 
The 29 activities  launched  in the administrations  sector helped to create a user-friendly,  efficient 
working  environment  between  a  wide  range  of  actors:  200  partners,  associated  partners  and 
subcontractors,  53 national  administrations, 21 telecommunications  operators and  69  businesses 
including  35  SMEs.  The  51 projects  and  3 concerted  actions  in the  libraries .sector  established 
a culture of  cooperation  in advanced  information  and  communications  technology  applications, 

22 

which contributed  to better use of library resources, the strengthening  of European  industry  and 
the  reinforcement  of  Europe's  cultural  identity. 

The  TIDE  activity  (Technology  initiatives  for  disabled  and  elderly  people),  which  began  with 
a pilot phase in  1991, continued  in its bridge phase in  1995 with 55 projects  covering the period 
1993-1997. 

("Telematics 
The  specific  programme  on  Telematics  applications  of  common 
applications")  is  the  focal  point  of  Community  activities  in  the  field  of  information  and/or 
communications  technology  applications  in  the  Fourth  RTD  Framework  Programme.  This 
programme  has  a  budget  of  ECU  912  million,  5% of  which  has  been  earmarked  for  activities 
in  support  of  SMEs  and  over  2%  for  the  dissemination  and  utilization  of  the  research  results. 

interest 

The  first  two  calls  for  proposals  evaluated  in  1995  showed  the  extent  of  the  interest  in  the 
Telematics  applications  programme, but at the same time highlighted  the budgetary  constraints: 
of  1 706  proposals  received,  only  371  could  be  selected  after  the  Commission  decided  to 
increase  the  available  budget  (ECU  478.5  million  compared  with  ECU  423  million  originally 
stated  in  the  OJ).  The  success  rate  in  terms  of  numbers,of  proposals  was  thus  22%  and  the 
"oversubscription"  ratio  (Community  funding  granted/total  funding  requested)  was  1:10. 

The programme  effectively  contributes  to the three  objectives  assigned  to  Community  research 
and technological  development  policy  by the Treaty  (Article  130f):  to  strengthen  the  scientific 
and technological  bases of Community  industry, to develop the international  competitiveness  of 
Community  industry  (notably  through  support  measures  to  enhance  the  technological  and 
industrial  potential  of Europe  on the emerging markets  of third countries  in, for  example,  South 
America,  South  Africa  or China)  and to promote the research  activities  considered  necessary  to 
the  other  Community  policies  (transport,  training,  health,  environment,  etc.).  Furthermore,  the 
research  activities  should  help  to  satisfy  society's  needs  by  generating  telematics  solutions  for 
areas  of  common  interest. 

Approximately  half  of  the  RTD  actions  in  progress,  i.e.  about  160,  concern  the  emerging 
information  society  as  reflected  in  the  ten  priority  applications  announced  in  the  Bangemann 
report  and  the  11  pilot  projects  supported  by  the  G7.  The  projects  relating  to  urban  and  rural 
areas,  health,  traffic  management,  research  networks,  government  departments,  education  and 
training  and  libraries  have  an  important  role  in this  respect. 

Apart  from  SMEs,  21%  of  participants  are  non-industrial  organizations  of  fewer  than  500 
persons (hospitals, schools, government departments, libraries, etc.).  Of the 371 projects  selected 
in  1995, 24 concerned  the  specific  needs of  SMEs  in terms  of awareness-raising  or  connection 
to  networks.  The  target  of  5% of  the  programme  budget  dedicated  to  measures  in  support  of 
SMEs  was  reached'by  the  first  call  for  proposals  (ECU  42.805  million). 

Two projects  in the  field  of  international  cooperation,  one on the environment  and the other on 
health  care, are funded  by  the  second  activity  of the Fourth  Framework  Programme  to the  tune 
of  ECU  101  000  and  ECU  70  000  respectively.  Three  other  projects,  one  in the  health  sector 
and  two  in  the  area  of  education  and  training,  contribute  to  the  utilization  of  the  programme's 
activities  and  results  in  South  Africa,  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  and  South  America 
respectively,  with  Community  funding  of  ECU  1.1  million. 

The  Telematics  applications  programme  runs  a  number  of  projects  in  cooperation  with  other 
specific  programmes;  for  example,  one  of  the  projects  in  the  Telematics  for  research  sector, 

23 

which  is  designed  to  test  a  high-speed  trans-European  telecommunications  network  between 
laboratories and research centres, is co-funded  and co-piloted by the Information  technology  and 
Telematics  applications  programmes.  There  is  also  close. cooperation  between  the  various 
sectors of the programme and the Directorates-General concerned (such as transport or education 
and  training). 

Several  of the  first  projects  launched  offer  interesting  prospects  in  such diverse  fields  as  driver 
assistance  and  automatic  decision-taking  in  accident  or  emergency  situations,  integrated 
validation of telematics applications at regional level and their socio-economic impact, validation 
of  telematics  applications  for  urban  development  in  a  network  of  European  cities,  the 
establishment  of an employment  agency  for teleworkers, the delivery  of community  services  to 
improve the quality  of service provided to citizens and reduce their cost, cyberspace training  for 
young  people  or  coordination  and  continuity  of primary  health  care  services. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

A third  call  for  proposals  launched  on  15 September  1995 was  evaluated  in the  first  quarter  of 
1996. 
It  concerns  activities  relating  to  disabled  and  elderly  persons;  health;  education  and 
training; linguistic research and engineering networks.  Evaluation of the 413 proposals received 
resulted  in  67  new  projects,  no  fewer  than  32  of  which  concern  activities  to  help  the  disabled 
and elderly people. The Community contribution to all of these projects amounts to ECU  64.435 
million. 

A  fourth  call  for  proposals  is  scheduled  for  December  1996  concerning  both  RTD  work  in  the 
sectors  and  validation  and  demonstration  projects  for  integrated  and  transsectoral  telematics 
applications  at test  sites, notably  cities.  The aim in the case of the  sectoral  activities  will  be to 
boost  existing  projects  or  select  new  projects  for  tasks  inadequately  covered  by  the  on-going 
In  the  case  of  integrated  applications,  the  aim  will  be  to  mobilize  user  sites  and 
projects. 
suppliers  in  major  projects  with  a  view  to  verifying 
the  technical  relevance  and  the 
socio-economic  impact  of  applications  from  the  various  sectors. 

The Telematics applications programme actively contributes to the work of the  research-industry 
Task Forces, particularly  in the areas of educational  software,  multimedia services and transport. 

2.  COMMUNICATIONS  TECHNOLOGIES 

Activities  in  1995 

S  &  T  achievements 

The  RACE  programme  was  brought  to  a  successful  conclusion  in  1995.  It  has  been  the 
framework  for European cooperation in advanced communications technology development since 
1988 and has involved all major European network operators and telecommunications  equipment 
and  software  developers. 

The  second  phase,  from  1991  to  1995,  was  part  of  the  Third  Framework  Programme  and 
involved  over  600  participating  organizations  in  over  130  projects. 

The Advanced  communications  (ACTS)  programme  of the Fourth  Framework  Programme  was 
launched  in  1995, following  a call  for  proposals  in  September  1994. Over  100 projects  started 

work in  1995, involving over 600 organizations. The launch phase is documented  in ACTS'9519 
and  in an  independent  monitoring  report. 

24 

Examples  of  results 

The main achievements of RACE to  1995 are described briefly  below, and are fully  documented 
in the  final  report,  separately  published.20 

Contribution  to  industrial  competitiveness 

The  RACE  Programme  has  made  a  major  impact  on  Europe's  world  position  in  mastery  of 
advanced  communications  technologies  and  advanced  service  deployment.  About  70  %  of 
participating  companies  report  an  improved  competitive  position  in  Western  Europe  and  over 
50 % report  improved  competitiveness with respect to the USA and the rest of the world.  44 % 
report  an  improved  competitive  position  with  respect  to  Japanese  competitors  as  a  result  of 
RACE  work.  568  companies  have  expressed  their  intention  to  develop  new  products  and 
advanced  services;  in  about  22  %  of  these  cases, plans  already  exist  or  are  in preparation.  For 
advanced  services, there  are  281  expressions  of  interest  and  commercial  plans  already  exist  or 
are in preparation  for  20 % of these. About  140 new patents have been registered  and  a  further 
48  are planned  within  the  next  3 years.21 

The  consensus  development  through  RACE  "concertation"  and  cooperation  has  reduced 
investment risks, accelerated product and service development, improved economies of scale and 
scope, helped  companies to better  focus  business  strategies, and reduced  costs.  Over  750  cases 
of  positive  impact  in  the  above  areas  were  identified  by  commercial  companies  involved  in 
RACE. 

Pilot  applications  of  advanced  communications  services  have  involved  approximately  500 
organizations  and  sites,  and  over  7000  individual  users.  The  business  sectors  involved  include 
manufacturing,  retail  and  distribution,  publishing  and  advertising,  the  liberal  professions  and 
public  service  provision.  The reported  benefits  from  trials include  cost  reduction,  time  savings, 
easier  access  to  information,  increased  flexibility,  and  new job  creation,  particularly  in  remote 
and  rural  areas. 

Industrial  participation  (and  for  SMES) 

The  123 R&D projects  involved the participation  of 574 different  organizations  and  companies, 
including  all  the  major  European  telecommunications  actors.  In  addition,  49  different 
organizations  from  EFTA  countries  participated  in  the  work.  The  programme  has  therefore 
provided  a framework  for  concertation  between all of Europe's main  industrial  interests  and  the 
resulting  consensus in  functional  specifications  has become the major  source  of technical  input 
to European  and  world-wide  standardization  bodies. The programme  has paved  the way  for  the 
creation  of  Trans-European  Broadband  Communications  Networks  as  provided  for  in  Chapter 

19 

20 

ACTS'  1995. Advanced  communications  technologies  and services.  An overview  of the programme  and 
projects.  Ref.  AC  - 950 568. 

RTD  in advanced communications  technologies  for  Europe  (Race).  Final  report  on phase  II  1991-1994  -
ISB  N°92.8269553. 

21  This  number  is  based  on  the  survey  of  1000 RACE  participants. 

25 

XII  of the  Treaty  on  European  Union. 

Despite  the  high  cost  of  R&D  in  advanced  telecommunications,  the  second  phase  of  RACE 
attracted  strong  participation  from  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises  (SMEs).  Organizations 
with less than  500 staff  represented  41%  of the participation  in Phase II projects, compared  with 
28  %  for  Phase  I,  and  16,5  %  for  the  Second  Framework  Programme  as  a  whole.22  Small 
organizations,  whether  enterprises  or research  organizations,  participate  in  over  70  %  of  Phase 
II  projects,  compared  with  60  %  in  Phase  I, and  provide  33  % of  the  total  effort. 

•  Cooperation  with  third  countries  (COPERNICUS) 

18 projects  in the field of advanced  communications technologies  and  services brought  together 
organizations  in  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  and  the  European  Union.  These  projects  were 
covered  by  the  PECO/Copernicus  budget,  but  were  managed  in  association  with  the  RACE 
programme,  including  technical  audit  assessments.  The  projects  range  from  "stimulation  of 
networks"  for  science  and  technology  between  East  and  West,  to  technology  development 
projects  in  a number  of  subject  areas: 

.  communications  technologies;  including  mobile  and  satellite  communications; 
.  multimedia  applications  and  technology  development; 
.  high-speed  networks; 
.  development/dissemination  of  standards  in  advanced  communications. 
.  interprogramme  coordination 

RACE projects  capitalize on the results of projects  developing  generic technologies, eg. ESPRIT 
(microelectronics  components,  software  tools,  AIP23  for  network  management,  etc.);  similarly, 
the telecommunications requirements of telematics applications programmes draw heavily on the 
techniques  addressed  by  the  current  RACE  projects. 

There  are  also  ongoing  links  with  the  VALUE  Programme  for  dissemination  and  exploitation 
of  results. 

Strong  links  have  been  established  with  research  in  the  COST24  framework.  Joint  workshops 
have  been  organised  with  COST  projects  in  the  areas  of  optical  communications  and  mobile 
communications,  and  COST project  coordinators were invited to the RACE project  concertation 
meetings. 

With  the  EUREKA  Initiative,  the  strongest  interaction  was  in  the  field  of  audiovisual 
technologies.  Part  of  the  work  relating  to  the  promotion  of  HDTV  (EUREKA  project  95)  was 
complemented  by  work  under  a  Phase  I  RACE  contract;  and  EUREKA  project  256  on  video-
coding  was  associated  with  the  RACE  integration  activities. 

22  Evaluation of*the second  Framework  programme of RTD report  from  CREST to Council,  September  1992 

-  CREST/1212/92 

23  Advanced  information  processing. 

24 

Cooperation  in  Science  and  Technology. 

26 

Work  programme  for  1996 

The  first  annual  technical  audit  of projects  in the ACTS  programme25 was  held  in early  March 
1996. This  independent  technical  review  of each project  identified  reorientations  necessary  for 
the  optimum  use  of  EU  funding. 

The  second call  for  proposals closed  on  1 March  1996. Over 90 % of proposals were  submitted 
electronically  and DG  XIII-B will continue to pioneer  electronic communications  and  proposal 
submission  developments  for  the European  Commission  during  1996. The technical  evaluation 
of  new  proposals  took  place  from  1 3 - 17  March  1996. Consultation  on  the  results  with  other 
services  of  the  Commission  and  with  the  Management  Committee  during  April  1996  allowed 
a favourable  opinion and a Commission Decision on the selection and funding  of new proposals 
in  early  June  1996. This  completes  the  implementation  of the  ACTS  programme. 

In  1996, based  on the  involvement  of the  sector's  actors, ACTS projects  and  concerted  actions 
will  prepare  guidelines  for  the  deployment  of  ATM  infrastructure,  the  provision  of  the  third 
generation  of-mobile  communications  services  (UMTS)  and  the  development  of  generic 
applications,  in  particular  in  the  field  of  teleworking.  The  guidelines  will  aim  at  reducing 
uncertainties  and  risks  for  public  and  private  investment. 

Coordination  between  programmes,  notably  with  the  IT  programme  and  the  Telematics 
application programme  will be reinforced  on the basis of joint funding  (ACTS + Telematics)  of 
high-speed interconnections between National Host infrastructures  and through the National Host 
infrastructures  themselves  which  support  service  and  application  trials  for  all  three  ICT 
programmes. 

In  wider  international  cooperation,  ACTS  projects  and  actions  play  a  key  role  in  the  G7 
initiatives  for  global  interoperability  of  broadband  networks  (GIBN  project),  for  multimedia 
access  to  cultural  heritage  in  museums  and  galleries  (for  which  a  Memorandum  of 
Understanding  was  signed  in  May  1996), and  the  creation  of  a  global  marketplace  for  SMEs 
through  development  of  electronic  commerce. 

A  strategic  audit  of  advanced  communications  developments  in Europe  was  completed  in  June 
1996.  It  includes  the  5-year  retrospective  assessment  of  EU  RTD  in  this  area,  as  well  as  a 
forward  assessment  of  future  requirements  which  might  be  addressed  in  the  Fifth  Framework 
Programme. 

The  second  independent  monitoring  exercise  will  be  carried  out  in  September  1996  and  will 
focus  on  progress  in  broadening  participation  notably  in trials,  by  SMEs  and  by  organizations 
in  Central  and  Eastern  Europe. It will  also address  the  level  of visionary  research  in the  ACTS 
programme. 

25  RTD  in  the  area  of  advanced  communications  technologies  and  services. 

27 

3.INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGIES 

Activities  in  1995 

1995  was  dedicated  to  the  monitoring  of  the  ESPRIT  III  projects,  implementation  of  the  IT 
programme  and  activities  relating  to the  information  society. 

1.  Three hundred  and forty  nine of a total of 719 ESPRIT III projects  were completed  in  1995 
while  281 projects  will  continue  beyond  1995.  Although  the ESPRIT  III  programme  only 
ended  in  December  1994  and  it  is  too  early  to  draw  conclusions,  1995  yielded  many 
interesting  results.  Some  of  them  have  been  exploited  commercially,  showing  that  the 
objectives  set  in  1991 are  being  achieved.  Although the  overall  impact  of the  programme 
results  from  all  the  research  and  technological  development  projects  (RTD)  and  other 
activities,  only  a  few  prominent  examples  can  be presented  here. 

Examples  of  developments  in  microelectronic  applications  include:  an  accelerometer  to 
improve  the  safety  of  vehicle  air  bags;  in  medicine,  a miniaturized  intelligent  sensor  that 
is  one  of  the  first  in the  world  to  permit  in vivo blood  testing;  an  inexpensive,  intelligent 
circuit for domestic energy saving applications;  a high-resolution, flat-panel display for TV. 
In addition, the on-going activities under ESPRIT in combination with EUREKA have enau 
-vcbled  Europe's  semi-conductor  industry  to  close the technological  gap;  it  has 
strengthened  its  position  in  the  international  markets,  realized  profits  and  made  industrial 
investments.  The accompanying measures launched in some Member States have helped the 
industry  to  participate  more  effectively  in  the  activities  of  the  sector  and  have  visibly 
stimulated  the  use  of  microelectronics  by  local  industrialists. 

Activity  in  the  field  of  software  technologies  has  been  twin-track: 
the  ES SI  initiative  to 
promote  best  software  practices  and the RTD projects.  On the basis  of experience  with  the 
60  ESSI  projects  completed  in  1995  (out  of  a  total  of  109),  the  ESSI  partners  -  mainly 
• SMEs and users  - consider they have made progress on productivity  and, above all, quality. 
Apart  from  some  10 activities  to disseminate  experience  gained,  a network  has been  set up 
covering  17 countries of Europe which has already provided training to some 6  500 persons. 
Intermediate  results  have  been  obtained  from  a  number  of  RTD  projects  that  are  still  in 
progress;  these have been exploited and led to substantial productivity gains for  applications 
of clear  interest to  society  (e.g. a system to aid decision-making  in crisis  situations, used  to 
combat  forest  fires  in  Southern  Europe).  SMEs are steadily  developing  their  ability  to  use 
the results of ESPRIT projects to capture international markets:  02  Technologies and IONA 
Technologies  in  the  field  of  object-oriented  systems  are  an  example. 

The approach adopted in the field of distributed high-performance computing  (HPCN: High-
Performance  Computing  and  Networking)  is  centred  on  users. 
It  comprises  awareness 
activities  in  respect  of  industrial  innovations  deriving  from  HPCN  technologies  and 
applications  in  real  work  environments,  for  example  the  production  and  processing  of 
animated  images,  fine  modelling  of  pharmaceutical  substances,  predicting  the  effects  of 
lightning on aircraft,  automation of postal sorting and tolerant ballbearings.  There have been 
commercial  successes  in all cases, sometimes at the  international  level.  One  such  example 
is  the  adoption  by  CRAY  Research  (USA)  of  CHORUS  technology  for  the  operating 
systems  of  its new  supercomputer,  and the portage of  38 commercial  software  products  for 
aeronautics  and  the  motor  industry  on  the  new  generation  of  parallel  processing  systems. 
This  is  widely  cited  in the  USA  as  a reference  model. 

28 

In the area of advanced  home and professional  systems,  a new multimedia  sales  instrument 
has  been  developed  for  products  ranging  from  financial  services  to  cars,  furniture  and 
property; it has been awarded  a prize in the UK.  A number  of projects  have been  launched 
in  close  cooperation  with  Eurostat  which  should  improve  the  processing  of  statistical  data 
in the  Member  States through  the use  of  more  sophisticated  and  better  adapted  software. 

The  open  microprocessor  systems  initiative  (OMI)  has  been  successful  internationally  in 
areas  such  as  standardization  of  interconnection  buses, the  ST20  processor  for  multimedia 
systems  and  the  ARM  processor  for  professional  electronics. 

Considerable progress has been made in computer-integrated manufacturing  and engineering 
in  the  following  areas:  modelling  of  products  and  processes  and  their  standardization; 
validation  of open systems architecture in the motor industry, machine tools and  aluminium 
industry;  informatics  environments for design and manufacture;  integrated  communications 
software  for complex networks between production sites;  intelligent robots for highway and 
wall  construction;  microsystems,  in  particular  the  development  of  a  library  of  design 
modules;  and  new-generation  microsensors. 
In  addition,  the  following  have  been 
commercially  successful:  robots  for  washing  aircraft  and  3D  inspection  of  printed  circuit 
boards;  a PC  operating  system  for  communications  between  production  machines. 

In  basic  research,  results  have  been  obtained  and  published  in  the  main  journals  and  at 
traffic 
conferences. 
optimization,  vision  and  safety. 

These  have  rapidly  led  to  several  industrial  applications,  e.g. 

Since  its  launch  in  the  1980s,  ESPRIT  has  advanced  RTD.  The  objective  of  the  IT 
programme today  in the evolving  information  society  is to contribute to the development  of 
the  information  infrastructure.  The  emphasis  is  on  ease  of  access  to  information,  services 
and technologies  for  all  categories  of  enterprises,  government  departments  and  individuals. 
RTD choices  are  above  all  based  on the assessment  of their  impact  on the  competitiveness 
of European  industry  as a whole and on improvement  of the quality  of life;  they  are driven 
mainly by consideration  of the needs of users and of the market.  The programme's  activities 
concern  the  utilization  of the  technologies  and  their  user-friendliness,  best  practice,  crucial 
RTD  areas  in  this  respect  and  the  development  of the  information  infrastructure. 

The  implementation  arrangements  and  technical  content  of  the  programme  have  been 
renewed.  The  accompanying  measures  are  now  central  rather  than  marginal  to  the 
programme  strategy.  The number  of thematic networks of excellence  has been  increased  to 
15;  they  are  a link-up  of  about  600 teams  from  industry,  research  centres  and  universities. 
By  forming  transfrontier  links,  they  play  an  essential  role  in  training,  access  to  know-how 
and  technology  transfer.  User-supplier  collaboration  in  the  RTD  projects  is  highly 
encouraged;  the users  are involved  in determining  the direction  of the work,  the  validation 
of  results  and  their  acceptability  with  a  view  to  subsequent  commercial  exploitation. 
Procedures  have  been  simplified  to  make  the  programme  more  accessible;  the  period  for 
submission  of  proposals  is  now  three  months; 
there  has  been  one  call  for  proposals  per 
quarter (15  December,  15 March, etc.) at common dates for the different  programmes, which 
greatly facilitates coordination.  Furthermore, joint calls for proposals with other programmes 
have  been  launched.  Where  necessary  (e.g.  for  certain  accompanying  measures  and 
exploratory  awards), submissions are accepted on a continuous basis.  In order to reduce the 
cost  of  preparing  proposals,  a  two-stage  procedure  has  been  tested  (in  long-term  research 
and for  HPCN).  Specific  procedures have been  introduced  for  SMEs regarding  cooperative 
RTD  projects  and  exploratory  awards.  These  new  instruments  will  probably  be  used  much 

29 

they 
more  frequently  in  future.  The  focused  clusters  concern  a  specific  objective; 
coordinate  RTD  projects  relating  to  various  technologies  and  networks  of  excellence, 
working  groups,  cooperation  with  other  initiatives  (Community,  national  and  international 
activities,  EUREKA),  training  activities,  dissemination  of  information  and  transfer  of 
technology. 

The  1995  work  programme  comprised  activities  for  basic 
(software 
technologies, technologies for IT components and subsystems, multimedia systems), focused 
clusters (technologies for business processes, integration in manufacturing, HPCN, OMI) and 
long-term  research. 

technologies 

In the area of software  technologies,  142 ESSI projects were launched in  1995, together with 
RTD projects  focusing  on safety  problems and projects  involving  applications  and trials  for 
full-scale  validation  of  promising  technologies  that  have  not  yet  become  established.  The 
RTD projects  in the field of technologies  for IT components and subsystems  are focused  on 
flat-panel  displays, signal processing, technologies below 0.2p. and equipment;  104  projects 
have been  launched  in the context  of FUSE to promote  best practice and to facilitate  access 
to  and  utilization  of  the  new  technologies  for  new  users  and  SMEs.  Action  in  the  new 
multimedia systems field has been taken in close collaboration with the other DGs concerned 
(DG  X,  DG  XIII,  DG  XV); 
in  addition  to  the  RTD  projects  on  new  technologies  and 
intellectual  property  rights,  coordination  measures  have  been  launched  and  a  network  of 
centres  of  competence  set up, the  aim  of which  is to provide  concrete  support  in  particular 
to  SMEs  in  the  use  of  the  new  multimedia  technologies. 
In  the  other  new  field  of 
technologies  for  business  processes  which  is  of  particular  interest  to  SMEs,  the  projects 
represent  sectors  as  varied  as  the  glass  industry,  public  works,  the  postal  service  and 
"customized"  manufacture  of  public  transport  vehicles.  They  include  the  establishment  of 
a network of around 60  organizations charged with the task of disseminating information and 
technology  transfer.  In  the  field  of  integration  in  manufacturing,  in  addition  to  the  RTD 
projects,  "reference  user  group"  projects  have  the  objective  of  developing  detailed 
specifications  for  new  needs,  drafting  common  standards  and  assuming  coordinating  tasks. 
The  HPCN  projects  cover  several  industrial  sectors  and  mobilize  users  as  well  as  SMEs, 
whose  participation  is  set  to  increase.  The  OMI  projects  relate  to  new  sectors  such  as  the 
motor  industry,  telecommunications  and  interactive  television,  and  concern  the  integration 
of design tools, whereas previously  the effort  was concentrated  on their development;  50% 
of  the  partners  are  new  participants.  A  number  of  projects  are  dedicated  to  information 
dissemination,  consensus-finding  on  interface  standards  and  the  exchange  of  know-how  in 
the  area  of  systems  design  for  the  benefit  of  SMEs  in  particular.  The  long-term  research 
is  designed  to  be  open  to  ideas  and  researchers,  to  be  capable  of  responding  to  economic 
and  social  needs  and  to  anticipate  future  technologies.  As  regards  the  first  objective, 
proposals  are  received  on  a  continuous  basis  and  projects  have  been  initialled  for  the 
feasibility  phase  which necessarily  proceeds  a possible  full-scale  launch.  It is worth  noting 
that  the  two-step  procedure  applied  to  the  projects  for  the  second  objective  has  enabled 
several proposals too close to the downstream  work to be eliminated  at the first stage.  Two 
initiatives  have  been  launched  for  the third  objective:  the first concerns  advanced  research 
on  microelectronics  (optoelectronic  interconnection  - nanometric  integrated  circuits  will  be 
considered  in  1996);  the  second  concerns  intelligent  information  interfaces  which  should 
define  the  work  programme  for  the  September  1996  call.  Furthermore,  the  procedures 
relating  to  the  objectives  of  "openness"  and  "responsiveness"  will  be  continued  in  1996. 

Imconnection  with  the  information  society,  pilot  projects  have  been  launched  outside  the 
ESPRIT  context  in  areas  such  as digitized  cities, community  kiosks, remote  distribution  of 

30 

multimedia  information,  electronic  transfer  of  funds,  distribution  of  medical  images, 
standardization  of  DNA  representation.  These  projects  complete  some  70  projects  which 
through  ESPRIT,  TELEMATIQUE  and  ACTS  form  a  de facto  inter-programme  focused 
cluster  for  the  development  of  international  exchange  systems  such  as  W3  (World  Wide 
Web).  A joint EU and PECO Information  Society Forum was held in Brussels in June  1995 
and  will  be  followed  by  another  in  Prague  in  September  1996. 

The European IT Conference  (EITC 95) was held in Brussels in November  1995, as was the 
IT Forum;  it took place  in conjunction  with an exhibition  of the results  of the projects  and 
their utilization, and attracted  several thousand participants.  In association with EuroCASE, 
the  23  ITEA  awards  (Information  Technology  European  Awards)  were  made  on  this 
occasion.  In  addition,  the  use  of  the  Internet  and  CD-ROMs  (development  of  Multimedia 
Encyclopedia  of Results of the IT programme) for the dissemination  of information  was the 
object  of  thorough  validation  tests;  the  lessons  were  put  to  use  in  the  call  for  proposals, 
which  should  lead  to  the  establishment  of  a full-scale  service. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

The  participation  of  the  Central  and  Eastern  European  countries  in  the  RTD  projects,  already 
operational  in  1995,  could  acquire  a  new  dimension  in  1996  as  a  result  of  the  funding  of 
research infrastructure  under the PHARE programme.  In addition, an information  campaign will 
be  directed  at the  Mediterranean  countries. 

Two  calls  for  proposal  are  scheduled  for  1996, one  in March  and the  other  in  September.  The 
work  programme  has  been  updated: 
tasks  well  represented  in  the  1995  projects  have  been 
dropped,  others  have  been  introduced  to  take  account  of  the  emergence  of  new  priorities,  e.g. 
in  the  field  of  electronic  trading  or  W3.  The  presentation  of  the  work  programme  has  been 
improved  to  make  access  easier  for  new  participants  and  users,  whose  needs  are  expressed  in 
terms of solutions rather than technical tasks.  The accompanying measures have been regrouped 
to  improve  readability  and  consistency.  A new work programme  will  be drawn  up  in  1996  for 
the  following  period. 

INDUSTRIAL  TECHNOLOGIES 

4.  INDUSTRIAL  AND  MATERIALS  TECHNOLOGIES 

Activities  in  1995 

S  &T  achievements 

1.  Industrial  RTD  projects 

The  key  activity  has  been  the  evaluation  of  the  proposals  following  the  first  call  for 
proposals  under  BRITE-EURAM  III  (final  date:  15 March  1995)  and  the  start  of  the 
contracts.  This  call  was  characterized  by: 

the  large  number  of  proposals  (1180),  which  may  be  explained  by  the  two-year  lapse 
since  the  previous  call  (26  February  1993); 
the high eligibility  rate of the proposals (98%), undoubtedly  due to the" constant  increase 
in quality  of the proposals and the establishment  of the prescreening  service  (verification 

- 

by  the  Commission  departments  of  the  main  characteristics  of  the  project  before  final 
submission  of proposals); 
the  cover  of  the  three  areas  (production  technologies,  materials  and  technology  for 
product  innovation,  technology  for  transport  media)  is  satisfactory,  although  in  certain 
subsectors  very  few  projects  have  been  selected:  human  and  organizational  factors  of 
production  systems  (area  1.5)  and  production  of  vehicles  (area  3B.2); 
the ECU 402  million  (= MECU) available  for  this call will  be sufficient  to envisage  the 
funding  of  218  projects. 

- 

- 

,  31 

2.  Thematic  networks 

In  response  to  the  continuously  open  call  for  proposals,  the  pilot  phase  has  resulted  in  41 
proposals being accepted  for  an exploratory phase and 3 for  an implementation phase.  60% 
of these  proposals  have  been  selected  and  granted  funding  of  0.78  MECU. 

3.  Technology  stimulation  measures  for  SMEs 

The  response  rate  to  the  open  call  is  satisfactory,  except  for  area  3  (transport)  which  is 
under-represented  (4%).  Of  465  proposals  received  for  phase  1 and  118  for  phase  2,  212 
and  51  respectively  have  been  accepted  for  a  total  budget  of  27.5  MECU,  of  which  17 
MECU  was  committed  in  1995. 

Contribution  of the  programme  to  the main  RTD  objectives: 

reinforcement  of  economic  and  social  cohesion:  an  average  of  8.8  participants  per  RTD 
project  from  4.8  different  countries,  71% of  which  are  new  participants,  would  appear  to 
augur  well  for  the target  of  reinforcement.  10% of the  participants  are  from  "objective  1" 
regions.  All  the  participants  in  the  stage  1  CRAFT  ("Cooperative  Research  Action  for 
Technology")  projects  are  new  (=  eligibility  condition)  and  213  participants  are  new  in 
stage  2.  The  CRAFT  projects  involve  5.1  partners  on  average; 
SME participation:  20% of the participants  in the RTD projects  are  SMEs, more than  in the 
Third Framework  Programme  (17%); they  share  19% of the budget.  17% of the projects  are 
coordinated  by  SMEs.  73% of the participants  in the CRAFT projects  (stage 2) are  SMEs; 
international  cooperation:  3%  of  the  participants  are  from  countries  outside 
the 
European  Union; 
industrial  participation:  the  projects  concluded  were  evaluated  in  1995  with  the  aid 
of  independent  consultants.  The  evaluation  was  based  on  interviews  and  on  the 
analysis  of  indicators  such  as  management,  collaboration,  research  performance, 
economic benefits,  SME participation, impact on society and the environment and the 
strategy  for  utilization  of  results.  The  data  obtained  were  as  follows: 

*  41% of  the  results  obtained  may  lead  to  five  applications  at  least  and  62%  of  the 

results  could  be  applied  in  three  different  industrial  sectors  at  least; 

*  45% of the projects  analysed  should  lead to financial  gains of at least  5 MECU  in the 

next  five  years  (2% of  which  in  excess  of  100  MECU); 

*  76% of  the  results  are  likely  to  be  "in  the  market"  in  three  years  time  (47%  in  one 

year's time); 

*  64% of  the  results  have  a potentially  positive  impact  on  the  environment; 
* 

the  projects  are  increasingly  well  prepared  at  the  exploitation  phase:  40%  of  them 
(28%  in  1994)  are  considered  "autonomous"  (no  additional  assistance  required)  for 
exploitation  purposes; 

*  with  regard  to  employment,  36%  of  the  projects  have  already  proved  to  have  a 

32 

positive  impact  for  the  partners. 

From  a  qualitative  point  of  view,  experience  since  the  launch  of  the  Brite-Euram 
programme indicates that the exploitation of results will not become a reality unless there 
is a clearly  defined  entrepreneurial  strategy  and unless the exploitation  details have  been 
agreed by the partners from  the outset. For this reason, the projects  selected following  the 
1995 call  were  subjected  to rigorous  selection  procedures  and  will  be  closely  monitored 
as  to  management  and  progress  of  the  work.  In  the  course  of  the  year,  the  indicators 
used  in  the  annual  evaluation  reports  and  the  various  analyses  referred  to  above 
demonstrated  the  rigor  of the  intermediate  and  final  evaluations. 

Success  stories 
The  analysis  of  projects  in  1995  revealed  a number  of  success  stories: 

A  group  of  four  SMEs  (F,  D)  and  one  laboratory  have  developed  a  new  paper-based 
substrate  to  replace  PVC  in  all  decorative  applications  in  the  furniture  industry.  The 
consortium  includes  all  the  links  of  this  industrial  chain,  which  enabled  them  to  exploit 
the technology  without  delay.  By the end of the project,  170 million  tonnes had  already 
been produced  and  sold.  The  economic  gain for  the period  1995-99  is put  at  55  MECU 
for  an  R&D  investment  of  2.5  MECU.  PVC,  a chlorine-based  compound,  is  subject  to 
increasing  criticism  of  its  impact.  Any  replacement  product 
is  certain  to  be 
environmentally  beneficial. 

The footwear  industry  represents  an  important  market,  albeit  one  in  difficulty,  primarily 
as  a  result  of  competition  from  South  East  Asia,  like  the  textile  industry.  It  is  also  a 
rapidly  moving  market  owing  to  the  dictates  of  fashion.  A  rapid  adaptation  of 
manufacture  and  a  capacity  to  anticipate  and  initiate  these  effects  of  fashion  are 
indispensable  if the European footwear  industry is to maintain its competitive advantages. 

Three  industrial  undertakings,  two  of  them  SMEs,  have  developed  together  with  two 
research  centres  a CAD/CAM  design  system  for  shoes  (including  all their  components), 
and  the  related  moulds.  At  the  end  of  the  project,  two  of  the  industrial  partners  had 
begun  to  use  this  design  tool  in  their  production  chain.  Economic  gains  have  already 
been  made  and  the  prospects  for  the  five  coming  years  are  of  24.5  MECU  for  an  R&D 
investment  of  2.8  MECU.  This  innovation  is  available  for  technology  transfer  to  the 
industries  of  the  sector  which  are  almost  exclusively  SMEs.  Furthermore,  the  latter  are 
mainly  situated  in  the  regions  whose  development  is  lagging  behind,  so that  the  project 
clearly  contributes to European  cohesion and the maintenance  of employment  in a sector 
in  difficulty. 

Where  a project  is constructed  around  clearly  defined  market  demand  and  the  industrial 
undertakings  involved  are working at the heart of their strategic area, success is normally 
assured.  This  is the case  of the consortium  composed  of two  industrial  partners and  two 
universities which has developed new rare earth oxides from which materials with greatly 
enhanced  luminescent  properties  can  be  prepared.  Industrial  tests  on  different  types  of 
lamp  have been  a success.  The  industrial  and  commercial  exploitation  has developed  in 
symbiosis  with  research,  and  already  produced  an  effective  gain  of  20  MECU  and  the 
prospective  of  direct  and  indirect  gains  on  the  market  for  lighting  equipment  of 
330  MECU  over  five  years,  for  an  initial  investment  of  1.9  MECU. 

33 

Problems  encountered 
The  members  of  the  group  responsible  for  the  annual  evaluation  of  the  programme 
mentioned  in  their  1995  report  the  excessive  time  lapse between  the closing  date  of  the 
call and contract signature, both for the RTD projects and for CRAFT.  They suggest that 
the procedures  following  the  evaluation  period  should be  speeded  up. 

Some  sub-areas  of  the  programme  are  not  particularly  attractive,  particularly  to  SMEs. 
The  SME  stimulation  network  has been informed  and measures have been taken  in  1996 
to  try  to  remedy  this. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

The  1996 work  programme  will  first  of  all  involve  an  evaluation  process  following  the 
second  call  for  proposals  with  a  closing  date  of  17 April  1996. The  budget  available  is 
400  MECU. 

Furthermore, three  evaluation  exercises will take place in the  framework  of  CRAFT  for 
a  budget  of  32  MECU,  and  another  three  for  the  thematic  networks  for  a  budget  of  9 
MECU. 
Two  other  lines  of  work  will  also  be  supported:  the  implementation  of  accompanying 
measures  (3% of  the  budget)  following  the  call  for  proposals  published  on  15.12.1995, 
which  is to remain  open until the end of  1997; secondly, reflection  and  study  workshops 
will  prepare  the  ground  for  the  fifth  framework  programme. 

5.  STANDARDS,  MEASUREMENTS  AND  TESTING 

Activities  in  1995 

S&T  achievements 

1.1 

Industrial  RTD  projects 

1995 was devoted,  firstly,  to funding  the RTD projects selected from  the submissions  for 
the  call  for  proposals  for  area  1 and  the targeted  call  in  support  of  Community  policies 
and  European  standardization  and,  secondly,  to  evaluating  the  proposals  received  for 
areas  2  and  3 and  the  second  targeted  call. 

The  call  for  proposals  for  area  1 was  open  to  all  sectors  of  industry.  Of  177  proposals 
received, 44 projects  (i.e.  1 in 4) were  selected,  17 of them directly concerning  standards 
required  by  industry.  All the projects  were funded  in  1995 with  a budget  of 22  MECU. 

For  the  first  time,  a  targeted  call  comprising  25  priority  subjects  was  launched  for  the 
implementation  of  Community  policies  and  for  European  standardization  in  the  context 
of CEN/CENELEC.  Only  16 proposals were received, of which 7 were funded  in  1995. 

The  first  call  for  proposals  scheduled  in  the  work  programme  for  areas  2  and  3  was 
launched  in June  1995.  It primarily concerned the second part of the programme, namely 
the  development  and  implementation  of  standards, measurements  and tests  in  support  of 
the  economic  and  socio-cultural  aspects  of  European  policies.  The  call aims to  resolve 
the  technical  difficulties  involved  in the  implementation  of  regulations  and  directives  in 

the  agri-food,  environment  and  public  health  sectors  in  particular,  to  which  two  new 
themes  have  been  added:  protection  of  the  cultural  heritage  and  forensic  checks  by 
laboratories  approved by the judicial  authorities. A particular  effort  is directed  at  official 
laboratories and bodies, including the customs laboratories, charged with fraud  prevention 
checks  and  analyses. 
Of 464 proposals  received  in these  different  areas, about  80 projects  could  be  funded  in 
1996 (1 in  6).  The  budget provided  for  the call  in areas 2 and  3 amounts  to  24  MECU. 

34 

2.  CRAFT  and  thematic  networks 

In  addition  to  the  RTD  projects,  6  proposals  for  technology  stimulation  measures  in 
support  of  SMEs  and  6  proposals  for  thematic  networks  received  a  Community 
contribution.  The  budget  allocated  to  these  activities  in  1995 was  1.1 MECU. 

Success  stories 
The  43  projects  completed  in  1995  have  produced  some  interesting  results: 

Measurement  and  testing  procedures  have  been  developed  to  verify  the  compliance 
of  domestic  boilers  with  the  classification  criteria  laid  down  in  the  European 
directive. 

The  results  of  the  quality  measurements  on  the  networks  used  by  the  measurement 
and testing  laboratories  in applying the electromagnetic  compatibility  Directive  have 
been  validated. 

A  method  for  testing  the fire behaviour  of upholstered  furniture  has  been  developed 
thanks  to  the  collaboration  of  11  industrial  and  official  laboratories  and  8  Member 
States. 

A  set  of  methods  for  determining  the microbial  contamination  of  bathing  waters  by 
faecal  matter  has  been  developed  and  tested  by  34  laboratories  in  all  the  Member 
States. 

A miniaturized  system for measuring lactate levels in the blood of critically ill people 
and  in  athletes,  and  glucose  levels  in  diabetics  in  a  comatose  state,  has  been 
developed  and  will  be  marketed  shortly. 

Finally,  certified  reference  materials  for  the  classification  of  wheat  flours  have  been 
produced  and  made available to  laboratories  along with methods  for  determining  the 
quantity  of  soft  wheat  in  pasta  products.  The  results  of  these  two  projects  are 
destined  to  the quality  control  laboratories  and  the  campaign  to  combat  fraud  in  the 
agri-food  sector. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

The  1996 work  programme  has  the  following  objectives: 

1. 
2. 

to  improve  the  competitiveness  of  all  sectors  of  European  industry; 
to  promote  research  facilitating  the  implementation  of  European  policies  in  the 
industry,  agriculture,  energy  and  services  sectors  by  developing  and  improving 

35 

accepted measurement  and testing methods, recognized  not only  in Europe  but in the 
whole  world; 
to promote  research  in support  of the activities  of  CEN, CENELEC, ETSI  and  other 
European  bodies; 
to  support  the  future  development  of  the  European  measurement  infrastructure; 
to  promote  the  dissemination  and  application  of  good  measurement  practice  in 
Europe, particularly  in the  less-favoured  regions. 

3. 

4. 
5. 

Following  evaluation  and  examination  of  the  results  of  the  targeted  calls  launched  in 
1995,  the  opportuneness  of  a  new  targeted  call  in  June  1996  will  be  discussed  together 
with  the  Programme  Committee. 

In  view  of  the  positive  results  obtained  from  the  first  call  in  the  area  of  measurements 
for  quality  European  products,  the  call  scheduled  for  15 June  1996 will  take  account  of 
the  following  priorities: 

- 

industrial  innovation 
dissemination  of  industrial  know-how  towards the  less-favoured  regions  through 
the  organization  of  practical  training  courses 

-  benefit  to  sectors  characterized  by  a strong  presence  of  SMEs. 

6.  ENVIRONMENT  AND  CLIMATE 

ENVIRONMENT 

Activities  in  1995 

S &T  achievements 

For  the most  part,  the  research  activities  of the  Third  Framework  Programme  have  been 
concluded  or  entered  their  final  phase.  The  broad  spectrum  of  these  activities  on  the 
level  both  of  applied  and  strategic  research  and  more  basic  research  has  enabled  the 
Environment  programme  to  contribute  both  to  the  objectives  of  competitiveness  and 
stimulation  of  economic  growth  and  to  the  definition  and  implementation  of  other 
Community  policies,  particularly  on  the  environment.  This  two-pronged  approach  was 
confirmed  on the launch of the Fourth Framework Programme, for which the first projects 
were  selected  on  the  basis  of  calls  for  proposals  staggered  throughout  1995. 

While  industry  participation  remains  low  in  the  programme  areas  relating  to  the 
understanding of the basic processes underlying environment and climate change and their 
implications  for  man, the environment  and  society, it has picked  up in areas with a more 
technological  orientation  such  as  the  development  of  environmental  technologies  for 
sectors such as water, wastes, decontamination, risk management, etc. and space research. 

The  end  of  the  third  and  transition  to  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  has  also  been 
marked  by the  strengthening  of  S&T cooperation  in the  Community.  The  establishment 
of networks  of research  institutions  engaged  in Community  projects  is progressing,  both 
through  the  continuation  and  deepening  of  previous  activities  and  the  launch  of  new 
activities.  The  scope  of these  activities  occasionally  extends  far  beyond  the  frontiers  of 
the  European  Union,  since  they  form  part  of  major  research  programmes  on  global 

36 

change  (research  on  climate,  ecosystems, etc.). 

Europe's participation in the world-wide research effort  provides an opportunity to exploit 
the  Union's  full  R&D  potential  and  to  share  in  world  leadership  of  research  into  global 
change,  as  well  as  to  build  up  the  scientific  basis  required  to  solve  a  variety  of 
environmental  problems  with  which  the  Union  is  confronted. 

International  cooperation has also developed through strong participation by the countries 
of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  in the new projects  selected  under the Fourth  Framework 
Programme,  mainly  in  the  areas  covered  by  the  Environment  and  climate  programme 
(except for  the  "Earth observation"  area).  The developed  countries, particularly  Norway, 
Switzerland  and  Canada,  have  also  expressed  a  desire  to  participate  in  the  Union's 
environment  R&D  programmes,  although  the  Canadian  research  institutes,  for  example, 
are  not  strongly  represented  in  the  projects  in  response  to  the  first  call  for  proposals. 
There  are.  indications  that  the  calls  to  be  published  in  1996  will  result  in "higher 
participation  by  Canada  and  intensive  cooperation  with  Israel. 

Inter-programme  coordination  has  also  improved  in  all  areas  where  the  Environment 
programme  has  an  interface  with  other  specific  programmes.  This  was  the  case,  for 
example,  in  research  on  coastal  ecosystems  in  cooperation  with  MAST  III;  forest 
ecosystems,  in  cooperation  with  the  specific  programme  on  Agriculture,  fisheries  and 
forestry;  and  technologies  for  the  environment  and  aeronautic  pollution,  in  cooperation 
with  the  Industrial  and  materials  technology  programme. 

Community  support  to  space  technology  applications  for  Earth  observation  and 
environmental  monitoring  has  developed  and  two  calls  for  proposals  have  led  to  the 
selection of five concerted actions on methodological research.  The Commission has also 
completed  the  preparatory  work  on  the  implementation  of  a  planned  Centre  for  Earth 
Observation  (CEO),  which  should  bring  the  users  and the  space  agencies  supplying  the 
data  closer  together.  Finally,  the  Commission  has  signed  an  agreement  with  French, 
Belgian, Italian and  Swedish partners on the joint implementation of a space-based  sensor 
for  vegetation  monitoring.  This  instrument  is to  be  launched  on the  SPOT  4  satellite  in 
1997. 

Finally,  the  Environment  and  climate  programme  has  made  a significant  contribution  to 
defining  the  scientific  content  of  the  Task  Forces,  in  particular  the  "Aeronautics"  and 
"Water"  Task  Forces, most  of the  strategic themes of which are  strongly  anchored  in the 
programme. 

Success  stories 

Recent  technological  developments  in  biosensors  show  considerable  promise  for 
environmental  monitoring.  A  new  generation  of  instruments  has  been  developed  in 
the  framework  of  the  BIOPTICAS  project  for 
low 
concentrations  of  pesticides  in  water.  These  instruments  have  several  advantages 
such  as high  sensitivity  and  selectivity.  They  permit  a rapid  response  in  off-line  or 
on-line  monitoring  and  in  remote  analysis. 

the  detection  of  very 

•  Although  the  ozone-depleting  CFCs  and  halons  are  no  longer  manufactured  in 
Europe, there  are  still considerable  stocks of these products which,  if released  to  the 
atmosphere,  could  delay  for  several  decades  the  repair  of  the  stratospheric  ozone 
layer.  Work  done  under  the  Environment  Programme  has  contributed  to  the 
development  of  the  process  for  destroying  stocks  of  many  halogenated  compounds 
in  environmentally  safe  conditions  and  at  affordable  cost. 

37 

•  At  the  initiative  of  industry,  the NICOLE  network  (Industrially  Contaminated  Land 
in  Europe)  has  become  operational.  Its  objective  is  to  disseminate  and  exchange 
scientific  and  technical  knowledge  on  industrial  contamination  of  soils  and 
is  also  aimed  at  promoting  coordinated  and 
groundwater. 
multidisciplinary  research  which  should  enable  Europe's  manufacturing  industry  to 
identify  contaminated  sites,  evaluate  the  risks  this  presents  to  man  and  the 
environment  and  efficiently  manage  their  decontamination. 

initiative 

The 

•  The EUPHORE European photoreactor was inaugurated  in April  1995 in Valencia in 
Spain.  This  is  a  smog  chamber  with  a  total  volume  of  200  m3  for  the  study  in 
optimum  experimental  conditions  of  the  complex  chemical  reactions  implicated  in 
ozone  formation  in  the  troposphere.  This  instrument  can  be  used  to  consolidate 
knowledge  about  a  form  of  air  pollution  particularly  toxic  to  man  and  the 
environment. 

The APHEA project  has provided  conclusive proof of the links between air pollution 
in  several  cities  of  the  European  Union  and  the  incidence  of  certain  respiratory 
diseases;  EUPHORE  et  APHEA  open  the  door  to  new  research  in  the  key  areas  of 
toxicology  and  ecotoxicology,  disciplines  which 
epidemiology,  environmental 
constitute  a  basis  for  environmental  legislation. 

•  The  second  European  ozone  measurement  programme  in  the  Arctic  and  at  medium 
latitudes, partly  funded  by  the  Environment  and  climate  programme,  has  revealed  a 
significant  decline  in  stratospheric  ozone  concentrations.  The  implications  of  this 
phenomenon  in  terms  of  human  health  and  environmental  stability  plead  for  the 
continuation  of  research  effort  in this  area. 

A  number  of  important  contributions  were  made  to  the  evolving  policies  on  the 
promotion  of  sustainable  development;  in particular,  the  proceedings  of  a  workshop 
on  "Global  Environmental  Change  and  Sustainable  Development  in  Europe"  were 
published,  and  the  first  European  conference  on  economic  aspects  of  sustainability 
focusing  on  green  accounting  held  in  1995  will  be  followed  up  by  a  second 
conference  on  "Ecology,  Society,  Economy"  in  mid-1996. 

Problems  encountered 
A  substantial  part  of  the  Environment  and  climate  programme  has  the  objective  of 
improving  competitiveness  and  stimulating  economic  growth  consistent  with  sustainable 
development,  either  by  helping  businesses  to  innovate  in  technologies  that  improve 
utilization  of  resources,  or  helping  them  to  internalize  environmental  standards  and 
constraints.  In  this  context,  while  participation  by  industry  in  the  project  is  continuing 
to rise, SMEs are still unfortunately  under-represented.  The "CRAFT system" has proved 
fairly  ineffective  so  far  in this  respect. 

38 

Work  programme  for  1996 

1.  Review  of the  work  programme 

In  parallel  with  the  work  of  implementing,  coordinating  and  monitoring  the  projects 
selected  on  the  basis  of  the  first  calls  for  proposals,  the  Commission  is  reviewing  the 
work programme  in the light of the calls to be published  during the  second half of  1996. 
The  objective  of  this  review  is  basically  (a)  to  remedy  the  problems  encountered  in 
implementing  the  first  phase  of  the  programme  (see  section  1.3  above)  and  (b)  to 
concentrate  the  research  effort  on  the  aspects  of  the  initial  work  programme  that  were 
inadequately  covered  by  the  first  calls  for  proposals.  The  review  is  also  intended  to 
identify  those  aspects  of  the  programme  best  suited  to  tackle  the  basic  environmental 
problems with which the Union's citizens and economic actors are confronted  in a context 
of  sustainable  development. 

2.  Review  of  the  Framework  Programme 

The  Environment  and  climate  programme  provided  significant  input  to  the  preparation 
of the  proposal  for  supplementary  financing  for  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme. 

The Commission  expressed  its intention of (a) concentrating research  effort  on a number 
of priority themes, above all by improving coordination to ensure efficient  implementation 
of  the programme  in  those  areas  and  (b) of  stepping  up the  activities  of  the  programme 
relating  to the Task  Forces  "Water"  and  "Aircraft  of the future"  by increasing  the  budget 
provision. 

3.  Preparation  of  the  Fifth  Framework  Programme 

1996  will  be  devoted  to  the  preparatory  work  for  the  Fifth  Framework  Programme.  A 
number  of  accompanying  measures  have  been  planned  to this  end. 

7.  MARINE  SCIENCES  AND  TECHNOLOGIES 

Activities  in  1995 

1995  was  marked  by  a transitional  period  in  marine  science  research  with  the  research 
activities  under  the  Marine  science  and  technology  programme  (MAST-II)  of  the  Third 
Framework  Programme  (1990-1994)  entering  their  final  stages  or  being  completed,  and 
the  activities  under  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  (1994-1998)  entering  their 
implementation  phase  (MAST-Ill). 

During  1995, EU  RTD  activities  have  continued  to promote the emergence  and  enhance 
the international profile  of a European marine science community.  Added impetus to this 
trend  is  expected  following  the  establishment  in  October  1995, under  the joint  auspices 
of  ESF  and  of  the  Commission  (DGXII),  of the  "European  Marine  Board". 

MAST-supported  research  has  continued  to  provide  much  information  on  processes 
occurring  in  the  seas,  especially  in  relation  to  operational  oceanography,-  biological 
productivity, ecosystem properties, or science and engineering in the coastal  zone.  Much 

39 

effort  is invested in large multidisciplinary projects  (in the range of 8 to  10 MECU-of EU 
contribution)  on regional  seas, 2 of  which  (on the  Mediterranean  and  the  North  Eastern 
Atlantic shelf edge) were initiated under MAST-II, and 2 others will actually start in 1996 
(on the  Baltic  Sea  and  the  Canary-Azores  region). 

Both MAST-II  and MAST-III provide opportunities to carry out research developing  new 
instruments  for  measuring  and  sampling  the  seas  and  the  sea-floor,  platforms  for 
deploying  observation  equipment, remotely operated  underwater  vehicles, and  a  number 
of  related  technologies  (acoustics,  imaging  and  viewing  etc.). 

International  cooperation  has  become  more  marked  under  MAST-III,  in  particular  with 
organisations from  Australia, Canada, USA and Mediterranean third countries  expressing 
a  strong  interest  in the programme  and participating  in projects  of mutual  benefit. 

In the  1995 round  of calls for  MAST-III, over  11% of the proposers were  from  industry. 
An  increase  is  expected  in  the  second  call  foreseen  for  early  1996  with  the  effective 
opening of more opportunities for proposals in the area dealing with marine technologies. 

Proposals  of  projects  for  coastal  zone  science  were  evaluated jointly  with  a  number  of 
projects  on  the  coastal  zone  submitted  to  the  Environment  and  climate  programme. 

Examples  of  results 
As  MAST-III  projects  only  commenced  in  1995,  it  is  too  early  to 
results. 
For  MAST-II,  however,  the  following  projects  and  activities  are particularly  relevant  : 

identify  specific 

The  North  Atlantic  Targeted  Project  (NATP),  involving  110  scientists  from  32 
institutions  in  10  EEA  countries  has  come  close  to  completion.  As  a  result,  the 
previously much neglected research on the continental  slope is now ensured by a well 
integrated scientific community.  This should shortly lead to substantial breakthroughs 
in  our  understanding  of  fluxes  and  exchanges  at the  edge  of the  continental  shelf. 

The pilot phase Mediterranean Targeted Project (MTP), involving some  180 scientists 
from  70 organizations  out of  14 EEA Member  States, has been  successfully  brought 
to  near  completion.  The  most  important  results  include  some  40  peer  reviewed 
articles, a handbook  of analytical  methods  and  protocols, cooperation  with  scientists 
from  third  Mediterranean  countries  and  large  amounts  of  data  on  the  Mediterranean 
ecosystem.  The  MTP  has  led  to  the  creation  of  a  well-identifiable  community  of 
scientists  involved  in  Mediterranean  research. 

The  activities  of  the  MTP  and  NATP  will  be  continued  in  follow-up  regional  seas 
projects  in  MAST-III. 

The projects  ERSEM and MEICE, both concerned with the modelling of  ecosystems, 
the 
have  led  for  the  first  time  to  modelling  of  biological  interactions  from 
microorganism  level  up to fish and  seabirds.  New  concepts  related  to  factors  which 
control  coastal  plankton  community  assemblages  and a revision  of ecological  theory 
concerning marine food webs have been established.  These two projects have already 
produced  29  peer  reviewed  publications  and  29  more  in  preparation. 

40 

The  successful  technology  developments  include improved  generic  communications, 
new  sensors  to  measure  substances  in the  oceans, technologies  to  determine  the  3D 
structure of the oceans or to determine near-bottom velocities in shallow waters.  The 
S AMI project  has shown that the acoustic synthetic aperture antenna allows  mapping 
in  the  oceans  similar  to  mapping  land  with  SAR  radars  on  satellites.  Although 
further  developments  are needed,  all  these  are  marketable  products. 

In  order  to  ensure  the  future  of  the  extremely  labour-intensive  taxonomy,  two  new 
instruments  have  been  developed  to  automatize  the  classification  of  phytoplankton. 

Feasibility  studies for fully  automatic, long-term deep ocean stations have shown that 
such stations are now feasible and that on site interventions are possible.  A successor 
project  for  seafloor  laboratories  is being  funded  in the new  MAST-III  programme. 

The  concerted  action  MMARIE  on modelling  coordination,  studying  applications  of 
high-performance  computing  techniques  to  marine  modelling,  has  brought  together 
mathematicians  and  marine  scientists  and  has  gained  a high  profile. 

The  MAST  data  policy  has  resulted  in  strong  cooperation  on  océanographie  data 
management between Member States, international organizations and the Commission 
and has led to better services to the user groups and a better dissemination  of  project 
results  and  data  products. 

In  addition  to  50  fellowships,  well  over  260  Ph.  D.  candidates  and  175  post.docs 

have  been  trained  in  projects. 

-  The  Second  MAST  Days,  combined  with  the  EUREKA/EUROMAR  Market,  were 
held  from  7 to  10 November  1995 in Sorrento, Italy.  Some  500 people  attended  the 
18 scientific  sessions  and the exhibit  showing progress of the MAST-II  projects  and 
the  7 running  EUREKA/EUROMAR  projects. 

In  addition,  several  thematic  workshops  attracting  up  to  160  persons  were  organized 
throughout  1995. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

Whilst  continuing  to  implement  and  manage  the  RTD  projects  selected  following  calls 
for  proposals  in  1995  the  Commission  services  will  carry  out  work  on  focusing  the 
priorities of the work programme for MAST-III with a view to a further  call for  proposals 
to be  launched  in the  first  half  of  1996.  This  focusing  will take account  of the  outcome 
of  the  1995  calls  and  evolving  developments  in  Commission  policies  affecting  RTD. 

Focusing  and  Concentration  is  also  reflected  in  the  contribution  of  MAST-III  to  the 
Commission's  proposal  adapting  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  and  MAST-III  will 
make  significant  inputs  to  the  Task  Force  on  Maritime  Systems  of  the  Future. 

1996 will  also  see preparatory  work  for  the future  of marine  science research  within  the 
Fifth  Framework  Programme. 

LIFE  SCIENCES  AND  TECHNOLOGIES 

41 

8.  BIOTECHNOLOGY 

Activities  in  1995 

S &T  achievements 

1.  Biotechnology  (1992  -  1994) 

The  programme  had  a  budget  of  ECU  186 million,  of  which  ECU  158.11  million  were 
contributed  to  support  133 transnational  research  projects  in  total.  These  projects  had  a 
more  fundamental  and  strategic  orientation  and  were  partly  prompted  by  industry.  The 
overall  industrial  penetration,  i.e.  the  number  of  projects  having  at  least  one  industrial 
partner,  was  25%), however  this  percentage  was  significantly  different  according" to  the 
research  nature  of  the  areas  of  the  programme.  In  addition,  the  Commission  facilitated 
the development of seven industrial platforms  as an additional mechanism of coordination 
and  communication  between  the  contractors  and  the  potential  users. 

During  the  year  1995,  1651  publications  were  produced  from  the  133  projects  and  6 
patents  were  generated  and  filed.  In  this  programme,  22.5%  of  these  were  joint 
publications  indicating  the  intensity  of  the  cooperation  between  the  participating 
laboratories. 

The  results  from  these  publications  contributed  to: 

* 

the  completion  of  the  sequencing  of the  entire  yeast  genome;  (world  first) 

* 

* 

the  assurance  of  safety  when  using  living  cells  in  the  production  process;  (several 
publications  in  scientific  journals  as well  as  in  layman  brochures) 

the contribution  to  agriculture  (transgenic plants, biopesticides),  medicine  (vaccines) 
and  environmental  protection  (microbial  ecology) 

* 

the  opportunities  for  bio-industries  (lactic  acid  bacteria,  extremophiles) 

2.  Biotechnology  (1994  -  1998) 

The  first  call  for  proposals  was  launched  on  17 January  1995  and  most  of the  contracts 
were  concluded  by-the  end  of  1995.  This  first  call  attracted  315 transnational  proposals 
of  which  60  were  accepted  for  financial  support.  The  industrial  penetration  was  at  the 
level  of  56.67  %.  The  increase  in  industrial  penetration  shows  that  the  Biotechnology 
programme  is moving  in the right direction  of reinforcing  the science base for  improving 
industrial  competitiveness  at  international  level. 

With their statutory  transnational  dimension and the involvement of industry, the  projects 
supported  by  the  Biotechnology  programme  are  ideally  placed  not  only  to  mobilize  the 
research potential  in the countries  involved but also to strengthen the links between  basic 
research  and  applied  research,  which 
is  one  of  the  characteristics  of  modern 
biotechnology. 

42 

This programme has been selective in choosing three approaches, each one with a  specific 
goal  and  restricted  to  identified  scientific  areas. 

For  the  highest  potential  returns  on  R&D  in  the  medium  term,  four  scientific  areas 
benefited  from  concentration  means. 

For  an  effective  coordination  and  building  upon  national  research  programmes,  four 
scientific  areas  benefited  from  concertation  efforts. 

For  an  effective  linking  of  academic  institutions,  research  laboratories  and  industry 
(particularly  SMEs), four  horizontal  activities complement the programme mainly on 
issues  related  to  public  understanding. 

3. 

Interprogramme  Coordination 

The nature of the two last specific programmes on Biotechnology emphasizes the fact that 
this  domain  is both  crucially  dependent  on basic  science and  on new  applications  at  the 
crossroads  of  biological  disciplines,  industrial  developments,  health  and  environmental 
promotion,  and  social  expectations.  Programmes  such  as  Biomedicine  and  health,  and 
Agriculture  and  fisheries  aim to promote  the  streamlining  of biotechnology  applications 
within their respective  sectoral activities linked to the provision of products  and services. 
Based  on  the  nature  of  the  topics  of  the  first  call  and  on  the  selected  projects,  an 
interprogramme  coordination  has  been  developed  between  the  specific  programme  on 
Biotechnology  and  the  specific  programmes  of Biomedicine  and health,  Agriculture  and 
fisheries.  Contacts  have  also been established  with the programmes  on Environment  and 
climate,  Dissemination  and  exploitation  of  results  and  Stimulation  of  the  training  and 
mobility  of  researchers. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

Two  calls  for  proposals  of the  specific  programme  on Biotechnology  (1994  -  1998) will 
have their closing  dates  in  1996. The  second call  which was launched  on  15  September 
1995 had  its closing  date on  10 January  1996. The third call will be launched  on  15 June 
1996 having its closing date on  18 October  1996. It is expected that before  the end of the 
year  all  contracts  related  to  the  second  call  will  be  negotiated  and  concluded. 

9.  BIOMEDICINE  AND  HEALTH 

Activities  in  1995 -

S&T  achievements 

Third  Framework  Programme:  the  400  research  projects  presently  ongoing  were 
monitored  by  the  project  review  board  which  evaluated  the  yearly  reports  presented  by 
each  project  coordinator.  The  general  conclusion  of  the  review  board  was  that  the 
programme  was  progressing  very  well. 

Fourth  Framework  Programme:  1709 research  proposals  were  submitted  by  the  end  of 
March  1995  following  the  first  BIOMED  2  call  launched  in  December  1994.  The 

43 

evaluation  of  these  proposals  was  performed  in  May  1995  by  some  400  independent 
evaluators. 307 projects have been selected, coming up to a budget of  153,7 MECU.  The 
negotiation of contracts took place at the end of  1995 in order to start all projects  as early 
as possible  in  1996. 

The  Task  Force  on  Vaccines  and  Viral  Diseases  has  been  set  up  in  order  to  improve 
European  and  global  welfare,  by  taking  full  account  of  the  opportunities  arising  from 
scientific  advances and new technologies.  Vaccination is widely recognized  as one of the 
most  efficient  tools  of  public  health  policy  showing  evident  cost-benefit  advantages  for 
all  the target  populations  involved.  Prevention  through vaccination  makes  it possible  to 
avoid  the  illness. 

Examples  of  results 
In the field of bioengineering,  a concerted  action led by Prof. F. Grandori  from  Milan  (I) 
has brought together the majority  of the active centres in Europe. The discovery of active 
mechanisms  in the  internal  structure  of the ear is currently  producing  a revolution  in the 
theory  of  hearing  and  in practical  management  of hearing  assessment. 

New  approaches  in  cancer  therapy  are  being  funded  under  BIOMED  2.  Some  of  these 
techniques  are  based  on  stimulation  of the  anti-tumour  directed  immune  response.  New 
techniques for  antibody selection allow the rapid  development of very specific  antibodies 
with the ability to identify  particular cell types. Specific  cytotoxic agents or genes can be 
coupled to these antibodies and thus tumours can be directly targeted by these antibodies, 
thereby  inducing  tumour  regression  in vivo. 

EUROGEM, the European Gene Mapping Project, includes 23 laboratories.  This network 
enabled European researchers from all Member States, in particular those without national 
programmes, to organize human genome research at European level and to come up with 
a  European  Genetic  Map  based  on  the  CEPH  reference  families.  At  the  international 
scale  the  work  on  chromosomes  11 and  21  was particularly  successful. 

From  a broader  health  perspective  a meeting was held  in  1995 under the  auspices  of  the 
Biomed  programme  in  Delft  (NL)  on  "Individual  responsibility  for  health;  moral  issues 
regarding  life  style  and  a just  distribution  of medical  resources", gathering  experts  from 
different  Member  States  in the  fields  of public  health,  sociology  and  ethics. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

Two  calls  for  research  proposals  will  be  launched  in  1996. One  call  to  be published  on 
15 March  will  cover  the  following  areas: 

1. 
2. 
3. 
4.2 
5. 

Pharmaceuticals  research 
Biomedical  technology  and  engineering 
Brain  research 
Research  on  AIDS, tuberculosis  and  other  infectious  diseases 
Human  genome  analysis. 

The deadline  to  submit  proposals  will be  17 June  1996; the evaluation  will take  place  in 
September. 

The  other  call  to  be  published  on  17 September  1996  will  cover  the  remaining  areas: 

44 

4.1 
4.3 
4.4 
4.5 
4.6 
6 
7 
8.1 

Cancer  research 
Cardiovascular  diseases 
Research  on  chronic  diseases,  ageing  and  age-related  diseases 
Research  on  occupational  and  environmental  health 
Rare  diseases 
Public  health  research,  including  health  services  research 
Research  on  biomedical  ethics 
Ethical,  legal  and  social  aspects. 

The  deadline  will  be  17 December  1996. 

Action has been taken to increase industrial involvement in the programme, especially the 
participation  of  SMEs  through  technology  stimulation  measures.  As  of  March  1996, 47 
proposals  for  exploratory  awards  had  been  submitted  and three  evaluation  sessions  were 
organized, which resulted  in 21 proposals being selected for  funding.  Fifteen  of these  fall 
within  the  scope  of  area  2,  one  in  area  3  and  five  in  area  4.  Regular  meetings  are 
organized  with the BIOMED  SME Focal  Points nominated  by the Member  States to plan 
activities aiming at stimulating the interest of SMEs in the European R&TD  programmes 
and  also  to  encourage  a better  understanding  of their  needs. 

10.  AGRICULTURE  AND  FISHERIES 

(including  agro-industry, 

food 

technologies,  forestry,  aquaculture  and  rural  development) 

Activities  in  1995 

S &T  Achievements 

Projects  within  the  FAIR,  ECLAIR,  FAR,  CAMAR  and  FOREST  programmes  were 
coming  to a close  in  1995, whereas  within the AIR programme,  co-managed  by  DG VI, 
XII  and  XIV,  a  total  of  407  projects  are  now  under  way,  many  now  reaching  their 
midway  point. 

The  FAIR programme  adopted  in November  1994 launched  its first call  for  proposals  on 
15 December  1994, closing  on  15 March  1995, and  937 proposals  for  RTD  actions  were 
submitted to areas  1, 3.1, 3.2., 4, 5 and 6.  In  1995, forty-two  of those proposals were the 
subject  of  contracts  by  DG  VI,  forty-six  by  DG  XII  and 
twenty  four  by  DG  XIV. 
Following  the  second  call  for  proposals  which  closed  on  15  September  1995,  233 
proposals for RTD actions were submitted to areas 2, 3.3 and 3.4.  An evaluation  decision 
for  these proposals  is  due  in early  1996.  The programme  is running  on the basis  of two 
calls per year.  Within the continuously  open call  for technology  stimulation  measures in 
favour  of  SMEs,  95  proposals  for  exploratory  awards  and  5 proposals  for  cooperative 
projects  were  submitted  in  1995.  Thirty  five  of  those  proposals  were  the  subject  of  an 
Evaluation Decision  in  1995 which led to 7 exploratory award contracts and 2 cooperative 
project  contracts.  An  evaluation  decision  for  60  proposals  submitted  in  1995  is  due  in 
early  1996  and  the  success  rate  is  expected  to  be  significantly  higher  than  in  1995. 
Nineteen  research  training  grants  were  also  awarded. 

45 

Responding  to  the  need  for  an  extensive  and  as  direct  as  possible  dissemination  of 
research  results  in  the  field  of  forestry  and  forest  products  accomplished  within  the 
framework  of the FOREST and AIR programmes, DG XII E.2 sponsored an international 
conference  on  "Progress  in  Forest  Products  Research"  in  Gôttingen,  Germany  from  19 
to 22 September  1995.  Significant  breakthroughs  were reported  in four  specific  areas of 
forestry/forest  products  research,  namely  the  link  between  silvicultural  strategies  and 
wood  quality,  progress  in timber processing  products  and  quality,  new technologies  and 
products for wood composites and finally, wood preservation in an environmental context. 

In  the  non-food  sector,  the  pursuit  of  new  industrial  outlets  for  the  abundant  biological 
resources  available  in the EU was extensively  addressed  in  1995.  Diversification  for  the 
farming  community,  and  an  increasing  demand  by  governments,  industry,  and  the 
consumer  for  renewable  raw  materials  and  environment-friendly  products  are  all  factors 
which  have  driven  the  research  interests  in this  area. 

The  main  emphasis  has  been  upon  adapting  and  processing  the  biological  raw  materials 
available,  such  as  oils, sugars, ,fibres,  and  secondary  metabolites,  from  new and  existing 
crops  and  agro-industrial  waste,  and  their  utilization  as  bulk  or  fine  commodities  for 
industrial  usage as a renewable  energy  source, or as a chemical  feedstock.  Both of these 
end-uses involve an extensive and diverse range of end products and processes.  Five new 
oil  crops,  and  over  twelve  new  fibre,  sugar,  and  pharmaceutical  crops  have  been 
investigated  and  evaluated  as  potential  new  sources  for  raw  materials.  Genetic 
manipulation  of  the  existing  and  new  crops  has  also  been  investigated  with  a  view  to 
increasing  the  raw  material  yield  and  performance.  Almost  every  source  of  agro-
industrial  waste from  the food  industry and farm practices are being processed  to produce 
a  wide  range  of  higher  added  value  components.  High  industrial  involvement  in 
improving  the  harvesting,  extraction,  processing,  and  market  applications  of  the  raw 
materials  has  dramatically  increased  and  is  resulting  in  a  wide  range  of  products  now 
coming  on-stream. 

New food  technologies  are being developed by strong European partnerships  of industry, 
research  and  academia  in  fields  such  as  high  pressure  food  processing,  new  dairy 
technologies,  microwave and thermal processing technologies.  A new  three-dimensional 
X-Ray  inspection  system  for  detection  of  minute  metal  and  glass  fragments  in  food 
products  will  be  developed,  unique  to  Europe.  A  project  concentrating  on  Southern 
European  dry  cured  ham  production  will  improve  the  production  technology  but  also 
involve  significant  transfer  of  technology  between  the  partners  from  different  Member 
States.  Much of the research on food  concentrates, on food  nutrition and the role of  food 
in  disease  prevention,  and  new  functional  foods  or  ingredients  will  result,  eg. 
oligosaccharides,  dietary  fibres,  etc.  The  FLAIR-FLOW  action  (co-funded  by  DG  XII 
and  XIII)  is  successfully  disseminating  food  and  fish  processing  research  results  each 
month  in  17 countries  and  organised  24  specialised  workshops  in  1995. 

The  industrial  participation  in selected  proposals  in FAIR  within the agro-industrial  area 
is  quite  encouraging  with  a  participation  rate  of  26%  to  36%  in  selected  projects,  and 
almost  equal  balance  between  SMEs  and  large  company  participation. 

Support  to  the  Common  Agricultural  Policy  :  The  research  tasks  detailed  in  the  FAIR 
programme  in  the  field  of  agriculture,  forestry  and  rural  development  have  helped  to 
target the RTD  submissions  of the very  large number of scientists wishing to participate. 
The best  submissions,  of high  scientific  and technical merit, have also responded  well  to 

the  needs  of  the  Common  Agricultural  Policy  and  rural  development. 

Agriculture,  forestry  and  rural  development  projects  evaluated  and  selected  in  1995  are 
well  directed  to  a  range  of  priorities  of  EU  importance  : 

46 

-  agro-environmental  preoccupations 
-  animal  health  and  welfare  problems 
-  plant  health  and  crop protection  issues 
-  forestry  matters 

There  are  fewer  projects  on  some  other  topics  which  are  as  vital  and  where  future 
submissions  are  expected  in  greater  numbers  : 

-  quality  policy  for  agricultural  products 
-  diversification,  especially  non-food 
-  rural  development  RTD 

At  the  same  time  as  major  new  projects  are being  launched  many  promising  results  are 
coming  from  the two  earlier  specific  RTD programmes,  the one on  "Competitiveness  of 
agriculture  and  management  of  agricultural  resources"  (1989-1993),  the  other  linking 
Agriculture,  Agro-Industry  and  Fisheries  (1990-1994).  These  results  are  attracting  the 
interest of a wide  spectrum  from  research to administration,  to advisory  services,  farmers 
and those  industries  ancillary to agriculture.  These results  are being widely  diffused  and 
efforts  made  to  encourage  their  utilization. 

Projects in agriculture, forestry and rural development have responded well to Community 
needs.  For example,  a concerted  action  involving  most  Member  States has succeeded  in 
producing  insects  for  use  in  biological  control  to  explore  ways  of  replacing  chemical 
pesticides.  Guidelines  have been  developed  to produce beneficial  insects  such as mites, 
flies  and wasps to  agreed  standards.  In animal  health, a complete  epidemiological  study 
was  carried  out  on  African  Horse  Sickness.  This  project,  a  model  of  cooperation  and 
technology  transfer,  has  been  the  key  for  eradication  of  the  outbreak  of  the  disease  in 
Spain.  New  diagnostic  assays that have been developed  are  now  in use  at the  European 
and  FAO  Reference  Centres  for  this  disease  and  available  for  world-wide  delivery.  In 
the  non-food  sector,  a  number  of  on-going  research  projects  aim  to  improve  utilization 
of primary  raw  material  to  increase  farm  income.  Of these  trials, some  deal  with  crops, 
to be adapted  to  a Mediterranean  climate, which might  be more  important  in  future.  An 
example  is the  work  on  Cynara  Cardunculus,  a perennial  herbaceous  species  which  can 
be used  in the paper pulp industry  and as solid fuel.  Other research concerns Quinoa and 
Lupin  for  processing  into high value-added  pharmaceutical  or chemical  products.  Some 
of the  species  being  examined  are  characterised  by  the  fact  that  they  require  low  levels 
of  inputs  and  are  therefore  more  environment-friendly.  Making  animal  production 
systems  more  environment-friendly  has  been  the  aim  of  a  project  with  pigs.  The  plan 
was to  reduce  the  amount  of  dietary  nitrogen  excreted  as  liquid  and  solid  wastes  and  as 
gaseous  ammonia.  The  results  included  a  model  to  calculate  nitrogen  excretion  from 
easily  available  farm  records,  feeding  systems  with  less  dietary  nitrogen  and  reductions 
in the  amounts  of  slurry  from  pig  production  and  its  polluting  potential. 

Support  to  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy  (CFP):  several  projects  funded  within  the  first 
call  for  proposals  have  relevance  for  the  implementation  of  the  CFP,  especially  those 
concerning  the  socio-economic  aspects of the  fishing  industry.  In particular,  the  project 
"Foreign trade and  seafood  prices: implications  for the CFP" is expected  to be especially 
relevant  for  the  market  issues, whereas  Concerted  Action  "A  social  science  network  for 

47 

fisheries  management"  constitute  a  first  step  in the  inclusion  of  social  aspects  related  to 
fisheries  through  a multinational  approach. 

Moreover,  some  of  the  environmental  projects  selected  under  subarea  5.1  and  5.2  are 
likely to elucidate mid-term problems (recruitment estimates, predator-prey  relationships, 
etc.)  presently  affecting  the  implementation  of  the  conservation  policy.  Finally,  the 
project  "Assessment and reduction of the by-catch of small cetaceans" constitutes a highly 
sensitive subject  from  a political point of view regarding the impact that this problem  has 
on public  opinion. 

In aquaculture, all the proposals  selected  for  funding  will contribute  greatly  to the  viable 
development  of the European  Aquaculture Industry, which is another of the objectives  of 
the  CFP.  A  particular  project,  "Common  dented,  a  prime  new  species  for  aquaculture. 
Development  of  methods  for  reliable  egg production",  will  have  an  important  economic 
impact  since  it  will  contribute  to  the  diversification  in  the  production  of  Mediterranean 
fish  farms  helping  them  to  keep  their  economic  viability,  which  is  affected  by  market 
problems. 

There  is  a  need  to  control  diseases  and  to  reduce  their  negative  impacts  which  are, 
economically  and  environmentally,  very  relevant  in  aquaculture.  The  research  project 
"Molecular  basis  of fish immunity  for  disease resistance" aims to study, at the  molecular 
level,  the  mechanisms  of  trout  defence  against  pathogens  by  assembling  molecular 
geneticists, immunologists and virologists.  The project also intends to create an industrial 
platform  on  fish  genetics  and  diseases. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

In  1996,  an  evaluation  of  the  Agriculture  and  Agro-Industry  (including  Fisheries) 
programme  (1991-1994)  will  be  carried  out  according  to  Council  Decision  91/504/EEC. 
A significant  number  of projects  funded  by this programme  will come to an end  in  1996. 
An  evaluation  of  the  impact  of  Agro-Industrial  projects  on  the  competitiveness  of  the 
Agro-Industrial  sector  will  be  initiated. 

Contract  negotiations  for  selected  projects  following  the  second  call  will  take  place 
between  March  and  June  1996.  794  proposals  have  been  submitted  in  response  to  the 
third  call  for  proposals  (areas  1, 4,  5 and  6) of the  Agriculture  and  fisheries  programme 
that closed  in March  1996.  They will be evaluated by scientific  experts in April and May 
and  a  Commission  Evaluation  Decision  is  expected  for  September  1996.  Contract 
negotiations  will take place between  September and November  1996.  The fourth  call  for 
proposals  (areas  2  and  3  open)  will  close  in  mid-September  and  approximately  300 
proposals are expected.  They will be evaluated  in October and a Commission  Evaluation 
Decision  is  expected  for  mid-December  1996.  Contract  negotiations  will  take  place  in 
1997.  In  the  context  of  the  open  call  for  technology  stimulation  measures  in  favour  of 
SMEs, three  evaluations  of proposals  are expected  in  1996.  Considering  the  importance 
attached  to the  participation  of  SMEs to commit  RTD  programmes  and  to  innovation  in 
the Agro-Industrial  sectors, efforts  will  be made to increase the participation  of  SMEs to 
technology  stimulation  measures,  particularly  in  areas  4  and  5.  To  this  end,  awareness 
campaigns  will  be  initiated  in  collaboration  with  the  programme  committee  and  the 
members  of  the  CRAFT  Network  of  Focal  Points. 

Following  the  recommendations  of the  annual  monitoring  report  for  1995,  a revision  of 
the  work  programme  is under  way. 

48 

11. 

NON-NUCLEAR  ENERGY 

ENERGY 

Thermie  (Demonstration) 

Activities  in  1995 

1995 was the first year  in which  energy technology  demonstration  activities  were  carried 
out  within  the  RTD  Framework  Programme.  Previously  they  had  formed  part  of  the 
THERMIE  programme  for  the promotion  of innovative  energy  technology  (1990-1994). 

The  transition  to  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  structures  and  procedures  was  a 
major  challenge  to  the  Commission  staff  responsible.  As  a  result  of  delays,  no  new 
contracts  could  be  signed  in  1995, but  contracts  were  signed  in the  first  quarter  of  1996 
for: 

147  projects  in  the  areas  of  Rational  Use  of  Energy,  Renewable  Energy 
Sources  and  Fossil  Fuels  for  total  Community  support  of  111  MÉCU. 

250  actions  to  disseminate  new technologies, to encourage  the  involvement 
of  SMEs  and  to  work  towards  a  global  energy  RTD  strategy  were  also 
selected,  representing  Community  support  of  28  MECU. 

The  structure  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  led to new and  fruitful  collaboration 
between  THERMIE  and  JOULE  (R&D  phase  of  the  Non-nuclear  energy  specific 
programme).  Although  the  management  of  the  two  programmes  remained  separate, 
several  initiatives  were  undertaken jointly,  including  the  strategy  initiatives. 

With  the  end  of  the  THERMIE  programme  (1990-1994)  came  the  end  of  the  OPET 
network  (Organisation  for  the  Promotion  of  Energy  Technology).  Therefore  new 
collaboration  was  established  with  the  Innovation  programme,  under  which  a  call  for 
proposals  for  a new  OPET  network  was  launched. 

THERMIE  is also collaborating  with other programmes  of the Framework  Programme  in 
the  context  of  the  Task  Forces.  It  is  active  in the  Car  of  Tomorrow  Task  Force. 

THERMIE's  close  and  constructive  relationship  with 
industrial  actors,  its  main 
participants,  continued,  although  it  should  be  noted  that  the  requirement  for  all  projects 
to  include  participants  from  more  than  one  Member  State  appears  to  have  been  a 
handicap  for  SME's. Their  share  in THERMIE,  earlier  in the  order of 60%, has  fallen  in 
some  sectors,  notably  renewables. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

The  priority  for  1996  will  be  to  avoid  the  transitional  delays  experienced  in  1995  to 

49 

ensure  that  contracts  following  the  September  1995  call  for  proposals  are-signed 
promptly. 

The third call for proposals under the new programme will take place in September  1996. 

New  integrated  targeted  projects  will  be  launched  as a result  of the  call  for  proposals  in 
the  Rational  Use  of  Energy  (buildings  and  transport)  sectors.  Further,  several  strategy 
studies  are  being  launched  in  order  to  work  towards  a  comprehensive  and  relevant 
framework  for  RTD  actions  at the  Community  level, taking  into  account  Member  State 
and third country  activity. As far  as demonstration  is concerned, market actors, including 
industry,  from  all Member  States are participating  in order to develop a strategy  for  each 
non-nuclear  energy  sector. 

As  well  as  collaboration  with  JOULE,  Innovation  and  other  specific  programmes, 
collaboration  with  the  INCO  programme  will  be  intensified.  There  will  be  a  call  for 
proposals  under 
include  non-nuclear  energy 
demonstration  and  associated  measures. 

the  INCO  programme  which  will 

Activities  in  1995 

JOULE  (research) 

1. 

1995 was characterized  above all by the evaluation of proposals received  following 
the  call  of  15  December  1994.  The  first  call  registered  a  total  of  938  RTD 
proposals.  These  were  evaluated  in  1995  and  a  priority  list  of  181  proposals 
selected  for  funding.  These proposals  resulted  in  173 contracts, of which  155 were 
concluded  in  1995  and  the  remaining  18 in  1996. 

The  first  exploratory  awards  for  SMEs  were  granted  and  a  study  launched  to 
identify  the  potential  for  SME  participation  in the  JOULE  programme. 

A  call  for  expressions  of  interest  was published  on  15 June  1995 (95/C  148/16) in 
order to establish  a list of experts to assist with the accompanying  measures  of the 
programme. 

The  most  significant  activities  in  1995  in  each  of the  four  programme  areas  were 
as  follows: 

•  RTD  strategy: 

Research  effort  concentrated  primarily  on : 
- 

- 
- 
- 

the  first  applications  of  the  new  generation  of  Energy-Economy-Environment 
models  developed  under  the  JOULE  II  programme; 
the  links  between  technological  innovation  (energy-linked)  and  employment; 
the  environmental  costs  of  energy  technologies; 
the  establishment  of  methods  for  the  definition  of  a  Community  RTD  strategy 
taking  account  of  possible  synergies  with  national  programmes  and  other 
Community  policies. 

An  international  workshop  was  organized jointly  with  the  OECD  and  the  IE A  on 
the  subject  of  energy  externalities.  This  workshop  and  the  related  publications 
presented  advances  in  Community  research  in this  area. 

50 

•  Fossil  fuels: 

The  new  contracts  funded  are  heavily  oriented  towards  environmental  protection 
and  short-term  industrial  applications.  As  a  corollary,  security  of  supply  has 
attracted  less  attention. 

An  expanding  area  is the  use  of  new types  of  solid  fuels  neutral  in  impact  on  the 
natural  C02  cycle  in  order  to  reduce  C02  and  methane  emissions.  This  involves 
combined  combustion  of  coal  and  biomass/organic  wastes,  which  was  the  subject 
of  the  final  report  of  the  APAS  "Clean  Coal  Technology"  (1992-1994)  report 
published  in  1995. This  project  confirmed  not  only  the  technical  feasibility" of  the 
process,  but  also  its  economic  and  ecological  benefits,  so  justifying  the  new 
JOULE-THERMIE  projects  launched  in  1995. 

in  the  "new  fuels"  area  concern  more  specifically  a  better 
The  projects 
understanding  of the relationship between fuel  composition  and harmful  emissions, 
the  use  of  natural  gas  and  clean  combustion  of  heavy  fuel  oils. 

The  new  projects  in  the  "hydrocarbons"  area  concern  techniques  for  improved 
exploitation  of  oil reservoirs,  including  decision-making  processes, risk  evaluation 
and  environmentally  beneficial  procedures. 

•  Optimization  of  energy  systems: 

The  projects  selected  at  the  first  call  for  proposals  mainly  concern  minimizing 
energy  use  and  facilitating  the  use  of  renewable  energy  sources.  The  most 
significant  work  includes: 
-  CFC-free  heat  pumps  using  solar  energy; 
- 
- 

the  development  of low-temperature  fuel  cells  for  stationary  and/or  mobile  use; 
the  definition  of  criteria  for  the  development  and testing  of battery  systems  for 
the  motor  industry; 

-  energy-environment-transport  modelling to produce scenarios of future  transport 

demand. 

•  Renewable  energy: 

The  efficiency  of  windpower  is  constantly  improving  with  the  development  by 
European  industry  of  a range  of  innovatory  plant  in terms  both  of  the  technology 
and  its  size  (1.5  MW),  resulting  in the  creation  of  about  30  000 jobs  over  the  last 
3-4  years. 

In  the  photo voltaics  sector,  support  to  European  industry  to  reduce  the  cost  of 
mono-  and  polycristalline  cells  has  continued.  Research  in  the  bioclimatic 
architecture  sector  has  made  enormous  strides  with  the  development  of  intelligent 
windows,  and  in  particular  the  completion  of the  multifunctional  facade  (30  KW) 
of  the  Matarô  library.  In  addition,  the  development  plan  for  the  historic  centre  of 
Regensburg  and  the  reconstruction  of  Potsdamer  Platz  in  Berlin  have  provided  an 

opportunity  to  integrate  solar  technologies  in  urban  planning. 

The APAS  activities  in the renewables  area  were  launched  in  1995 and the  results 
should  become  available  before  the  end  of  1996.  Measures  to  accelerate  the 
integration  of renewable  energy  sources in society  were implemented  and the  non 
technical  aspects  of  integration  are under  study. 

51 

Work  programme  for  1996 

The  principal  research  effort  in  1996  will  concentrate  on: 

funding  of  the  remaining  18 projects  from  the  priority  list  selected  in  1995, 
preparation  of  the  launch  of  the  second  call  for  proposals  in  September  1996, 
implementation  of  a renewable  energy  action  plan  in three  parts: 
1/  funding  of  additional  projects  on the  reserve  list, 
2/  launch  of  an  additional  call  for  proposals  concentrating  on three  priority  areas, 
3/  a decentralized  information  campaign  in the  Member  States. 

Coordination  of Community and national RTD policies will be stepped up through a joint 
Commission/Member  State exercise focusing  on two priority  themes: solar  photovoltaics 
and  clean  coal  technologies. 

There  will  be  a  drive  in  1996  to  enhance  the  exploitation  of  100  projects  carried  out 
under  JOULE  II.  The  results  of  this  exercise  will  help  to  improve  programme 
management  and  utilization  of  the  results  of the  individual  projects. 

Directorate  F  is  responsible  for  the  Task  Force  The car  of  tomorrow,  created  in  March 
1995  at  the  initiative  of  Commissioners  Edith  Cresson,  Martin  Bangemann  and  Neil 
Kinnock. 

Its  objective  is  to  contribute  to  the  R&D  effort  needed  for  the  development  of  a 
competitive  vehicle  that  is  clean,  safe,  efficient  and  intelligent. 

The  Task  Force's  mandate,  adopted  on  1 June  1995, sets  two  priorities: 

to  take  stock  of  the  current  situation  in  the  European  Union  and  identify  existing 
activities; 

to  define  the  research  priorities  and  technological  objectives  and  propose  a 
regrouping  of  the  projects  selected  under  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme. 

An action plan has been drawn  up on the basis of the terms  of reference  and  information 
gathered through consultation with representatives of public and private user organizations 
and  vehicle  manufacturers. 

One of the Task Force's activities is to improve coordination  of the overall  RTD&D work 
conducted by the Commission  and within the national and industry research programmes. 
The JOULE III programme makes a significant  contribution to the RTD work of the Task 
Force. Work  in the area of hybrid  and electric vehicles included  extension  of battery  life, 
definition  of  performance  and  characteristics  of  available  traction  batteries. 

52 

12.  SAFETY  OF  NUCLEAR  FISSION 

Achievements  in  1995 

Most  research  contracts  relating  to  the  safety  of  nuclear  fission  from  the  Third 
Framework  Programme  have been completed  and the results published.  This  particularly 
concerns  the  following  areas:  reactor  safety,  management  and  storage  of  radioactive 
waste, decommissioning  of nuclear  installations, TELEMAN  and radiation protection.  In 
addition,  various  conferences  were  organized  in  order  to  present  the  results  obtained  in 
these  areas  to  a  wider  audience. 

The  new  programme  focuses  on  innovation  and  the  definition  of  priorities  while  at  the 
same time maintaining continuity. New orientations have been added, such as new reactor 
designs  and  the  consequences  of the  Chernobyl  accident.  The  research  topics  relating  to 
the  latter  are  those  initially  figuring  in  the  APAS-COSU  programme,  extended  to  take 
account  of  other  contaminated  sites. 

launched 

in  January  1995  with 

two  closing  dates: 
A  call  for  proposals  was 
20  March  1995  and  28  February  1996.  At  the  first  closing  date,  253  proposals  for 
research  and  training  activities  had  been  submitted,  involving  1  360  partners  with  an 
average of 5-6 partners per proposal. The evaluation led to the selection of  109 proposals, 
including  102 research  and training  projects  and  7 proposals  for  concerted  action.  3/4  of 
the contracts were concluded  by trie end of the year. The remainder  will be signed  in the 
first  half  of  1996. 

In December  1995, a modified  call  for  proposals  was published  in  light  of the  results  of 
the  evaluation  of the  first  call. As  a result, proposals  may  continue  to be  submitted  until 
28  February  1996  in  all  the  research  areas  involving  shared-cost  actions,  with  the 
exception  of area A  "Exploring  innovative approaches", which was fully  covered  by the 
proposals  received  and  selected  in response  to the  first  call.  In addition,  certain  themes 
have  been  given  priority  at  the  expense  of  research  areas  covered  by  the  proposals 
received  and  selected  following  the  first  call. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

By  the  close  of  the  second  call  on  28  February  1996,  148 proposals  had  been  received 
involving  780  partners.  Evaluation  of  these  proposals  is  scheduled  in  March  and  April 
and  selection  in  July.  Contracts  will  be  ready  for  signature  by  the  end  of  the  year. 

The  call  for  proposals  for  concerted  actions  is to  remain  open  until  1 November  1997. 

Two major  conferences  will be held during the first quarter of  1996, one in Minsk on the 
radiological  consequences  of  the  Chernobyl  accident,  the  other  in  Luxembourg  on  the 
results  of  the programme  Management  and storage  of radioactive  waste  (1990-1994). 

Working  groups  covering  several  research  projects  in  a  given  area  will  be  set  up  and 
meetings  held  in  the  second  half  of  the year to  exchange  information  on  progress. 

53 

13.  CONTROLLED  THERMONUCLEAR  FUSION 

Long-term  objective  and strategy  of  the  programme 

The  long-term  objective  of  the  fusion  programme  is  "the  joint  creation  of  safe, 
environmentally sound prototype reactors"26. Safety and environment issues will be central 
to  the  construction  of  the  large  devices  which,  after  JET  (Joint  European  Torus),  are 
included  in the  strategy  leading  to  the prototype  commercial  reactor: 

an  experimental  reactor  ("Next  Step"),  the  overall  objective  of  which  is  to 
demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility  of fusion  energy for  peaceful 
purposes.  The  engineering  design  activities  (EDA)  of  the  Next  Step  reactor,  a 
tokamak  named  ITER  ("International  Thermonuclear  Experimental  Reactor"),  are 
conducted  in  the  framework  of  the  quadripartite  cooperation  agreement  between 
Euratom,  Japan,  Russia  and  the  United  States; 
a  demonstration  reactor  (DEMO),  capable  of  producing  significant  quantities  of 
electricity. 

In parallel  with the  "Next Step" activities, the programme decision provides  for  activities 
on  concept  improvement  and  long-term  technology. 

Implementation 

Unlike  the  other  R&D  programmes  of  the  European  Union,  there  are  no  calls  for 
proposals  and  the programme  decision  does not provide  for  the  establishment  of a work 
programme by the Commission. This is due to the nature of the programme, which covers 
all  the  activities  by  Member  States  (plus  Switzerland)  in  the  area  of  controlled 
thermonuclear  fusion  by  magnetic  confinement,  and  its  very  long-term  objective  (over 
several  decades), which implies continuity  of R&D activities over successive  framework 
programmes. 

The  projects  are  the  subject  of  shared-cost  research  and  technological  development 
contracts  in  the  framework  of  contracts  of  Association  with  Member  States  (plus 
Switzerland)  or organizations  in the Member  States, the JET Joint Undertaking, the NET 
Agreement,  which  takes  account  of  Euratom  participation  in  ITER-EDA,  and  other 
contracts of limited duration, in particular with organizations in the Member  States which 
do not  have  Associations.  Community  financial  participation  in the running  expenditure 
of  the  Associations  and  contracts  of  limited  duration  is  normally  at  a  uniform  rate  of 
about  25%. After  consulting  the  CCFP,27  the  Commission  may  finance  the  investment 
costs  of  priority  projects  at  a  uniform  rate  of  about  45% and  certain  tasks  (which  can 
only  be  carried  out  by  industry)  at  a rate  of up to  100%. 

26  Council  Decision  adopting a specific  programme of research and training in the field  of controlled 

thermonuclear  fusion  (OJ L 331, 21.12.1994). 

27  Consultative  Committee of the Fusion Programme. 

54 

Achievements  in  1995 

Next  Step  activities: 

R&D in plasma physics and engineering in support of ITER-EDA was carried out on JET 
and  the  specialized  devices  in  the  Associations.  Following  an  intensive  experimental 
phase, JET was  modified  in the  second  half  of  1995 to  install  a new type  of divertor.  In 
addition, the Commission  submitted to the Council a proposal  for  a Decision28  extending 
JET until the end of  1999 (adopted by the Council on 7 May  199629), the objective  being 
to  furnish  additional  data  for  ITER,  in  particular  ITER  EDA,  before  entering  the  final 
phase  of  denterium-tritium  operation.  In  July,  collaboration  on  fusion  between  the 
Commission  and  Canada,  particularly  regarding  Canada's  participation  in  the  Euratom 
contribution  to  ITER,  was  formalized.30  The  interim  report  on  the  ITER  engineering 
design  was  sent  in July to the four  ITER partners  for  evaluation: the  Research  Ministers 
generally  approved  the convergent  opinions  of the  CCFP and the CST31  at their  October 
meeting,  having  noted  that  good  progress  is  being  made  in  establishing  the  ITER 
engineering  design.  The  ITER  Council  approved  the  interim  report  in  December.  It 
considers  that  a Next  Step device  such as ITER  is a necessary  stage  in progress  towards 
fusion  power.  In  order both to make the Union more competitive  for  the  construction  of 
ITER and to maintain the possibility  of proceeding towards a European Next  Step should 
cooperation  on  ITER  prove  too  difficult,  the  Commission  launched  a  new  qualification 
procedure  in  December  for  European  firms/groups  of  firms  with  a  view  to  their 
participation  in  the  specific  15  technologies  of  the  Next  Step  (in  particular  the  ITER-
EDA). 

Concept  improvements: 

In the Associations, work on specialized devices has contributed to improving  knowledge 
of  the  physics  and  technologies  required  for  the  Next  Step.  Research  on  concept 
improvements  - for  the tokamaks and similar configurations  - is also being  continued  for 
the  definition,  in the  longer term,  of DEMO.  This research  should  also  help  finalize  the 
engineering  design  of  the Next  Step  and  prepare  its  operation.  New  plasma  diagnostic 
methods have been developed  in support of these studies.  The modernization  of existing 
tokamaks  has  been  launched  (ASDEX-Upgrade,  D, and  TORE-SUPRA,  F).  The  design 
of a large stellarator  (Wendelstein  7-X, D) has qualified  for priority  Community  funding. 
In  synergy  with  the  experimental  activities,  the  activities  in  theoretical  physics  have 
focused  on the  interpretation  of the experimental  results, the modelling  of  thermonuclear 
plasmas and the development  of innovative  concepts.  Negotiations  were  conducted  with 
Ireland,  Austria  and  Finland  with  a  view  to  including  their  fusion  activities  in  an 
Association  contract:  a contract  was  signed  in March with the Technology  Development 
Centre  of  Finland  (TEKES,  which  is  now  a  member  of  the  JET  Joint  Undertaking17). 
Sweden  has  had  an  Association  since  1976.  Negotiations  with  Ireland  and  Austria  are 
making  good  progress. 

28  COM(95)  234  final. 

29  OJ  L  117,  14.5.1996,  p.  9. 

30  OJ  L 211,  6.9.1995. 

31 

Scientific  and  Technical  Committee. 

55 

Long-term  technology: 

The  long-term  technology  effort  has  been  expanded  in  the  associated  laboratories  and 
industry,  and  concentrated  on  a restricted  choice  of  options  for  the  reactor  components. 
In particular,  the choice of materials has focused  on martensitic steels, and there are two 
options only for the tritium breeding blanket.  Euratom has participated  in the  framework 
of  an  IEA32  Implementing  Agreement  in  a  design  study  on  a  neutron  source  based  on 
deuteron  acceleration.  Finally, the evaluation  of the safety  and environmental  aspects of 
fusion  power  has  resulted  in  the  drafting  of  a  report  (SEAFP)33  at  the  request  of  the 
Council34  and  Parliament.  This  detailed  study  confirms  the  advantageous  properties  of 
fusion  power  from  the  point  of  view  of  safety  and  the  environment. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

Improvements to existing devices will be studied in the laboratories.  Work will begin on 
the  construction  of the  large  stellarator  Wendelstein  7-X to  be located  in  Greifswald,  D) 
and  of  a  tokamak  (MAST,  Culham,  GB),  which  has  recently  been  qualified  to  receive 
priority Community  funding.  Following the decision to extend JET until the end of  1999, 
divertor  tests  for  ITER  will  be  carried  out  on  JET;  towards  the  end  of  the  year,  study 
experiments  with  D-T  fusion  plasmas  are  planned. 

In  the  technology  sector,  the  use  of  martensitic  steels  as  structural  materials  will  be 
evaluated,  particularly  with  a  view  to  building  blanket  modules  for  DEMO,  which  will 
be  tested  in  ITER.  With  regard  to  the  neutron  source,  a  design  study  report  will  be 
produced  in the  course  of the year.  Finally,  certain  safety,  environmental  and  economic 
viability  aspects  of  the  fusion  reactor  will  be  considered. 

On the issues of choosing  a site for  ITER, authorizations  and the contribution  of the host 
party,  the  Commission  will  draw  up  technical  and  financial  framework  hypotheses  to 
facilitate  the  submission  of possible  applications  for  an ITER  site in Europe.  In keeping 
with  the  programme  decision,  the  Commission  will  carry  out  an  independent,  rigorous 
evaluation  of  fusion,  in  particular  with  regard  to  management  and  activities  of  the 
programme, the prospects for fusion  power (compared with other energy  sources) and the 
strategic options relating to the Next Step, international collaboration (in particular ITER), 
the  individual  parts  of  the  programme,  the  role  of  industry  and  the  other  approaches  to 
fusion.  This  assessment  should  provide  the  necessary  data  to  determine  the  objectives 
of  controlled  thermonuclear  fusion  for  the  next  Euratom  framework  programme. 

Activities  in  1995^ 

TRANSPORT 

In  the  Transport  programme,  the  first  call  for  proposals  closed  on  15  March.  333 
proposals, seeking  financial  support  of 489.6 MECU, were received.  109 proposals  (plus 
two  bids  for  SME  exploratory  awards)  were  accepted  for  funding,  with  a  Community 

32 

33 

International  Energy  Agency  of  the  Organization  for  Economic  Cooperation  and  Development  (Paris). 

Safety  and  Environmental  Assessment  of  Fusion  Power. 

34  OJ  L  115,  6.5.1994. 

contribution  of  117.18  MECU.  The  breakdown  of proposals  by  programme  sector  was 
as  follows  : 

56 

Sector 

Proposals 
received 

Proposals  to 
be funded 

Strategic 
Rail 
Integrated 
transport  chains 
Air 
Urban 
Waterborne 
Road 
SME  exploratory 
awards 

81 
18 

18 
45 
66 
71 
32 

2 

28 
9 

3 
20 
15 
21 
13 

Community 
contribution 
MECU 

17.315 
27.950 

5.000 
20.250 
12.700 
21.960 
11.920 

0.086 

The breakdown  of the demand  for  funds  approximately  matched the percentages  fixed  in 
the  Council  Decision  for  each  sector.  A  second  call  for  proposals  was  issued  on  15 
December  (with  a  closing  date  of  15 March  1996). 

Examples  of the type  of research  being  financed  as a result  of the first call  for  proposals 
are: 

Development  of  the  European  Rail  Traffic  Management  System  (ERTMS) 

Rail  traffic  is currently  characterised  by delays and  hindrances  at national  borders.  One 
of the main reasons for this is the different  and often  incompatible national signalling and 
management  systems.  There  are,  for  example,  currently  thirteen  different  cab  signalling 
systems  in  Europe.  The  research,  currently  being  carried  out  in  the  Transport  RTD 
Programme,  will  develop  a new common  Rail Traffic  Management  System  for  Europe -
the  European  Rail  Traffic  Management  System-  (ERTMS).  This will  ensure  that,  over 
time, the signalling  and management  systems throughout Europe become compatible  and 
that the European  railway  systems are fully  interoperable.  As a consequence,  delays due 
to incompatible  systems will be eliminated.  The reduction  in such delays and  associated 
costs  will  help  improve  the  attractiveness  of  rail  transport,  particularly  international 
transport,  and  contribute  to  increasing  the  competitiveness  of  rail  transport  in  an  open 
transport  market. 

Improved  Safety  of  Maritime  Transport 

Aircraft  have  for  a  long  time  been  equipped  with  a  black  box,  which  in  the  case  of  an 
accident  allows  investigators  to  quickly  analyse  the  causes  of  the  accident  and  take 
measures to prevent  a similar occurrence in other aircraft.  The research will, on.the  basis 
of  this  technology,  develop  a  similar  tool  for  the  maritime  sector,  thus  enhancing  the 
safety  of  maritime  traffic.  The  research  will  not  only  provide  the  set  of  basic  technical 
specifications  which obviously differ  considerably from  the black boxes traditionally used 
in aircraft,  but will  also  analyse the necessary  legal  and  institutional  framework  required 
for  successful  implementation.  Any  solution  will  be both  cost-effective  and "conform  to 
international  regulations.  The results of the research  will go a long way to helping  avoid 

similar catastrophes  to those recently  witnessed  and will allow the safety  of the  maritime 
sector  to  be  further  improved. 

57 

Strategic  research 

The  strategic  transport  research  will  provide  answers  to  key  questions  such  as  how 
policies,  including  for  example  pricing,  influence  mobility  and  modal  split,  the  impact 
that  the  Trans-European  Transport  Network  will  have  on  Europe,  both  in  terms  of  its 
impact  on  the  transport  system,  but  also  on  the  environment  and  the  general  quality  of 
life  of  the  European  citizen.  The  scenarios  to  be  developed  will  consider  the  future 
technological  prospects  of  the  transport  system,  the  changes  in  travel  and  distribution 
patterns due to changes in society and in industry and the effect  that any future  expansion 
of  the  European  Union  will  have  upon  the  transport  networks  of  the  EU.  The 
development  of  methodologies  which  will  lead  to  a  European  database  and  information 
system  will  allow  for  the first time  a comprehensive  strategic  overview  of the  European 
transport  system  as  a whole.  All  of these  tools  will  have  one  single  aim  - an  improved 
understanding  of the European transport system, allowing decisions affecting  transport  to 
be made  in  an  informed  manner  and  with  a full  awareness  of  their  impact. 

In December  1995 the three independent  experts who form the DG VII Monitoring  Panel 
presented  their  first  report  on  the  Transport  programme,  covering  the  period  January  -
December  1995.  Their  attention  was  focused  primarily  on  assessing  the  way  in  which 
the programme  had  been  implemented  and managed.  Their overall  impression  was of "a 
generally well-executed  programme, being run by highly professional  and dedicated  staff, 
with integrity and a growing awareness of the need for vision; but who are unable to take 
all the management  initiatives that they recognise to be needed because they are operating 
well  below  authorised  staffing 
levels."  The  Panel  made  eight  recommendations 
concerning  the  structure  of  any  future  programme,  evaluation  and  project  selection 
procedures,  staffing  levels,  and  more  flexibility  in  funding  arrangements. 

Research/industry  Task  Forces  "Trains  and  Railway  Systems  of  the  Future"  and 
"Transport  Intermodality"  were  established  under  the  presidency  of  Commissioner 
Kinnock.  The  Task  Forces  conducted  wide-ranging  consultations  with  transport  users, 
operators,  supply  industries  and trade  unions.  On 29  September  terms  of  reference  and 
action  plan  guidelines  for  both  Task  Forces  were  endorsed  at  high-level  meetings  with 
representatives  of  the  various  interests,  chaired  by  Mr  Kinnock.  Two  brochures  giving 
details  of  the  Task  Forces  were  published  in  November.  The  following  areas  of  work 
were  identified  as  being  important: 

Trains  and  Railway  Systems  of  the  Future 
- 
- 
-  a  European-wide  system  for  traffic  management  and  integrated  passenger/freight 

the  modular  high-speed  train; 
the  urban  rail  network  of  the  future; 

- 

logistics; 
the  "virtual  factory"  -  a  cooperative  network  for  railway  vehicle  and  assemblies 
production; 
the train  cargb-liner  - a contribution  to  integrated  freight  transport  chains; 

- 
-  accompanying  measures. 

58 

Transport  Intermodality 
intermodal  freight  terminal  2000  +; 
- 
intermodal  freight  network  2000  +; 
- 
transport  town  2000  +; 
- 
intermodal  traveller  2000  +; 
- 
-  passenger  interchange  2000  +; 
-  research  studies  and  support  activities. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

Work  on  the  proposals  accepted  under  the  first  call  will  be  carried  out; 
results  are  not  expected  before  1997. 

in  the  main, 

An information  day  concerning the second call, on 30 January, was attended  by over 600 
researchers.  Proposals  submitted  under  the  second  call,  for  which  a  Community 
contribution of some 48 MECU is foreseen,  will be evaluated and, subject to the approval 
of  the  Transport  Research  Committee,  contract  negotiations  for  successful  proposals 
should  be  complete  by  the  end  of  the  year.  A  third  call  is to  be  issued  in  December. 

The work  of the research/industry  Task  Forces, which have been brought  together  under 
one priority  theme  entitled  "Transport  Intermodality  and  Interoperability",  will  be  taken 
forward  to  the  extent  allowed  by  supplementary  funding  within  the  Fourth  Framework 
Programme. 

TARGETED  SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESEARCH  PROGRAMME 

Activities  in  1995 

1.  The TSER programme, which  was launched  in December  1994, explicitly  introduces 
the  socio-economic  dimension  in the  Framework  Programme  for  the  first  time.  The 
programme  aims  to  develop  new  knowledge  to  support  future  decision-making  by 
local,  national  or  Community  authorities  in the  following  three  areas: 

Area  I  Evaluation  of  science  and  technology  policy  options 
Area  II  Research  on  education  and  training 
Area  III  Research  into  social  integration  and  social  exclusion  in  Europe. 

Following  a  first  call  for  proposals  in  March  1995,  548 proposals  were  received  of 
which  38  were  selected  for  funding  of  «  20  MECU,  »  12 MECU  of  which  was 
committed  in  1995.  Over  the  next  two  or three  years, these  proposals  will  examine 
problems  such  as: 

-  research and  innovation  systems in Europe; technology  and employment  (including 
knowledge-intensive  services);  methods  to  design,  pilot  and  assess  S&T  policies, 
restructuring  of  S&T  and  cooperation  with  third  countries  (area I); 

-  best practice  in pre-school  education,  new  learning  techniques  and  the role  of  new 
technologies, assessment of the institutional efficiency  of universities, education and 
training  for  work  (area  II); 

-  the  description  and  analysis  of  exclusion  situations  and  best  practice  to  remedy 

them  (area  III). 

59 

Contract  negotiation  will  be  concluded  in  1996 and  the  first  results  of this  work  are 
expected  towards  the  end  of  1996. 

The  ET AN  network  (European  Technology  Assessment  Network)  was  launched  in 
November  1995 in order to complete the activities of the first area and  is entering  its 
initial  phase. 

An  interdepartmental  group  was  set  up  in  February  to  ensure  the  exchange  of 
information  and  the  coherence  and  complementarity  of  the  activities  of  the  TSER 
programme with the socio-economic activities of the other specific programmes of the 
Framework  Programme.  Following  a preliminary  analysis,  a summary  report  of  the 
socio-economic measures conducted under the Fourth Framework Programme is being 
prepared. 

Close  links have been established  in the Commission  between the activities  of area  I 
and  the  ITPS  (Institute  of  Prospective  Technological  Studies),  DG  XIII-D  (R&TD 
activities:  dissemination  and  utilization  of  the  results  of  RTD  research  activities, 
technology  transfer  and  innovation)  and  EUROSTAT,  which  regularly  takes  part  in 
the ET AN meetings.  DG  XXII (Education, Training and Youth) is closely associated 
with the  area  II activities.  Some area II activities are conducted  in the framework  of 
the multimedia  Task Force (a working group has begun its activities). Finally, DG V 
(Employment,  industrial  relations  and  social  affairs)  is  closely  associated  with  the 
area  II  activities  as  regards  social  exclusion  aspects  and  with  the  other  areas  on 
employment matters.  A collaboration protocol between DG  V and DG XII-H is being 
considered. 

Problems  encountered 
No  particular  problems  have  been  encountered  in  implementing  the  programme. 
However,  the  poor  success  rate  of the first call  for  proposals  (38  accepted  out  of  a total 
of  548  received)  means  that  the  second  call  scheduled  for  1996 must  be better  targeted. 
Participation  by  industry  is marginal, due to the  special nature  of the  subjects  dealt  with 
by  this  programme.  By  contrast,  user  participation,  already  envisaged  in  some  projets, 
should  increase  in  future. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

The  keen  interest  generated  by  the  first  call  produced  a  large  number  of  proposals 
compared  with  the  available  resources.  In  order  to  concentrate  the  limited  resources  of 
the  programme  more  effectively  on  important  areas  not  covered  by  the  first  call,  the 
second  call  scheduled  for  summer  1996 will  be targeted  on the  following  subjects: 

Area  I 

-  innovation,  employment  and  growth 
-  new  science  and  technology  developments  and  the  quality  of  life; 

the 

organization  of  society 

Area  II 

-  education  and  training,  labour  market  and  unemployment  (life-long 

learning  ) 

-  education  and  training  and the  emergence  of the  information  society 
-  access  to  education  and  training  of  disadvantaged  groups 

60 

Area  III 

-  causes  of  social  exclusion,  particularly  unemployment 
-  evaluation  of  the  impact  of  social  integration  policies 
-  horizontal  activities  and  research  infrastructure. 

The  research  on  some  of  the  subjects  should  be  placed  in  perspective  in  order  to 
illuminate the problem  of employment  and the knowledge  society  from  different  angles. 

In order  to  consolidate  research  work  in progress, the  networks  linked  to  area  I  projects 
in  particular  have  been  mobilized  this  year  to  find  answers  to  questions  on  future 
Community  and  national  policies,  such as: 

(i)  What  lessons  can  be  drawn  from  the  different  approaches  of  the  innovation 

systems? 

(ii)  How  can  an  S&T  policy  based  on  "demand"  be  achieved? 
(iii)  What contribution can the various national long-range technology planning exercises 

make  to  EU  S&T  policy? 

Summary papers will be prepared on completion of these activities, which may contribute 
to  the  preparation  of  the  Fifth  Framework  Programme.  Other  subjects  are  being 
examined  and  may  be  dealt  with  in  1996,  such  as:  dissemination  and  utilization  of 
technology;  lessons  to  be  drawn  from  the  different  experience  of  mission-oriented 
research  similar  to  the  approach  of the  Task  Forces. 

SECOND  ACTIVITY  OF  THE  FOURTH  FRAMEWORK  PROGRAMME 

INTERNATIONAL  RTD  COOPERATION 

Activities  in  1995 

International  cooperation  is  increasingly  becoming  an  essential  dimension  of  action  by 
the  EU  in  the  field  of  research  and  technological  development  (RTD).  The  Fourth 
Framework  Programme  (1994-1998) introduced  an innovatory  specific  RTD  programme 
"Cooperation  with  third  countries  and  international  organizations"  (INCO). 

This  programme,  which  was  implemented  for  the  first  time  in  1995,  now  integrates 
hitherto  dispersed 
(COST,  EUREKA,  PECO, 
COPERNICUS,  ISC,  STD)  in  a coherent  framework. 

research  cooperation  activities 

Several  factors  are  implicated  in  the  growing  importance  of  international  scientific 
cooperation:  the  growth  of new  research  centres tliroughout  the world,  the  emergence  of 
global  problems  (health, environment,  etc.), the soaring costs of research,  (energy,  space, 
etc.),  the  desire  to  gain  access  to  new  markets  through  cooperation  in  the  context  of 
liberalization  of  world  trade  (WTO,  NAFTA,  MERCOSUR),  the  development  of  the 
information  society,  etc. 

In  addition,  Europe  has  much  to  gain  from  S&T  cooperation  with  partners  in  third 
countries: identification  of themes important to the future,  access to information  sources, 
know-how,  equipment,  markets,  improvement  of  its  economic  competitiveness,  etc. 

61 

Based  on  the  principles  of  "mutual  advantage"  and  "subsidiarity",  the  structure  of  the 
INCO programme reflects  the different  nature of the objectives  of cooperation  depending 
on  the  partners,  divided  into  four  target  groups:  the  other  European  science  and 
technology  cooperation  frameworks  (COST,  EUREKA,  international  organizations); 
Central  and  Eastern  Europe  and the New Independent  States of the  former  Soviet  Union 
(PECO, NIS), the non-European developed countries and the developing countries (DCs). 

The INCO programme  was successfully  launched  in  1995 through the implementation  of 
its  various  constituent  instruments:  dialogue,  concerted  actions,  shared-cost  actions, 
accompanying  or  support  measures  (studies,  conferences,  etc.)  and,  in  certain  cases, 
support to the participation  of third  countries  in other  specific  programmes  of the  Fourth 
Framework  Programme  (PECO, NIS, DCs). 

In  the  context  of  the  European  Economic  Area,  Iceland  and  Norway  (members  of  the 
EEA since  1 January  1994) and Liechtenstein (a member since  1 May  1995) were closely 
associated  with  the  specific  programmes  of the  Fourth  Framework  Programme. 

Action  was directed  towards  the following  main  aims: 

to  strengthen  the  scientific  and  technological  bases  of  the  EU  and  enhance  the 
"added value"  of  European  research  effort  to mutual  benefit : 

In this spirit, an active policy of negotiating cooperation agreements with various partners 
was  conducted  in  1995:  Switzerland,  Canada,  USA,  Africa,  Israel,  etc.  Some  of  these 
agreements  have  already  been  signed,  e.g.  the  agreement  between  the  European 
Community  and  Canada or the R&D cooperation agreement  on the monitoring of nuclear 
safety  signed  with  the  USA.  The  agreement  with  Israel  is  designed  to  associate  that 
country in all the non-nuclear specific  programmes of the Fourth Framework  Programme. 

In  addition  to  these  initiatives,  a  wide  variety  of  contacts  have  been  made:  Task 
Force  EC/USA  on  research  in  biotechnology;  Mrs  Cresson's  visit  to  Tokyo  resulting  in 
intensified joint  industrial  and seismic research and an increase in the number of research 
fellowships  for  European  scientists  and  engineers  in  Japan;  participation  in  the  eighth 
meeting  of  the  Carnegie  Group  involving  the  Research  Ministers  of  the  seven  main 
industrialized  countries  and  the  Commission. 

At the same time, efforts  to coordinate research  funded  nationally  at European  level  were 
continued.  19 new  COST  projects  started,  bringing  the total  number  in progress  to  123 
in  17 research  areas. 
In  addition,  pragmatic  coordination  continued  between  the 
Community  and  the  pan-European  EUREKA  initiative.  The  close  links  established 
between the Community MAST programmes (Marine Science and Technologies) and IMT 
(Industrial  and  Materials  Technologies)  and 
the  EUREKA  EUROMAR  and 
FAMOS-FACTORY  activities  respectively  are  examples  of  effective  coordination.  In 
1995  the  Commission  participated  in  13  projects  and  nine  "umbrella"  EUREKA 
initiatives. 
In  some  cases,  the  Commission  and  more  particularly  the  JRC  is  project 
leader.  Furthermore, the Community's  links with various European research bodies were 
strengthened  (e.g.  the  European  Centre  for  Nuclear  Research  -  CERN,  the  European 
Space  Agency  -  ESA).  More  precisely,  an  administrative  arrangement  was  concluded 
between  the  Commission  and  the  European  Molecular  Biology  Laboratory  (EMBL). 

62 

to contribute  to the solution  of regional problems  of the PEC0/N1S  and prepare  the 
accession  of  the associated  PECO  : 

On  the  margins  of  the  Council  meeting  on  research  of  9 June  1995  a  first  informal 
meeting  was  organized  between  the  EU  Research  Ministers  and  their  counterparts  from 
PECO  and  associated  Baltic  States.  This  first  meeting  in  the  "structured  dialogue" 
initiative  led  to  the  identification  of  priority  themes  for  those  countries  (environment, 
health,  energy,  biotechnology,  etc.). 

On these bases, and following  an active information  campaign in the countries  concerned, 
a  call  for  proposals  was  launched  and  the 2  000 proposals  received  are being  evaluated. 
Participation  in other programmes  of the Fourth Framework  Programme was also  funded 
in  1995, even though the number was limited by the low budget available.  Furthermore, 
a  Communication  on  the prospects  for  RTD  cooperation  with the NIS  was  presented  to 
the  Council,  while  the  Council  agreed  to  continue  Community  participation  in  the 
Association  for the Promotion of Cooperation with the Scientists of the New  Independent 
States  of  the  former  Soviet  Union  (INTAS)  until  the  end  of  the  Fourth  Framework 
Programme.  At  the  end  of  1995,  the  latter  provided  funding  of  46  MECU  to  around 
1  000  joint  research  projects,  covering  exact  and  natural  sciences,  economics  and  the 
humanities.  On  the  other  hand,  the  International  Centre  for  Science  and  Technology 
(ICST)  continued  its  action  to  reorient  military  scientists  from  the  former  Soviet  Union 
towards  civil  activities  (a  total  of  11 000  scientists  and  engineers  involved  since  1994, 
3  000  of  whom  were part  of the  hard  core of weapons research).  In addition,  a meeting 
of  the EU/PECO  Forum  was held  on the information  society, which will  be followed  up 
in  the  years  to  come. 

to  support  the  EU's  development  aid policy  through scientific  cooperation  : 

The  three  main  areas  concerned  by  this  cooperation  (health,  agriculture,  management  of 
In  1995 
natural  resources)  aim  to  cater  to  those  countries'  essential  requirements. 
approximately  800  contracts  resulting  from  previous  initiatives  were  still  in  progress  -
Science  and  Technologies  for  Developing  Countries  (STD3),  International  Scientific 
Cooperation  (ISC) and the research initiative to promote cooperation between the EC and 
the  Mediterranean  countries  (Avicenne).  Following  a  new  call  for  proposals  for 
INCO-DC  launched  in  March  1995  under  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme,  over 
20  research  projects  involving  more  than  150 partners  were  selected  from  among  the 
77  proposals  eligible,  and  received  12 MECU  from  the  1995  budget.  The  two  main 
subjects  involved  are  animal  health  and,  in respect  of  human  health,  vaccines.  Another 
821  eligible  proposals  were  received  in  response  to  the  second  part  of  the  first  call, 
concerning  primarily  the  agriculture/agri-food  sector,  the  management  of  renewable 
resources,  health  and  information  and  communication  technologies. 

Other activities  in  1995 include: a Commission  working paper on the European  initiative 
for  agricultural  research  for  development,  in  preparation  for  a  communication  on  the 
subject;  the organization  of 22  seminars on a wide variety of subjects  (tropical  medicine, 
fisheries,  biotechnology)  with  the  aim  of  disseminating  the  research  results  or  defining 
priorities for future  activity  (e.g. the Sophia Antipolis seminar of March  1995 on  "Europe 
of research and the Mediterranean", which contributed to the preparation of the Barcelona 
Euro-Mediterranean  Conference  in November  1995). 

63 

to stimulate  overall  reflection  on  international RTD  cooperation  : 

A  general  Communication  on the  "Perspectives  for  international  cooperation  in the  field 
of research and technological  development"  was presented to the Council.  This provides 
in  particular  for  strengthening  the  external  dimension  of the  EU's  RTD  policy  based  on 
different  approaches:  bilateral,  multilateral,  regional  or  global.  The  emphasis  is  on  the 
need  for  greater  industrial  participation  in  international  scientific  cooperation  activities 
or the importance of mobilizing other Community funds  (PHARE, TACIS, MED A, Lomé 
Convention, etc.) to support research by the PECO, non-EU Mediterranean  countries, the 
NIS  and  the  DCs.  Reflection  will  continue  on  this  important  paper,  which  was  the 
subject  of  a  Council  Resolution  of  25.3.1996. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

The  broad  lines  of  action  to  be  carried  out  in  1996  comprise  primarily: 

continued  implementation  of the specific programme  on international  cooperation 
and  management  of  achievements  hitherto : 

This will  involve,  for  example, the monitoring  of contracts  in progress, the  management 
of  new  calls  for  proposals  concerning  the  DCs,  the  PECO/NIS  or  the  Japan/Korea 
fellowships;  coordination  of  national  activities  in  the  COST  framework  and  continued 
support  to  the NIS  through  INTAS  and  ISTC. 

expanding  the  scope  of  international  cooperation  in  the  long-term  interest  of 
European  RTD  : 

This will take  place  through  the  implementation  of existing  bilateral  agreements  and  the 
negotiation  of  new  S&T  cooperation  agreements  (e.g.  EU/Switzerland,  EU/USA; 
EU/South  Africa);  the  preparation  of  three  new  communications  on  RTD  cooperation 
concerning:  the  associated  PECO;  the  emerging  countries;  the  Mediterranean  countries; 
participation  in  various  events:  EUREKA  Ministerial  Conference,  Second  S&T  Forum 
EU/Japan,  meeting  of  the  Megascience  Forum  and  the  Carnegie  Group. 

optimizing  the  cost-effectiveness  of  the  specific  programme  on 
cooperation  : 

international 

improved  coordination  of  programme  management, 
This  will  above  all  involve 
particularly  through  the  Task  Forces,  including  the  development  of  international 
cooperation  in  the  areas  they  cover;  stronger  links  with  other  Directorates-General 
managing  complementary  activities  (PHARE,  TACIS,  MED A,  Lomé  Convention),  in 
liaison  with  the  external  policy  dimension  of the  RTD policy  of  Member  States  and  the 
EU in the context of the recent Euro-Mediterranean,  EU-USA and Euro-Asiatic  summits. 
strengthening  coordination  between  the  activities  of  the  Union  and  those  of  the 
Member  States  in  the  field  of RTD  cooperation  with third  countries  : 

This  will  be  the  subject  of  a  study  in progress  entitled  INCOPOL. 

•  * 

THIRD  ACTIVITY  OF  THE  FOURTH  FRAMEWORK  PROGRAMME 

DISSEMINATION  AND  OPTIMIZATION  OF  RESULTS 

64 

Activities  in  1995 

The  specific  programme  corresponding  to  the  Third  Activity  (the  "INNOVATION" 
programme)  was  adopted  by  the  Council  on  15 December  1994.35 

Because  of  the  nature  of  its  activities  and  its  horizontal  character  this  programme  is 
central  to  the  problems  of  competitiveness  and  directly  contributes  to  the  objectives  of 
the  Framework  Programme  as  set  out  in  Article  13Of of the  Treaty. 

During  1995  implementation  started  of  most  of  the  activities  mentioned  in  the  work 
programme adopted at the beginning of the year. Among the most important ones are: the 
network  of  Innovation  Relay  Centres  and  the  Community  Research  and  Development 
Information  and  Dissemination  Service  (CORDIS). 

As  regards  the  Relay  Centres,  their  mission  has  been  widened  with  respect  to  the  pilot 
scheme  launched  under Value and reoriented towards a demand-led  approach taking  into 
account  the  needs  of  the  industrial  fabric,  to  include  and  emphasize  exploitation, 
technology  transfer  and  innovation  in  addition  to  the  provision  of  information  on 
Community  RTD.% 

Under  this  new  mission  the  Relay  Centres  will  become  "poles"  in  a  region  which  will 
provide  access  to  the  required  expertise  to  support  the  exploitation,  technology  transfer 
and  innovation  activities  of  the  SMEs  in  that  region.  As  the  result  of  the  call  for 
proposals36  (deadline  15  March  1995),  the  network  of  Relay  Centres  was  substantially 
strengthened  and  consisted  at the  end  of  1995 of  52  such  centres  compared  to  32  at  the 
end  of  the  Third  Framework  Programme,  requiring  a  total  commitment  in  1995  of 
approximately  23  MECU. 

As  regards  CORDIS,  a  call  for  tenders37  for  the  continuous  operation  and  further 
development of the system, which itself was already launched under the Third  Framework 
Programme, was published in mid-1995. As a result, the system will evolve further  during 
the next three years by improving the general quality  and user interface  of the databases, 
the  use  of  new  information  channels  and  inclusion  of  gateways  to  other  European  RTD 
information  sources. 

Thus  at  the  end  of  1995  the  two  main  elements  of  the  European  infrastructure  for 
dissemination  and  exploitation  were  in  place  and  ready  to  contribute  to  the  further 
industrialisation  of  RTD  results,  Community  as  well  as  national  ones,  especially  by 
SMEs. 

In  addition  to  the  above  a  number  of  other  activities  have  been  launched  in  1995 
involving  SMEs.  An  example  is  the  technology  transfer  and  validation  projects.  These 

35  OJ  No L  361, 31.12.1994,  p.101. 

36  OJ  N oC  12,  17.1.1995,  p.  9. 

37  OJ  No C136,  03.06.1995,  p. 23. 

65 

projects  aim  to  transfer  modern  technologies  which  are  used  in  one  sector  or  region  of 
the  Community  to  firms  in  another  sector  or  region  where  they  are  not  yet  used, 
respectively  to validate the innovation potential of RTD results particularly  in other fields 
of activity  than those  in which they  were initially  obtained. A call for  proposals  for  both 
types  of  projects  published  on  15  March  1995  resulted  in  the  selection  of  100  such 
projects, 60 of which are coordinated by SMEs, involving in total about 300 SMEs. These 
100  projects  will  also  be  used  as  test-beds  to  demonstrate  transnational  technology 
transfer  and validation mechanisms. The projects  consist of a small definition  phase and, 
if  successful,  a major  implementation  phase.  The  commitments  in  1995  concerned  only 
the  definition  phases  of these  100 projects  and  amounted  to  approximately  7  MECU. 

Another  example  is  the  audits  of  regional  infrastructures  to  support  innovation  and 
technology  transfer.  The  aim  of  such  audits  is  to  possibly  improve  the  functioning  of 
those  infrastructures,  in  particular  to  attune  them  more  to  the  needs  of  SMEs  in  their 
region. Currently about 65 regions, selected following calls for proposals, are carrying out 
such audits. They  are supported in their efforts jointly  by the Innovation  programme  and 
regional  policy  - under  Article  10 of  the ERDF. 

Following the request by the Council and the European Parliament for close co-ordination 
the  specific 
of  the  dissemination  and  optimization  activities  carried  out  under 
programmes38  of  the  first  activity  with  those  carried  out  by  activity  three,  an  inter-
programme co-ordination and planning mechanism was set-up during  1995 and is starting 
to  yield  tangible  results. 

One  example  is  the joint  development  and  testing  of a prototype  interactive  multimedia 
presentation of Community RTD results to be eventually supported by CORDIS. This tool 
will  enhance  the  dissemination  and  exploitation  of  Community  RTD  results  beyond  the 
undertakings  and  scientific  Community  that  have  been  directly  associated  with  the 
research  work  that  generated  them. 

Another  example  concerns  exploitation  of  Community  RTD  results  by  third  parties. 
Attention  will  be  focused  on  those  RTD  projects  that  achieve  exploitable  results  but 
which, for  whatever  reasons, the consortium partners either cannot exploit themselves  or 
not  exclusively. 

The  Innovation  programme  also  played  a central  role  in developing  the  Green  Paper  on 
Innovation,  which  was  adopted  by the  Commission  in December  1994. The  objective  is 
to identify  the factors  that foster or obstruct innovation in the Community and to propose, 
at all levels of decision-making -regional, national and Community wide - concrete, short-
and  medium-term  actions  that  will  strengthen  the  innovation  capacity  in  the  European 
Union.  The  Green  Paper  therefore,  in  addition  to  research  and  technology,  also  tackles 
education  and  training,  the  mobility  of  individuals  and  ideas,  the  legal  and  regulatory 
environment  and  financing,  especially  venture  capital. 

Work  programme  for  1996 

The implementation of the Innovation programme in  1996 will include calls for proposals 

38  A sum representing an average of  1 % of the total budget of the Fourth Framework  Programme  is allocated 

to  dissemination  and  optimization  of  results  in the  framework  of  the  first  activity. 

66 

in  the  area  of  financial  actions,  the  promotion  of  innovation  management  techniques, 
increasing public awareness of research and technology and the continuation of the OPET 
(Organisations  for  the  Promotion  of  Energy  Technologies).  The  inter-programme  co 
ordination  for  the  dissemination  and  optimisation  of  European  Union  sponsored  R&D 
results will also be continued. In addition, ad hoc dissemination  and exploitation  services 
will  be provided  in  support  of  all  Community  policies. 

Finally,  a study  has  been  launched  on the basis  of guidelines  drawn  up by  a pilot  group 
to  determine  a  common  methodological  basis  for  assessing  the  results  of  the  RTD 
projects. 

FOURTH  ACTIVITY  OF  THE  FOURTH  FRAMEWORK  PROGRAMME 

TRAINING  AND  MOBILITY  OF  RESEARCHERS 

Activities  in  1995 

1 .Introduction 

1995 was the year  in which the  Training  and mobility  of researchers  (TMR)  programme 
was  implemented,  which  was  adopted  by  Council  Decision  of  19 December  1994. 

As  the  process  of  adopting  the  programme  by  Parliament  and  the  Council  was  much 
faster  than  in  the  case  of  the  previous  Human  capital  and  mobility  programme  (HCM), 
the  budget  will  be  spent  over  four  years  rathei  than  in  30  months  as  was  the  case  with 
the  HCM  programme. 

The  work  programme  for  1995  develops  the  text  adopted  by  the  Council  and  takes 
account  of  experience  gained  from  implementation  of  the  HCM  programme.  The  main 
changes  include: 

concentration  of  the  "network"  activity  on  a smaller  number  of  contracts; 

the  introduction  for  the  first  time  in the  "access  to  large-scale  facilities"  activity  of 
joint  research  projects  on  improvement  of the  facilities; 

the  establishment  of  a  schedule  (based  on reimbursement  of  tax  and  social  security 
costs in the Member  States)  for the payment of grants in the various Member  States 
of  the  European  Union; 

the funding  of practical courses and summer schools under the "Euroconferences  and 
accompanying  measures" activity  and the conduct  of detailed  analyses  of the  short-, 
medium-  and  long-term  impact  of  the  programme; 

increased  industry participation  and greater consideration  of the cohesion  objectives. 

The TMR programme,  like its predecessors  Science,  Large Installations  Plan and  HCM, 
is  based  on  bottom-up  research,  i.e.  oriented  towards  targets  defined  by  the  researchers 
themselves  other  than  the  objectives  laid  down  at the  launch  of the programme.  In  this 
it  differs  from  all  the  other  Community  R&D programmes  under  the  Fourth  Framework 
Programme. 

67 

Without  changing  this  system,  which  utilizes  researchers'  powers  of  imagination  to  the 
full,  new  measures  have  been  taken  to  facilitate  greater  participation  by  industry  in  the 
programme (increased  presence  of industry researchers  in the scientific  evaluation  panels 
and  opening  of  wider  channels  of  communication  with  industry). 

With  regard  to  cohesion,  the  results  of  the  selections  made  in  1995  show  a  significant 
growth  in  the  representation  of  researchers  from  the  less-favoured  regions  in  the 
programme,  which  has  been  achieved  without  any  changes  to  the  requirements  as  to 
scientific  quality  on  which  Community  research  policy  is  based. 

2.  Activities  relating  to  the  training  and  mobility  of  researchers 

Seven  calls  for  proposals  were  published  in  1995,  which  led  to  the  evaluation  of  91 
research  networks,  the  adoption  of  84  projects  designed  to  improve  researchers'  access 
to  large-scale  research  facilities,  the  award  of  582  grants  for  research  through  training 
(pre-  and  post-doctoral  level)  and  the  funding  of  55  Euroconference  contracts,  practical 
courses  and  accompanying  measures.  Some  115 MECU  were  committed  out  of  the 
750  MECU  envisaged  for  the  whole  duration  of the  programme. 

The  91  research  networks  proposed  for  funding  in  1995  account  for  150  MECU  and 
involve  over  700  research  teams  (with  5 000  scientists),  to  which  about  2  500  young 
researchers will be associated.  The contract negotiations and corresponding  commitments 
are  in  progress.  The  contracts  will  have  an  average  duration  of  four  years. 

The  84 contracts  for  large-scale facilities  account  for  72 MECU.  They will  each run  for 
three  years  and  enable  about  4  000  European  researchers  to  gain  access  to  large-scale 
European  research  facilities. 

The budget  for  the  582  contracts  for  training through research  amounts  to  47.8  MECU, 
all  of  which  was  committed  in  1995.  These  contracts  of  a  duration  of  between  three 
months  and  three  years  will  enable  young  European  researchers  to  acquire  training 
through  and  for  research  in  the  best  laboratories  of  the  European  Union.  Of  the  582 
contracts,  146  benefit  researchers  from  the  less-favoured  regions  of  the  Union.  About 
10%  of  the  budget  for  the  training  through  research  activity  is  dedicated  to  "return 
grants",  which  will  enable  researchers  from 
less-favoured  regions  of  the'  Union 
(objective  1 regions)  who  have  been  in  receipt  of  a  two-year  TMR  grant,  to  receive  a 
grant  for  an  additional  year  to  ease  their  return  to  their  region  of  origin  and  apply  their 
newly  acquired  knowledge  there.  58 recipients from  less-favoured  regions  were  selected 
by the Commission  in  1995 and will return to laboratories  in their region of origin  during 
1996.  To  the  abovementioned  582  contracts  will  be  added  720  new  contracts  evaluated 
and/or  negotiated  at  the  beginning  of  1996. 

The  55  contracts  for  Euroconferences  and  accompanying  measures  decided  by  the 
Commission  in  1995  will  enable  about  140  Euroconferences,  practical  courses  and 
summer  schools  to  be  held  (an  average  of  2.5  meetings  per  contract),  with  the 
participation  of more  than  14 000  European  scientists,  a quarter  of whom  will  be  young 
scientists.  The  average  duration  of  a contract  of this  type  is three  years.  The  proposals 
in  response  to  the  call  published  on  15 June  1995  were  evaluated  in 
submitted 
December  1995.  Some 65 new contracts involving a budget of 5.4 MECU  will be  funded 
as  a result. 

68 

3..  Continuation  of  the  activities  of the  previous  Framework  Programmes  in  the  field  of 
researcher  mobility  and  basic  research 

Around  800  contracts  were  concluded  under  the  specific  Science  programme  of  the 
Second  Framework  Programme,  150 of which  are  still  ongoing  and  scheduled  to  end  in 
1996 and  1997.  These ongoing contractual activities involve a great deal of management. 

Directorate  XII  also  continued  in  1995  to  manage  the  Human  capital  and  mobility 
programme  (1992-1994).  Most  of the contractual  activities were still ongoing  at the end 
of  the  year  (639  contracts  for  research  networks,  667  for  institutional  grants,  1 034 
individual  grants, 67 contracts for  large-scale facilities  and 310 Euroconferences)  and are 
set  to  end  in  1997  and  1998. 

4.  Coordination  of  overall  Community  training  activities 

This  coordination  work  by  the  personnel  responsible  for  the  Training  and  mobility  of 
researchers  programme  enables  common  or  identical  principles  and  mechanisms  to  be 
applied  to  the  management  of  Community  training  through  research  activities: 

a  set  of  common  rules  and  procedures  (calls  for  proposals,  selection,  decisions, 
contracts,  data-processing,  etc.); 

an  information  dossier  comprising  a single  application  form  for  all training  grants; 

a  single reception  point  for  all proposals  for  training through research  grants  for  the 
various  specific  programmes  of  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme; 

a  single  dispatch  point  through  which  all  the  written  procedures  dedicated  to  the 
selection  decisions  are  channelled; 

the  organization  at regular  intervals  of  coordination  and  concertation  meetings  with 
the  departments  concerned. 

The  tax  and  social  security  costs  to  which  the  Community  grants  are  subject  vary 
considerably  from  one Member  State to another.  Under the previous programme  (Human 
capital  and  mobility),  this  resulted  in  unequal  and  often  unjust  integration  conditions  in 
the  host  countries.  At  the  Council's  request,  the  Commission  drew  up  interim 
arrangements  for  the TMR programme based on the legal, financial  and  social  conditions 
in  the  host  country  which  did  much  to  iron  out  this  inequality. 

In  addition,  coordination  between  the  DGs  concerned  (DG  XII,  DG  XXII)  of  training 
activities  other  than  training  through  research  implies  the  organization  of  regular 
interdepartmental  consultation  and  contribution  to  the  preparation  of  guides  and  reports 
(e.g.  "Citizen  First",  a  Green  Paper  on  the  obstacles  to  mobility  under  preparation,in 
1996). 

Work  programme  for  1996 

All the activities  described  in the preceding paragraphs will be continued  in  1996 on both 
the  administrative  and  budgetary  level  and the  scientific  level.  A catalogue  of  contracts 
and  a  first  inventory  of  the  results  will  be  published  towards  the  end  of  the  year. 

69 

At  the  same  time,  10  new  calls  for  proposals  will  be  launched  for  each  of  the  four 
activities  of the  TMR  programme  (see  Table  8 in  Part  3 of  this  report  for  the  details). 

With  regard  to  training  grants,  Mrs  Cresson,  the  Commission  Member  responsible  for 
RTD and the JRC, human resources, education, training and youth, has decided  to  group 
together  in  a  new  "Marie  Curie"  scheme  the  training  through  research  activities  of  the 
TMR  programme  and  those  of  the  preceding  Human  capital  and  mobility  programme, 
which  will help to  create a clear  identity  for  the participants  in the TMR  activities.  The 
"Marie Curie Grants" scheme is due to be officially  announced by Commissioner  Cresson 
at a  seminar  in Brussels, to which many of the TMR  grant-holders  selected  hitherto  will 
be invited.  The organization  of this event, which is planned  for the second half of  1996, 
is  in  progress. 

Finally,  in the  "institutional  grants"  area  of the  HCM  programme,  600  new  institutional 
grant-holders  will  be  selected  by the Commission  in  1996 in the framework  of  contracts 
signed  previously. 
in  May  and 
September  1996, each  involving  about  200  grant  recipients. 

Two  further  selection  exercises  will  be  held 

JOINT  RESEARCH  CENTRE 

Activities  in  1995 

Orientations 

1995  was  the  first  year  of  a new  approach  for  the  JRC.  In  conformity  with  the  Council 
conclusions  of  26 April  1994 on the role  of the  JRC, the  Centre  in  1995 has  engaged  in 
institutional  activities  as well  as competitive  activities, the  former  covering  institutional 
research  and  institutional  scientific  and  technical  support  to  Community  policies.  The 
competitive  activities  include  participation  in  shared-cost  actions  under  the  Framework 
Programmes,  competitive  support  measures  for  Commission  services  responsible  for  the 
various  Union  policies,  competitive  activities  outside  the  Community  Framework 
Programmes  and  contractual  work  performed  for  outside  third  parties.  1995  was, 
moreover,  the  year  in  which  the  newly  appointed  Commission  launched  initiatives  for 
establishing  better  bonds 
between  industry  and  research.  Within  this  frame  the 
Commissioner  for  research,  Mrs.  E.  Cresson,  strongly  emphasised  the  need, for  further 
commercialisation  of  JRC  research  results  and  for  improved  communication  of  JRC 
activities. 

New  challenges  : competitive  activities  : Following  extensive  preparations  begun  in  1994, 
the  JRC  responded  to  the  challenge  set  by  the  new  opportunities  opened  up  in  1995  for 
competitive  activities.  Together  with  partners  from 
industry,  research  centres  and 
universities  throughout  the  Union  and  associated  countries, more than  300 proposals  were 
made in response to the first call for proposals under the new Framework Programmes, with 
a  success  rate of 28%.  The JRC  also presented  proposals  for  competitive  support  activities 
and for Community programmes outside the Framework Programmes, notably PHARE and 
TACIS,  where  contracts  were  won  for  nuclear  safety  work  in  the  Central  and  Eastern 
European countries, Russia and.other Newly Independent States (NIS). Taking up these new 
opportunities required intensive marketing by the JRC. They were made possible by a series 
of  legal,  financial,  budgetary  and  administrative  decisions  by  the  Community  institutions 
(Council,  Parliament,  Commission).  These  included  the  necessary  amendments  to  the 

70 

Financial  Regulation  for  the  European  Union  budget,  decided  on  in  September  1995. 

Visits by  the Commissioner  : On 20 July  1995 Commissioner  Cresson, made her  first  visit 
to  the  JRC,  starting  with  the  Institutes  at  Ispra,  followed  by  a  visit  to  the  Institute  for 
Transuranium  Elements  (ITU)  in Karlsruhe  in  September  and the  Institute  for  Prospective 
Technological  Studies  (IPTS)  in  Seville  in  December,  where  she  inaugurated  the  new 
technological  watch  function  of the  Institute. 

New directors  : During the year, four new Directors of JRC Institutes, namely  the Institute 
for  Systems  Engineering  and  Informatics  (ISEI),  the  Environment  Institute  (EI),  the 
Institute for Remote Sensing Applications (IRSA) and the Institute for Advanced  Materials 
(IAM), took  up their  posts, after  appointment  by the  Commission  acting  on the  advice  of 
the  Board  of  Governors. 

Communication  initiatives  :  Links  between  the  JRC  and  industry,  research  centres  and 
universities were also reinforced  through the organisation of Information  Days  in London, 
Athens,  Copenhagen,  Milan  and  Vienna,  on  the  initiative  of  Members  of  the  Board  of 
Governors.  JRC  availability  in  support  of  Union  policies  was  further  publicised  by 
information  activities  directed  to  other  Commission  services,  including  a Newsletter  and 
targeted  seminars. 

Objectives  and  S&T  progress  : 

Institutional  activities  : JRC  specific  research programmes:  The major  task  of the  JRC  in 
1995  was to  contribute  to  the  implementation  of the  JRC  specific  programmes  under  the 
Communities'  Framework  Programmes  in their  first  year  of  existence.  This  contribution 
was carried  out through  institutional  research  activities  and through  institutional  scientific 
and technical  support  activities  for  the  services  of  the  Commission. 

Institutional research activities: In  1995, institutional research activities accounted  for 73% 
of  the  JRC's  institutional  activities;  they  are  carried  out  under  the  following  programme 
lines: 

1.  The Industrial  and  materials  technologies programme  is carried out by the Institute  for 
Advanced  Materials  (IAM)  and  encompassed  research  projects  on  advanced  materials, 
on surface  engineering, on new ecofriendly  materials and on non-destructive  evaluation 
techniques  for  the  inspection  of  industrial  structural  components. 

2.  The Measurements  and testing programme  encompassed  research  projects  on  reference 
measurements  and  materials,  carried  out  by  the  Institute  for  Reference  Materials  and 
Measurements  (IRMM);  and  on  the  assessment  of the  reliability  of  structures,  carried 
out  by  the  Institute  for  Safety  Technology  (1ST). 

3.  The Environment  and climate programme consisted of research projects on atmospheric, 
soil,  water  and  waste  pollution,  executed  by  the  Environment  Institute  (EI);  on  the 
gradual  setting  up  of  the  Centre  for  Earth  Observation,  a  decentralised  European  data 
management  and information  system, and on applications of remote sensing techniques, 
carried  out  by the  Institute  for  Remote  Sensing  Applications  (IRSA); and  on  industrial 
hazards carried  out by the Institute  for  Safety  Technology  (1ST) and by the Institute  for 
Systems  Engineering  and  Informatics  (ISEI). 

71 

4.  The Non-nuclear  energy  programme  consisted  of research  projects  related  to  materials 
for  clean  technologies,  carried  out by the Institute  for  Advanced  Materials  (IAM), and 
to  standardisation  of  photovoltaic  devices,  carried  out  by  the  Institute  for  Systems 
Engineering  and  Informatics  (ISEI). 

5.  The Nuclear 

fission  safety  programme  encompassed  a  number  of  research  activities 
ranging  from  studies  on  reactor  safety,  carried  out  by  the  Institute  for  Safety 
Technology  (1ST), by the Institute for  Systems Engineering  and Informatics  (ISEI) and 
the Institute  for  Advanced Materials (IAM), to research activities on nuclear  safeguards 
and fissile materials management, executed by the Institute for Safety Technology (1ST), 
the  Institute  for  Systems  Engineering  and  Informatics  (ISEI),  and  the  Institute  for 
Transuranium  Elements  (ITU). ITU carried  out research on nuclear  fuels  and actinides. 

6.  The Controlled  thermonuclear fusion  programme (Technology and safety)  is carried out 
by the Institute  for  Safety  Technology  (1ST), the Institute for  Systems Engineering  and 
Informatics  (ISEI),  and  the  Institute  for  Advanced  Materials  (IAM). 

7.  The Targeted socio-economic  research programme includes the Science and Technology 
Observatory  function  and prospective work the activities of the Institute for  Prospective 
Technological  Studies  (IPTS).  The  essential  role  of  the  Institute  is  to  harvest  the 
available  contributions  from  experts,  consultants,  research  organisations  and  institutes 
in Member  States and when possible in third countries, in order to analyse, process and 
integrate  them  impartially  and  in depth  and,  more  importantly,  to  distil  clear  trends  or 
needs  for  action  in  a usable  form  for  decision  makers. 

Institutional  scientific  and  technical  support  for  Community  policies 

The  JRC  provided  scientific  and  technical  support  to  Union  policies  at the  request  of the 
relevant  Commission  services,  in conformity  with the Council Decisions  of  15 December 
1994  (which  adopted  the  actual  specific  programmes  of  the  JRC).  These  Scientific  and 
Technical  activities  accounted  for  27% of the  JRC's  Institutional  activities. 

The  support  activities  are customer-driven,  in fulfilment  of impartial  and neutral  scientific 
and  technical  requirements  arising  from  EC  directives,  decisions  of  the  Commission  and 
the  Council,  or  obligations  stemming  from 
the  Euratom  Treaty.  The  effective 
customer/contractor  relationship  between  the  requesting  services  of  the' Commission  and 
the  JRC  Institutes  is  expressed  in  the  elaboration  and  signing  of  inter-DG  collaboration 
agreements. 

General  monitoring  of  such  JRC  services  to  the  other  Directorates-General  of  the 
Commission  has  been  exercised  by  an  official  inter-DG  Committee,  established  by  a 
Commission  decision.  This  group  met  twice  in  1995, with  a  high  attendance.  Its  role  is 
twofold:  monitoring  the  work  performed,  so  as  to  ensure  a  smooth,  mutual  exchange  of 
information  on  the  activities  (over  100  abstracts  related  to  these  support  activities  were 
communicated  in  1995  to  all  DGs), and  planning  activities  for  the  following  year,  taking 
into  account  priorities,  new  requests  and  budget  limitations. 

These  scientific  and  technical  support  activities  were  related  to the following  Framework 
Programme  lines:  Information  technologies,  Environment  and  climate,  Agriculture  and 
fisheries,  Targeted  socio-economic  research  and Nuclear  safety  and  safeguards. 
In  1995,  the  support  for  environmental  policy  accounted  for  46%  of  the  total  support 
budget.  Support  for  the  common  agricultural  policy  accounted  for  16,5% and  support  for 

72 

nuclear  safeguards  for  32%. 

In  1995,  the  JRC  published  in  total  more  than  1000  papers  and  26  JRC  patents  were 
granted.  The  detailed  lists  of JRC  publications  and patents  are published  each  year  in  the 
"Publications  Bulletin". 

JRC  and  competitive  activities 

Around  20%  of  the  global  JRC  budget  for  1995-1998  should  be  earned  through 
competitive  activities.  As  of  1 January  1995, JRC  competitive  activities  included: 

-  Participation  in  shared-cost  actions, where the JRC,  in association  with  partners  in the 
Member  States,  submits  proposals  in the  context  of  calls  for  proposals,  or  contributes 
to  proposals  submitted  by  other  laboratories  under  the  Framework  Programmes; 

-  Competitive  scientific  and  technical  support  activities  under  the  Fourth  Framework 
Programme,  where  the  JRC  may  respond  to  specific  requests  from  Commission 
Directorates-General  which  are  allocated  on  a  competitive  basis  in  the  context  of 
invitations  to  tender; 

-  Other competitive  activities outside the Framework Programmes, where the JRC  (alone 
or in a consortium  arrangement)  will be able to participate  in various actions  sponsored 
by the  Community  (e.g. PHARE,  TACIS, assistance  to developing  countries,  etc.)  and 
in  the  context  of  a  competitive  approach,  will  seek  Community  funding  in  relation  to 
those  actions; 

-  Research  under  contract,  the  original  third  party  work  mode  of  operation  mentioned 

above,  now  part  of  the  overall  JRC  competitive  portfolio. 

As  far  as  JRC  participation  in  shared-cost  actions  is  concerned,  the  JRC  together  with 
partners in the Member  States submitted  a total of 338 project proposals in response to the 
first calls for proposals from  15 specific programmes; by December  1995, the  Commission 
had  accepted  95  of  those proposals  for  funding,  bringing  the overall  success  rate  to 28%. 
The  financial  outcome  for  the  JRC,  although  difficult  to  calculate  precisely  due  to  the 
ongoing  contract  negotiations  on  several  outstanding  projects,  will  be  in  excess  of 
10.5  MECU.  In  the  area  of  competitive  scientific  and  technical  support  activities,  of  the 
128  MECU  earmarked  within  the  Fourth  framework  Programme  for  funding  this  activity 
over the 4-year period, 26.5  MECU were made available to the services of the  Commission 
these,  the  JRC 
early  in  1995,  but  only  20  MECU  have  been  committed  in  1995.  Of 
Institutes  have  managed  to  win  about  11.9 MECU  of  contracts,  either  alone  or  in  a 
consortium  arrangement. 
Other competitive activities outside the Framework Programmes like TACIS, PHARE, etc., 
have  seen  a  good  1995  level  of  activity  on  the  part  of  the  JRC  institutes.  In  this  highly 
competitive  sector  of  the  market,  the  JRC  has  won  around  2.3  MECU. 

The  record  for-Third  Party  work  shows, for  1995, new  contracts  (obtained  on the  market 
at large) in excess of  18 MECU. Considered  in the context of the outstanding  effort  on the 
other  fronts,  this represents  a remarkable hold on the previous positions,  (third  party  work 
earned  in  1994  amounted  to  18 MECU). 

As  requested  by  the  Council  decisions  on  the  JRC  specific  programmes  1995-1998  the 
Commission  issues  a  detailed  JRC  Annual  Report39  accompanied  by  Observations  of  the 

Com(96)  158  final. 

73 

JRC  Board  of  Governors. 

Major  initiatives  in  1996 

JRC  strategy:  In  order  to  consolidate  the  new  approach  of  the  JRC  as  prescribed  by  the 
Council,  the  Parliament  and  the  Commission,  the  Board  of  Governors  and  the  JRC 
management have, during the year, discussed strategies for the eight institutes and the JRC 
as a whole, leading to an emphasis on customer-driven, high quality research of real utility 
for  the  European  Union,  executed  in  an  efficient  way  with  a  flexible  responsiveness  to 
changing  market  needs.  JRC  activities  have the  effect  of  creating  links  between  teams  in 
Member  States  situated  at  different  levels  of  scientific  and  technological  development. 
They  thus  contribute  to  reinforcing  cohesion  between  laboratories  and  research  institutes 
in all the Community  regions. Various work schedules define  the single projects  and  make 
up  the  JRC  work  programme  for  1996 as approved  by  the  JRC  Board  of  Governors. 

1.  Within  the  overall  objectives  of the  JRC  specific  programmes,  a  stronger  orientation 
towards  industry  collaboration,  applications  for  industry  and  novel  research-industry 
initiatives  in  line  with  Commission  proposals  has  been  proposed  under  relevant 
themes, notably  industrial technologies and materials technologies, measurements  and 
testing,  non-nuclear  energies.  The  environment  and  climate  theme  features  novel 
clusterings  on  societal  issues,  on  natural  hazards:  seismic  and  floods,  whereas 
industrial  reliability  work is reduced.  The support to the Union's policies  on the  same 
theme responds, as already  reported  to the Board  of Governors, to new requests  from 
the  Commission  services regarding  work on anti-fraud  measures  and the  contribution 
to  the  Alpine  Observatory; 

2.  Within  the  nuclear  themes,  the  reactor  safety  research  and  fuel  cycle  safety  work  is 
maintained; a concentration is proposed  for nuclear safeguards  research preserving the 
important  support  obligations  in  that  field.  The  thermonuclear  fusion  work  is 
restructured  notably to illustrate the close links between the materials research and the 
tritium-related  work. 

Following the Commission decision of 16.1.1996 on reorganisation, the Joint Research 
Centre  became  an independent  Directorate-General  of the Commission  on  10.4.1996, 
in order  to  give  it the  autonomy  necessary  for  the proper  implementation  of its tasks. 

COMPETITIVE  SCIENTIFIC  AND  TECHNICAL  SUPPORT  ACTIVITIES 

that  used 

The  Fourth  RTD  Framework  Programme  introduced  competitive  scientific  and  technical 
support activities in Annex  IV on implementation  arrangements.  These activities cover the 
work 
to  be  performed  exclusively  by  the  JRC  for  the  Commission's 
Directorates-General  and which, since  1995, may be carried  out by a research  organization 
of a Member  State or by the JRC (where the neutrality  and independence of a Commission 
service  is  not  required),  and  new  projects  planned  by  the  Commission  departments  with 
effect  from  1995.  These  support  activities  come  within  the  first  and  third  activity  of  the 
Fourth  Framework  Programme. 

These  activities  are  implemented  in  two  stages: 

the  allocation  on  an  annual  basis  of  resources  to  the  different  Directorates-General; 
the  administration  of  these  resources  by  each  of  the  Directorates-General. 

74 

In order to guarantee appropriate conditions of transparency  and to satisfy  the needs of the 
different  Directorates-General,  the  resources  are  allocated  by  an  interdepartmental  group 
representing  all  the  Directorates-General  concerned,  convened  and  chaired  by  the 
Commission's  Secretariat-General.  It  meets on an ad hoc basis, but  at  least  twice  a  year. 

This group examines the needs identified  by the Directorates-General.  It analyses requests, 
verifies  compatibility  with  the  objectives  of  the  Framework  Programme  and  decides  on 
annual  allocation  within  the  limits  of  the  available  budget.  Apart  from  the  relevance  of 
the  projects  to  the  objectives  of  the  scientific  and  technical  support  programme,  account 
is taken of the  availability  of funding  from  other programmes  and scope for  integration  or 
convergence  between  several  projects. 

The  Directorates-General  whose  proposals  are  selected  are  responsible  for  managing  the 
funds  allocated.  They  utilize  competition  between  suppliers  in  order  to  achieve  the  best 
result  in  light  of  their  requirements.  The  resources  allocated  are  managed  independently 
in  application  of  the  relevant  rules  in  force,  in  particular  the  provisions  of  the  Financial 
Regulation  applicable  to  the  General  Budget  of the  European  Communities. 

The sums committed  amount to over  80% of the amount available under the  1995 budget, 
which  is more  than  satisfactory  for  the  first  year  of  activity  of  such  a  programme. 

The  Directorates-General  are  showing  increasing  interest  in this  programme.  Six  further 
departments  submitted  an application for  1996 in addition to the  10 that  received  funding 
in  1995.  The  number  of  projects  proposed  in  1996  shows  an  increase  of  40%  compared 
with  the  previous  year. 

75 

PART  THREE 

PROJECTS,  CONTRACTS  SIGNED  AND  PAYMENTS  IN  1995 

Annual  basis  and  framework  programme 

Tables  1 to  9  summarize  Community  RTD  activities  in  1995  in  a  quantitative  form 
(number  and  nature  of projects,  participants,  level  of  funding,  etc.). 
The  figures  relate  primarily  to  the  activities  of  the  Third  and  Fourth  Framework 
Programme; they  cover participation  by Member  States  and the third  countries  (tables 
5  and  7). 

The  abbreviation  "n/a" used  in these tables means  "not  applicable"  or  "not  available". 

Tables  5, 6,  7  and  9 concern  only  shared-cost  actions. 

Table  10  relating  to  the  Fourth  Framework  Programme  and  the  Euratom  programme 
takes  account  of  the  revised  budget  due  to  the  enlargement  of the  European  Union. 

Tables  11  and  12  show  the  development  of  annual  commitments  for  the  framework 
programmes  in  current  terms  and  in  1992 prices. 

List  of  main  abbreviations  or  acronyms  used. 

Table 1 

RTD activities in 1995: New projects (contracts signed in 1995) and projects in progress 

l_ 

: 

^ 

—  — 

- 

:: 

:IJ_J 

1; 

t 

=; 

New projects (RTD contracts signed in  1995) 

All  projects 

Total EC 
contribution 
MECU(l) 

Number of 
projects 

Number of 
participants 

Average 
number of 
participants 
per project 

Average 
number of 
MS per 
project(2) 

Average EC 
contribution 
per project M 
ECU 

Number of 
projects 
under way at 
31.12.95(3) 

Total payments 
1995 M ECU 
(4) 

Shared-cost  actions 

1 659.54 

1631 

10548 

6,47 

4,12 

1,02 

7041 

1 569.06 

Concerted  actions 

Preparatory,  accompanying 
and support  measures 
Controlled  thermonuclear 
fusion 

16,46 

105,00 

(5)  251.51 

50 

798 

181 

84 

1354 

1,68 

1,70 

1,12 

1,38 

0,33 

783 

30,89 

0,13 

2735 

242,52 

199 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

136 

(6)  194.55 

TOTAL 

2 032.50 

2660 

12185 

4,58 

2,96 

0,78 

10695 

2 037.02 

(1) Sum total EC contribution  for each new project,  as stipulated  in the contract (i.e. for entire project  duration). 
(2) MS = Member State. 
(3) Projects  under way at 31.12.95 = signed contracts with a completion  date for  research  work after  31.12.95. 
(4) Payments for projects which fall entirely or partly within  1995. 
(5) An EC contribution  of M ECU 30.48 from  revenue must be added to this amount. 
(6) Payments of M ECU  11.33 from  revenue must be added to this amount. 

Direct action - JRC  (7) 

228,06 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

(7) Only the  1995 commitments are shown for the direct actions. 

XIIA3,157TABEN.XLS, 13/08/96,13:23 

* 

RTD  activities  in  1995  : Specific  programmes  (EC  FP4 +  Euratom  FP)  -  New  projects  (contracts  signed  in  1995) 

Table 2 

Total new projects  (Contracts signed in  1995) 

Names of specific  programmes (ÈC FP4 + Eurato 

Telematics 
Communication  technologies 
Information  technologies 
Industrial and materials  technologies 
Standards, measurement  and testing 
Environment  and  climate 
Marine sciences and technologies 
Biotechnology 
Biomedicine and  health 
Agriculture and fisheries 
Non-nuclear  energy 
Transport 
Targeted socio-economic  research (5) 
International  cooperation 
Dissemination and optimization of results 
Training and mobility of researchers 
Competitive S/T support  activities 
Nuclear fission  safety 
Controlled thermonuclear  fusion 

TOTAL 

Total 
contribution 
EC(1)M 
ECU 

246,85 
208,10 
425,34 
192,07 
17,43 
23,52 
7,16 
65,63 
33,72 
110,50 
172,74 
66,05 
0 
23,06 
37,20 
67,20 
20,08 
64,35 
(6)  251.51 
2 032.50 

Number of 
projects 

Number of 
participants 

218 
109 
363 
244 
47 
64 
20 
72 
81 
155 
172 
47 
0 
267 
271 
133 
134 
82 
181 
2660 

2923 
1203 
1640 
999 
188 
78 
40 
353 
237 
778 
1029 
420 
0 
467 
842 
170 
152 
467 
199 
12185 

Average 
number of 
participants 
per  project 
m 

13,41 
11,04 
4,52 
4,09 
4,00 
1,22 
2,00 
4,90 
2,93 
5,02 
5,98 
8,94 
0 
1,75 
3,11 
1,28 
1,13 
5,70 

n/a  (4) 

n/a 

4,58 

Average 
number of 
MS per 
project(3) 

Average EC 
contribution 
per  project 
MECU 

Shared-cost 
actions 

Concerted 
actions 

Accompanyln 
g  measures 

Total 
contribution 
EC(1)  M 
ECU 

Total 
contribution 
EC(1)M 
ECU 

Total 
contribution 
EC(1)M 
ECU 

5,00 
5,1 
4,22 
1,86 
2,70 
1,06 
1,52 
3,25 
2,15 
5,00 
3,60 
4,83 
0 
1,11 
2,50 
1,11 
1,12 
3,61 

2,96 

1,13 
1,91 
1,17 
0,79 
0,37 
0,37 
0,36 
0,91 
0,42 
0,71 
1,00 
1,41 
0 
0,09 
0,14 
0,51 
0,15 
0,78 

0,78 

n/a 

220,85 
208,10 
379,34 
191,77 
16,32 
22,27 
6,23 
62,15 
23,46 
107,29 
172,45 
64,58 
0 
16,26 
30,00 
63,39 
20,08 
55,00 
251,51 
1 911.05 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0,50 
1,94 
9,82 
2,60 
0 
0 
0 
0,90 
0 
0 
0 
0,70 
0 
16,46 

26,0C 
C 
46,0C 
0,3C 
1,11 
1,25 
0,43 
1,54 
0,45 
0,62 
0,28 
1,46 
C 
5,9C 
7,2C 
3,81 
C 
8,65 
C 
105,00 

(1) Sum total EC contribution for each project, as stipulated in the contract (i.e.for the entire project duration). 
(2) Because of computerized recording, the number of participants may have been underestimated. 
(3) MS = Member States. 
(4) n/a: Not available. 
(5) No contract signed in 1995, although commitments (prior to signature) have been made. 
(6) An EC contribution of M ECU 30.48 from  revenue must be added to thfe amount. 

XIIA1.1577ABEN XLS, 13/08/96,13 26 

RTD activities in 1995: Specific programmes  (FP3)-
Total projects (contracts signed) 

Table 3A 

Names of specific  programmes  FP3 

Number of projects under 
way at 31 12.95(1) 

Overall number of projects 
(2) 

1995 payments total M ECU 
(3) 

Overall EC contribution M 
ECU (4) 

Information  technologies 
Communication  technologies 
Telematics systems of common  interest 
Industrial and materials technologies 
Measurement and testing 
Environment 
Marine sciences and technologies 
Biotechnology 
Agriculture and agro-industrial research,  fisheries 
Biomedical and health research 
Life sciences and technologies for developing countries 
Non-nuclear energy (5) 
Nuclear fission safety 
Controlled thermonuclear  fusion 
Human capital and mobility 
Centralized action for dissemination and utilization of results 
TOTAL 

712 
0 
71 
647 
123 
319 
77 
192 
394 
332 
223 
194 
20 
10 
1962 
85 
5 361 

719 
123 
312 
1653 
190 
639 
145 
372 
399 
554 
353 
403 
122 
396 
3456 
207 
10 043 

316,47 
77,85 
44,64 
144,28 
13,98 
48,38 
24,70 
29,64 
58,01 
20,68 
22,15 
38,90 
7,97 
(6)  72.18 
122,68 
16,64 
1 059.15 

1 293.15 
521,60 
379,00 
701,88 
56,56 
304,83 
107,72 
174,73 
281,39 
129,65 
115,09 
224,64 
56,02 
(7)  465.94 
547,74 
60,76 
5 420.69 

(1)  Projects under way at 31.12.1995 = signed contracts with a completion date for research work after 31.12.1995. 
(2)  Overall number of projects = total number of projects since the beginning of the specific programme FP3 
(3)  Payments for projects falling partly within 1995 
(4)  Overall EC contribution over the whole duration of the framework  programme. 
(5) Excluding the data on the  1990-94 Thermie programme, which was outside FP3. 
(6) Payments of M ECU 7.5 from  revenue must be added to this amount. 
(7) An EC contribution of M ECU 26.6 from  revenue must be added to this amount. 

XIIA3.157TA8EN XIS,13AJ8/96,13:26 

RTD  activities  in  1995  : Specific  programmes  (EC  FP4 +  Euratom  FP)  -
Total  projects  (contracts  signed) 

Table 3B 

Names of specific  programmes  (EC  FP4 
+ Euratom  FP) 

Number of projects  under 
way at  31.12.95(1) 

1995 payments total M 
ECU (2) 

Overall EC contribution M 
ECU (3) 

Telematics 
Communication  technologies 
Information  technologies 
Industrial and materials technologies 
Standards, measurement & testing 
Environment and climate 
Marine sciences and technologies 
Biotechnology 
Biomedicine and health 
Agriculture and fisheries 
Non-nuclear  energy 
Transport (4) 
Targeted socio-economic  research 
International  cooperation 
Dissemination  & optimization  of results 
Training and mobility of researchers 
Competitive  S/T research  activities 
Nuclear fission  safety 
Controlled thermonuclear  fusion 

TOTAL 

218 
109 
363 
235 
34 
16 
16 
66 
61 
86 
166 

0 
139 
233 
143 
134 
78 
126 
2223 

n/a 

61,19 
84,69 
84,71 
41,92 
5,81 
25,69 
21,79 
16,55 
8,15 
13,87 
25,41 
12,23 
3,25 
12,02 
14,46 
14,47 
1,61 
15,92 
(5)  118.44 
582,18 

246,85 
208,10 
425,34 
192,07 
17,43 
23,52 
7,16 
65,63 
33,72 
110,50 
172,74 
66,05 
0,00 
23,06 
37,20 
67,20 
20,08 
64,35 
(6)  251.51 
2 032.50 

(1)  Projects under way at 31.12.1995 = signed contracts with  a completion  date for research  work after  31.12.1995. 
(2)  Payments for projects committed in 1995. 
(3)  Overall EC contribution  = total EC contribution  to the contracts signed by all the partners  in  1995 (cf.  footnote  (1) to Table  1). 
(4) n/a = Not available.  * 
(5) Payments of M ECU  1.5  from  revenue must be added to this amount. 
(6) An EC contribution  of M ECU 30.48 from  revenue must be added to this amount. 

XIIA1.157TABEN.XLS.13/08/96,13:27 

H-* 

111 

—— 

— 

Specific  programmes  (EC FP4 + 
Euratom  FP)/Areas of work  programme 

OJ refs and dates of 
calls for proposals 

Number of 
proposals 
received 

Number of 
eligible 
proposals 

Projects  selected 

| 

Number 

%of 
total 
number 

EC 
I 
contrib. 1 
MECU 

Table 4 

TELEMATICS 

- Telematics applications 

Technology  stimulation for SMEs 

- Telematics  applications 

- Telematics applications 

COMMUNICATION  TECHNOLOGIES  (ACTS) 

- Interactive digital multimedia services 

- Photonic technologies 

- High-speed networking 

- Personal communication 

- Intelligence in networks 

- Quality, security and safety 

- Horizontal actions 
Technology  stimulation for SMEs 

INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGIES 

Technology  stimulation for SMEs 

0357/08(15/12/94) 

064/03(15/03/95) 

0240/14 (15/09/95) 

0258/5(15/09/94) 

1376 

144 

336 

413 

1356 

24 

330 

413 

108 

108 

304 

24 

67 

67 

38 

23 

12 

17 

15 

3 

6 

39 

569 

26 

218 

212 

52 

63 

6 

22% 

17% 

20% 

16% 

35% 

58% 

22% 

37% 

30% 

19% 

67% 

60% 

25% 

45% 

18,5% 

45,6% 

44% 

39% 

43% 

423,90 

42,80 

54.6 

64,4 

114 

84 

59 

94 

66 

8 

17 

0,1 

666,5 

1,1 

402 

7,6 

22 

J 

32,7 

0.3 

40 

54 

46 

50 

16 

9 

65 

2307 

58 

1180 

40 

54 

46 

50 

16 

9 

65 

2307 

58 

1122 

364 

98 

102 

10 

0240/7(15/9/95) 

INDUSTRIAL  AND  MATERIALS  TECHNOLOGIES 

0357/7(15/12/94) 

Technology  stimulation for SMEs 

C357/7 (15/12/94) 

Step 1 : 465 

STANDARDS,  MEASUREMENT  A ND  TESTING 

Technology  stimulation for SMEs 

ENVIRONMENT  AND  CLIMATE 

Step 2:  118 

0357/7(15/12/94) 

0357/7(15/12/94) 

161 

14 

- Research on the natural environment, environmental quality and 

012/05(17/01/95) 

1607 

1505 

287 

17,9% 

205,2 

global change, environmental technologies, space techniques 

closed 27/4/95 

applied to environmental monitoring and research, human 

dimensions of environmental change , 

Technology stimulation for SMEs 

"open call" 

18 

17 

5 

29% 

0,2 

O 

Specific programmes (EC FP4 + 
Euratom FP)/Areas of work  programme 

OJ refs and dates of 
calls for proposals 

Number of 
proposals 
received 

Number of 
eligible 
proposals 

Table 4 

-Space techniques applied to environmental  monitoring 

0148/08(15/06/95) 

102 

94 

and research 

Closed  15/9/95 

•Space techniques applied to environmental monitoring 

0271/12(17/10/95) 

15 

13 

46% 

4,2 

and research 

IMARINE TECHNOLOGY  AND  SCIENCES 

Closed  15/12/95 

- Marine sciences, strategic marine research, marine technologies 

0357/19(15/12/94) 

287 

273 

46 

16% 

75,4 

Technology stimulation for SMEs 

- Marine sciences, strategic marine research 

Technology stimulation for SMEs 

BIOTECHNOLOGY 

- Cell factories 

- Genome analysis 

- Plant andanimal biotechnology 

- Cell communication in neurosciences 

- Immunology; trans-disease vaccinology 

- Structural biology 

- Pre-normative research, biodiversity  and social acceptance 

-  Infrastructures 

-ELSA 

Technology stimulation for SMEs 

BIOMEDICINE  AND  HEALTH 

-SMEs 

Technology  stimulation for SMEs 

AGRICULTURE  AND  FISHERIES 

closed  15/3/95 

0148/12 

closed  15/6/95 

012/10(17/01/95) 

48 

46 

12 

25% 

20,7 

125 

125 

20 

24 

51 

7 

58 

7 

2 

18 

8 

15 

24 

51 

7 

58 

7 

2 

18 

8 

15 

9 

8 

6 

2 

9 

3 

3 

012(17/01/95) 

012(17/01/95) 

"open call" 

1722 

27 

1709 

26 

307 

5 

27,8 

18,1 

9.7 

5,1 

0,1 

10,9 

1.6 

0.1 

153.6 

16% 

38% 

16% 

10% 

29% 

50% 

38% 

20% 

18% 

20% 

- Integrated production and processing chains, consumer 

0357/19(15/12/94) 

937 

918 

112 

12% 

110 

nutrition and wellbeing, new and optimized nutritious food 

products and materials, agriculture, forestry and rural development, 

fisheries and aquaculture, objectives achieved by concertation 

IJTechnology stimulation for SMEs 

0357/19(15/12/94) 

35 

34 

26% 

0.6 

Table 4 

Projects  selected 

Number 

%of 
total 
number 

EC 
contrib. 
MECU 

181 

7 

147 

250 

42 

109 

19% 

35% 

37% 

38% 

60% 

191.6 

0.3 

111 

28 

4 

32,7% 

205,2 

Specific  programmes  (EC FP4 + 
Euratom FP)/Areas  of work  programme 

OJ refs and dates of 
calls for proposals 

Number of 
proposals 
received 

Number of 
eligible 
proposals 

NON-NUCLEAR  ENERGY 

Technology stimulation for SMEs 

- Non-nuclear energy (THERMIE TYPE A) 

- Non-nuclear energy (THERMIE TYPE B) 

Technology  stimulation for SMEs 
TRANSPORT 
TARGETED SOCIO-ECONOMIC  RESEARCH 
- Evaluation of science and technology  policy options in 

Europe and ETAN 

- Research on education and training 

- Research into social integration and social exclusion in Europe 

Technology  stimulation for SMEs 

INTERNATIONAL  COOPERATION 

- DCs (vaccines, animal health) 

- DCs (health, agriculture, renewable energy) 

- Training (Fellowships Japan, Korea) 

- Training (Fellowships manufacturing technologies Japan) 

-DCs 

DISSEMINATION  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  RESULTS 

- Network of relay centres 

- Technology transfer projects, validation projects 

- Science parks 

- Regional activity 

15/11/94 

15/12/94 

15/12/94 

0357/12(15/12/94) 

938 

18 

393 

662 

70 

333 

885 

18 

393 

662 

70 

333 

064/05 and 09 (15/03/1995) 

121 

121 

17 

18.2 

10 

064/09 (15/03/95) 

064/09 (15/03/95) 

064/06(15/03/95) 

064/06(15/03/95) 

038/10(15/02/95) 

038/10(15/02/95) 

064/06(15/03/95) 

064/06 (15/03/95) 

15/12/94 

15/03/96 

15/06/95 

15/09/95 

197 

233 

89 

979 

111 

13 

58 

47 

122 

501 

82 

59 

193 

226 

10 

11 

6.2 

6.6 

4.7 

5,6 

77 

728 

111 

13 

57 

40 

122 

501 

81 

58 

26 

29% 

12 

76 

7 

11 

8 

50 

100 

39 

26 

68% 

54% 

19% 

17% 

42% 

20% 

48% 

44% 

4.4 

0,3 

3,7 

2,8 

22.5 

75 

N.A 
N.A 

I 

Specific  programmes  (EC FP4 + 
Euratom FP)/Areas  of work  programme 

OJ refs and dates of 
calls for proposals 

- Stimulation of public awareness 

- Promotion of innovation management technologies 

- European networks and services for technology transfer and 

support for innovation 

- OPET network - Organisations for the promotion of 

energy technologies 

TRAINING  AND  MOBILITY  OF  RESEARCHERS 

- Fellowships 

- Networks 

- Large-scale facilities 

- Accompanying  measures 

NUCLEAR  FISSION  SAFETY 

N.A.  :  not  available 

15/09/95 

15/12/95 

15/12/95 

15/12/95 

17/01/95 

15/06/95 

15/09/95 

17/01/95 

17/01/95 

17/01/95 

15/06/95 

17/01/95 

Number of 
proposals 
received 

Number of 
eligible 
proposals 

Projects selected 

1 

Number 

%of 
total 
number 

I 
EC 
contrib. 1 
MECU  I 

29 

N.A 

N.A 

N.A 

3039 

2005 

2210 

1448 

201 

270 

253 

253 

28 

N.A 

N.A 

11 

N.A 

N.A 

37% 

N.A 

N.A 

j 
I 

N.A 
N.A 

N.A 

N.A 

N.A 

N.A 

N.A 

2261 

1728 

1944 

1429 

193 

219 

202 

246 

582 

350 

91 

84 

55 

65 

79 

25.6 

20.2 

6.3 

41.8 

25.1 

32.2 
31% 

47,7 

29,3 

148,9 

4,8 

5,3 

85 

| 

| 

Table 4 

CO 
4b 

RTD activities in 1995: Specific  programmes (EC FP4 + Euratom FP) - Shared-cost actions (SCA) - New projects (contracts signed in 1995) 

Type  of  participant 

L E ( 1) 

S ME  (2) 

R O ( 3) 

1IEI  (4) 

O t h er (5) 

Int.  O r g.  (6) 

Third  countries (7) 

Total 

EC  contrib. 

Number of 

EC  contrib. 

Number of 

EC  contrib. 

N u m b er of 

EC  contrib. 

N u m b er of 

EC  contrib. 

N u m b er of 

EC  contrib. 

N u m b er of 

EC  Contrib. 

N u m b er of 

EC  contrib. 

N u m b er of 

Community  contribution (in M ECU) and participation (number) by type of participant 

Table 5A 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

M E CU 

participants 

Names  of specific  p r o g r a m m es  (EC  FP4 + 
Euratom FP) 

Telematics 

Communication  technologies 

Information  technologies 

Industrial  and materials  technologies 

Standards,  measurements  and  testing 

Environment  and  climate 

Marine  sciences  and  technologies 

Biotechnology 

Biomedicine  and  health 

Agriculture  and  fisheries 

Non-nuclear  energy 

Transport 

Targeted  socio-economic  research 

International  cooperation 

Dissemination  and  optimization  of results 

Training  and  mobility  of researchers 

Competitive  S/T  support  activities 

Nuclear  fission  safety 

Controlled  thermonuclear  fusion 

79,72 

983 

4,48 

123 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

19,11 

59,32 

197,59 

76,18 

2,96 

0.35 

0,50 

2,28 

0,34 

4.64 

194 

356 

492 

292 

31 

2 

1 

15 

4 

36 

21,87 

32,13 

70,37 

41,25 

3,44 

0 

0 

2,34 

0,72 

6,31 

46,96 

209 

29,96 

294 

224 

289 

302 

38 

Ô 

0 

21 

7 

63 

179 

31,20 

17,30 

.  48,36 

32,12 

4,37 

19,76 

2,29 

20,60 

6,08 

48,90 

45,50 

388 

128 

169 

163 

44 

5 

10 

105 

43 

316 

285 

38,10 

72,66 

44,66 

38,87 

5,22 

2,11 

2,81 

31,96 

14,86 

42,03 

39,19 

511 

332 

220 

188 

36 

11 

9 

145 

116 

264 

246 

26,37 

26,69 

6,85 

0,59 

0,20 

0,06 

0 

0,76 

0,46 

2,00 

7,13 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

0 

0,69 

1,20 

3,79 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

0 

7 

44 

1 

7 

40 

6 

0 

0,51 

1.34 

5,63 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

0 

7 

0 

3,99 

260 

n/a 

3 

56 

34 

5 

44,25 

n/a 

29,60 

n/a 

0 

34 

79 

68 

26 

197 

123 

2183 

0 

6,24 

n/a 

14,77 

n/a 

13,67 

n/a 

0 

69 

78 

51 

13 

91 

12 

0 

0 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

0,14 

1,99 

170 

163 

67 

4 

3 

1 

0 

7 

5 

21 

41 

0 

0 

1,35 

0 

0 

0 

0 

4,07 

0,02 

0,25 

0 

0 

0 

n/a 

196 

n/a 

1 

23 

20 

42 

1,70 

0,32 

n/a 

n/a 

4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

7 

2 

1 

0 

0 

1 

2 

2 

27 

1 

2 

n/a 

10,16 

2,76 

0,13 

0 

0,64 

0,14 

0,98 

3,16 

3,70 

n/a 

n/a 

0 

4,83 

0 

0 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

64 

32 

4 

0 

3 

14 

11 

35 

52 

0 

81 

9 

1 

0 

24 

9 

462 

367,15] 

2392 

73,25] 

764 

87,42] 

1032 

30,97 

T O T AL 

415,90| 

1737 

215.86 

1782 

354,32! 

(1) LE: Large enterprises. 
(2) SME: Small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer  than 500 employees. 
(3) RO:  Research organisations 
(4) HEI: Higher education institutes 
(5) Other: EIG, EEIG, non-profit-making  bodies, etc. 
(6) Int. Org.: International organisations. The figure  for the telematics programme also includes non-identificd  institutions. 
(7) Third countries: Countries not belonging to the European Union. 
(8) An EC contribution of M ECU 30 48 from  revenue must be added to this amount. 
n/a = Not available 

XIIA3.157TABEN.XLS.13/08/96,13:40 

220,85 

208,10 

379,34 

191,77 

16,32 

22,27 

6,23 

62,15 

23,46 

107,29 

172,45 

64,58 

0 

16,26 

30,00 

63,39 

20,08 

55.00 

(8)  251  51 

2663 

1203 

1305 

981 

156 

19 

23 

314 

188 

736 

1012 

395 

0 

199 

668 

127 

152 

407 

199 

1  911.05 

10747 

5» 

RTD activities in  1995: Specific  programmes  (EC  FP4 + Euratom  FP) - Shared-cost  actions  (SCA) - New projects  (contracts  signed  in  1995)  Tal?l9 5B 

Community  contribution  (in  M ECU) and  participation  (number)  by type of participant  from  the  European  Union  (%) 

Type  of  participant 

LE(1) 

SME (2) 

RO (3) 

HEI (4) 

Other  (5) 

Total 

EC  contrib. 

Number  of 

EC contrib. 

Number  of 

EC  contrib. 

Number  of 

EC  contrib. 

Number  of 

EC  contrib. 

Number  of 

EC  contrib. 

Number  of 

Names of specific  programmes  (EC FP4 + 
Euratom  FP)) 

Telematics 
Communication  technologies 
Information  technplogies 
Industrial and materials  technologies 
Standards, measurements  and testing 
Environment  and climate 
Marine sciences and  technologies 
Biotechnology 
Biomedicine and health 
Agriculture and  fisheries 
Non-nuclear energy 
Transport 
Targeted  socio-economic  research 
International  cooperation 
Dissemination  and optimization  of results 
Training and mobility of researchers 
Competitive S/T/ support activities 
Nuclear fission  safety 
Controlled thermonuclear  fusion 

TOTAL 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

MECU 

participants 

13,98% 
28,51% 
53,72% 
40,30% 
18,29% 
1,58% 
8,86% 
3,94% 
1,51% 
4,46% 
27,83% 
n/a 

0 
6,04% 

n/a 

1,95% 

n/a 

6,93% 

n/a 
29,16% 

| 

12,46% 
29,59% 
39,77% 
30,77% 
20,39% 
10,53% 
5,00% 
5,12% 
2,29% 
5,14% 
21,77% 
n/a 

0 
5,98% 
6.70% 
0,81% 
5,60% 
10,47% 
3,19% 
19,61% 

16,00% 
15,44% 
19,13% 
21,83% 
21,24% 
0,00% 
0,00% 
4,03% 
3,19% 
6,07% 
17,76% 
n/a 

0 
4,46% 

n/a 

2,16% 

n/a 
10,29% 
n/a 
15,13% 

18,88% 
18,62% 
23,36% 
31,82% 
25,00% 
0,00% 
0.00% 
7,17% 
4,00% 
9,00% 
18,65% 
n/a 

0 
5,98% 
39,57% 
2,42% 
44,80% 
8,90% 
2,66% 
20,12% 

22,83% 
8,31% 
13,15% 
16,99% 
26,98% 
88,69% 
40,94% 
35,56% 
27,08% 
47,08% 
26,96% 
n/a 

0 
34,92% 
n/a 
71,73% 
n/a 
54,13% 
n/a 
24,84% 

L 

24,92% 
10,64% 
13,66% 
17,18% 
28,95% 
26,32% 
50,00% 
35,84% 
24,57% 
45,14% 
29,69% 
n/a 

0 
29,06% 
12,02% 
54,84% 
20,80% 
51,57% 
65,43% 
24,64% 

27,88% 
34,92% 
12,14% 
20,57% 
32,23% 
9,47% 
50,19% 
55,17% 
66,16% 
40,47% 
23,23% 
n/a 

0 
54,59% 
n/a 
23,94% 
n/a 
25,00% 
n/a 
25,74% 

| 

32,82% 
27,60% 
17,78% 
19,81% 
23,68% 
57,89% 
45,00% 
49,49% 
66.28% 
37,71% 
25,63% 
n/a 

0 
58,97% 
11,87% 
41,13% 
10,40% 
23,82% 
6,38% 
27,00% 

19,30% 
12,83% 
1,86% 
0,31% 
1,25% 
0,27% 
0,00% 
1,31% 
2,06% 
1,92% 
4,23% 

n/a 

0 
0,00% 

n/a 

0,22% 

n/a 

3,65% 

n/a 

5,13% 

10,92% 
13,55% 
5,42% 
0,42% 
1,97% 
5,26% 
0,00% 
2,39% 
2,86% 
3,00% 
4,27% 

n/a 

0 
0,00% 
29,83% 
0,81% 
18,40% 
5,24% 
22,34% 
8,62% 

100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
n/a 

0 
100,00% 
n/a 
100,00% 
n/a 
100,00% 
n/a 
100,00% 

100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
n/a 

0 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 
100,00% 

(1) LE: Large enterprises. 
(2) SME: Small  and medium-sized  enterprises  with  fewer  than  500 employees. 
(3) RO: Research  organisations 
(4) HEI: Higher education  institutes 
(5) Other: EIG, EEIG, non-profit-making  bodies, etc. 

n/a = Not  available 

XIIA3,157TABEN.XLS,13/08/96,13:40 

3 

Activities  in  1995:  specific  programmes  (EC  FP4  +  Euratom  FP)  - Shared-cost  actions  (SCA) 

New  projects  (contracts  signed  in 

1995) 
Objective  1  regions 

Table 6 

Names of specific  programmes (EC  FP4 + Euratom  FP) 
Telematics 
Communication  technologies 
Information  technologies 
Industrial and materials technologies 
Standards, measurement and testing 
Environment and climate 
Marine sciences and technologies 
Biotechnology 
Biomedicine and health 
Agriculture and  fisheries 
Non-nuclear energy 
Transport 
Targeted socio-economic  research 
International  cooperation 
Dissemination  and optimization of results 
Training and mobility of researchers 
Competitive  S/T support activities 
Nuclear fission  safety 
Controlled thermonuclear  fusion 

TOTAL  DISTRIBUTED  (2) 
TOTAL  RESEARCH 

Number  of  projects 

Participation  (Number) 

Total 

182 
109 
225 
226 
24 
5 
3 
41 
32 
113 
155 
41 
0 
33 
150 
90 
134 
68 
181 
1456 
1812 

Objective 1 
128 
58 
156 
62 
9 
3 
1 
18 
13 
62 
77 

n/a 

0 
6 
45 
12 

16 

666 

n/a 

n/a 

Total 

2663 
1203 
1305 
981 
156 
19 
23 
314 
188 
736 
1012 
395 
0 
199 
668 
127 
152 
407 
199 
10 001 
10747 

Objective  1 
412 
118 
248 
100 
16 
4 
1 
27 
16 
116 
144 

n/a 

0 
7 
116 
13 

18 

n/a 

n/a 

1 356 

Total EC contribution  to  the 
projects  (M  ECU) 

Total 

Objective  1 

220,85 
208,10 
379,34 
191,77 
16,32 
22,27 
6,23 
62,15 
23,46 
107,29 
172,45 
64,58 
0,00 
16,26 
30,00 
63,39 
20,08 
55,00 
(1)  251.51 
1.574.88 
1911.05 

32,70 
120,11 
41,94 
18,58 
1,11 
0,60 
0,09 
4,61 
1,68 
14,60 
16,66 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

0,00 
0,68 
3,56 
5,76 

2,23 

264,90 

(1) An EC contribution  of MECU 30.48 from  revenue must be added to this amount 
(2) Taking account of non-available data: n/a 

XIIA1,157TABEN.XlS,13/08/96,13:41 

Activities  in  1995: Specific  programmes  (EC FP4 + Euratom  FP) - Shared-cost actions (SCA) -New projects (1) 
Total intra and inter-country collaboration links (EC + EFTA+ PECO + REST OF THE WORLD) (2) 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

United 

Kingdom 

T O T AL 

EFTA (3) 

PECO (4) 

'"" 

*u  ' '" 
8  Belgium 

• 

Belgium 

Denmark 

1 
1 

1 

241 

112 

Germany 

| 

532 

Greece 

a 

187 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

253 

539 

106 

356 

I  Luxembourg  I 

29 

1  Netherlands  1 

254 

1 

Austria 

1 

69 

1 

Portugal 

1 

154 

1 

Finland 

1 

109 

I 

Sweden 

B 

161 

1 United Kingdom! 

415 

112 

150 

318 

158 

167 

213 

76 

248 

5 

203 

48 

90 

84 

152 

344 

532 

318 

1437 

589 

821 

1959 

194 

1254 

187 

158 

589 

478 

389 

509 

140 

490 

16 

5 

253 

167 

821 

389 

612 

899 

193 

741 

4 

743 

389 

320 

269 

594 

1681 

263 

307 

70 

212 

124 

254 

693 

165 

261 

188 

293 

722 

539 

213 

1959 

509 

899 

1393 

217 

1325 

28 

662 

278 

284 

265 

491 

1480 

106 

76 

194 

140 

193 

217 

193 

207 

7 

356 

248 

1254 

490 

741 

1325 

207 

787 

8 

163 

390 

49 

97 

89 

103 

422 

197 

278 

276 

406 

1051 

69 

48 

389 

70 

165 

278 

49 

197 

5 

78 

103 

37 

62 

63 

154 

90 

320 

212 

261 

284 

97 

278 

4 

138 

37 

188 

106 

131 

254 

203 

743 

263 

307 

662 

163 

390 

10 

357 

78 

138 

194 

266 

888 

109 

84 

269 

124 

188 

265 

89 

276 

161 

152 

594 

415 

3517 

344 

2368 

1681 

11116 

254 

•  693 

4561 

293 

491 

103 

406 

722 

6015 

1480 

10542 

422 

2256 

1051 

8014 

5 

5 

10 

157 

127 

110 

430 

226 

188 

333 

82 

219 

8 

194 

266 

4916 

226 

62 

106 

182 

208 

63 

131 

208 

272 

629 

888 

201 

1814 

317 

2617 

352 

629 

2513 

4028 

1235 

10440 

54 

83 

92 

139 

370 

201 

317 

352 

Table 7 

Rest of the 
world 

TOTAL 

IS 

3662 

24 

36 

19 

24 

34 

12 

21 

3 

39 

17 

15 

15 

27 

96 

2517 

11608 

4821 

6233 

10911 

2353 

8269 

168 

5186 

1891 

2722 

2626 

4203 

10941 

3 

15 

26 

15 

6 

2 

3 

15 

0 

5 

6 

7 

6 

9 

35 

1  Total E U R 15  | 

3517 

2368 

11116 

4561 

6015 

10542 

2256 

8014 

| 

EFTA 

1 

PECO 

• Rest of the world 

127 

110 

430 

226 

188 

333 

3 

15 

15 

24 

26 

36 

15 

19 

6 

24 

2 

34 

82 

3 

12 

219 

15 

21 

4916 

1814 

2617 

2513 

4028 

10440 

74874 

2687 

153 

• 397 

78111 

226 

5 

39 

54 

6 

17 

83 

7 

15 

92 

6 

15 

139 

370 

2687 

9 

27 

35 

96 

153 

397 

Stt 
* 
it 

S 

&i 

& 

12 

2986 

& 

66 

203 

497 

I R A ND TOTAL 

» 

2517 

11608 

4821 

6233 

10911 

2353 

8269 

168 

5186 

1891 

2722 

2626 

4203 

10941 

78111 

2986 

203 

497 

81797 

(1) Contracts signed  in  1995 (Transport,  Competitive Support,  Fusion, Agriculture  Programmes  DG VI and  DG  XIV, INCO DG  III and  DG XIII, Competitive Support  = n/a) 
(2) Total collaborative links in each  project. 
(3) EFTA: Iceland - Lichtenstein  - Norway  - Switzerland 
(4) PECO: Albania - Bulgaria - Estonia - Hungary  - Latvia - Lithuania - Poland  - Romania - Slovenia - Slovakia - Czech  Republic 
n/a =  Not available. 

XllAA.157TABENXLS.«/08/96.13<1 

^5 

29 

5 

16 

5 

4 

28 

7 

8 

16 

10 

5 

4 

5 

5 

10 

157 

8 

0 

3 

RTD activities  in  1996  : Work  programme  1996 - Specific  programmes  (EC  FP4 + Euratom FP) 

Table 8 

Timetable  for  calls for  proposals  and the selection  procedure:  Budget 

Names of specific programmes (EC FP4 + Euratom FP) and areas of work programme 

Dates and OJ 
references of calls 
for proposals (or 

Technology 
stimula|Jon 

expressions© 

"i,? 

'measures), 

' 

*? 

m 
$ W r* 

i i ^ i i i i i l i l i i i ii 

Handicapped and elderly people, health, research, education and training, language engineering 
All areas (telematics for improving employment  and the quality of life, knowledge, services of public 
interest) 

Integrated applications in digital sites 

Rolling open call for support  actions 

ç^mw&tàsatïoa tecftnotogies (ACTS) 
All areas (interactive digital multimedia services, photonic technologies,  high-speed  networks, personal 
communication, intelligence in networks, quality, safety  and security, horizontal activities) 

Information technologies (ESPRIT) 
Software  technologies,  technologies  for IT  components  and  subsystems,  multimedia  systems,  open 
microprocessor  systems,  technologies  for business  processes,  integration in manufacturing 

, 

Industrial and materials technologies 
Production  materials  and product  innovation,  means of transport  (excluding  aeronautic  technologies) 

All areas (measurements for quality  European products, research related to standards and technical 
support to trade, measurements  related to the needs of society) 

Environment ft Climate 

Applied space techniques for environmental monitoring and research: research on methods and pilot 
>rojects 
Applied space techniques for environmental  monitoring and research: R&D for potential future  operational 
activities 

" 

interest) 

15/09/95 
C240 

16/12/96 

16/12/96 

15/09/1995 
C240 

15/09/95 
C240 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

15/01/96 

02/96-03/96 

05/96-06/96 

09/96 

24 

15/03/97 

04/97-05/97 

07/97-09/97 

01/98 

02/97-03/97 
06/97-07/97 

10/97-11/97 

01/98 

15/02/97 
(1st stage) 
15/06/97 

approx. every 
3mths 

1/03/96 

03/96-04/96 

04/96-05/96 

1/07/96 

120 

15/03/1996 
C75 

15/03/96 

15/09/96 

15/09/96 

16/04/1996 
(1st stage) 
19/06/1996 
15/10/1996 
(1st stage) 
15/12/1996 

07/96-08/96 

09/96-11/96 

10/96 

35 

97 

97 

1997 

15/12/95 
C337 

15/06/95 
C148 

15/06/1995 
Ç148 

17/10/95 
C271 

Open Call 

17/04/96 

10/96 

11/96 

11/96 

Open Call 

15/11/95 

06/96-10/96 

06/96-10/96 

09/96 

400 

51,6 

Open Call 

15/09/95 

10/95-01/96 

02/96-05/96 

05/96  • 

12,7 

Open Call 

15/12/95 

02/96-05/96 

07/96-09/96 

08/96 

4,2 

s§ 

RTD activities  in  1996 : Work  programme  1996 - Specific  programmes  (EC FP4 + Euratom FP) 
Timetable for  calls for  proposals  and the selection  procedure:  Budget 

Table 8 

Names of specific programmes (EC FP4 + Euratom FP) and areas of work programme 

Dates and OJ 
references of calls 
for proposals (or 
expressions of 
interest) 

Technology 
stimulation 
(SME 
measures) 

Deadlines/ 
dates for 
receipt of 
proposals 

Selection 
procedures 
(period) 

Contract 
negotiatipn 
(period), 

. 

Total 
1996 
Budget 
(MECU) 

Anticipate 
d date of 
initial 
contract 
signature 

Applied space techniques etc.: Centre for Earth  Observation 
Research on the  natural environment,  environmental  quality  and global  change,  environmental 
technologies,  space techniques  applied  to  Earth observation,  human  dimensions  of  environmental 
change 

Training  grants 

Marine sciences and technologies 

Marine sciences, strategic marine  research, marine technologies, support  initiatives 

Support initiatives 
Marine sciences  (research on marine systems, extreme  marine environments,  research on regional seas), 
strategic marine research, marine  technologies 

Training grants 
Biotechnology 
Genome  analysis  (research  on  functions,  comparative  analyses),  molecular  and  cellular  biology  of 
plants, somatic  gene therapy,  immunological  substances,  structure/function  relations,  bioinformatics, 
prenormative  research 

Pharmatoxicology  in vitro,  biotechnology  for  the  environment,  infrastructures,  horizontal  activities 

15/03/97 
C75 

Open Call 

15/06/97 

07/97-09/97 

09/97-11/97 

11/97 

18 

17/09/96 

Open Call 

16/01/97 

02/97-05/97 

06/97-11/97 

09/97 

15/12/95 
C337 

15/12/1994 
C357 

15/Ô3/Î996 
C75 
16/04/96 
C  110 
15/12/1995 
C337 

20/03/1996 + 
20/08/96 

04/96-11/96 

05/96-02/97 

07/96-12/96 

2,4 

15/03/95 

09/95-11/95 

09/95-11/95 

1/01/96 

36,3 

Open Call 

15/06/95 
. 

03/96-04/96 

01/96-04/96 

1/04/96 

38 

17/06/96 

06/96-08/96 

07/96-01/97 

08/96-06/97 

4 

15/10/96 

11/96-03/97 

20/03/96 + 
20/08/96 

04/96-11/96 

05/96-02/97 

2.3 

15/09/1995 
C240 

15/09/1995 
C240 

10/01/96 

15/03/96-
31/05/96 

01/06/96 -
15/09/96 

15/09/96 

233,6 

15/06/96 

15/10/96 

07/01/97 -
31/03/97 

01/04/97-
15/07/97 

15/07/97 

134.00 

Biomôdicît^ *nd heatlh 

Pharmaceutical  research, biomedical  technology  and engineering,  research  on the  brain,  human 
genome, Aids,  tuberculosis  and  other  infectious  diseases.  Demonstration  projects 

BIOMED 2 - 3rd call 

15/03/96 
C75 

not yet  published 

17/06/96 

09/96-12/96 

15/02/97 

31/03/97 

17/12/96 

03/97-07/97 

30/07/97 

15/10/97 

-

-

RTD activities  in 1996  : Work programme  1996 - Specific  programmes  (EC FP4 + Euratom FP) 

Table 8 

Timetable for calls for  proposals and the selection  procedure:  Budget 

Names of specific programmes (EC FP4 + Euratom FP) and areas of work programme 

Dates and OJ 
references of calls 
for proposals (or 

expressions of 
interest) 

Technology 
stimulation 
V;.(SME^? 
measures) 

Deadlines/ 
dates for 
^receipt of 
proposals 

Selection 

-*•;  5 -* 

procedures 

^(period)**» 

;negoJatton-
:HPeJlP|JLv 

Total 

1996 
Budget 
(MECU) 

signature 

A^*C^t«m*R<*^$Mrle$ 

^ 

Scaling-up and processing methodologies, advanced, optimized technologies  and processes, generic 
science for nutritious food 
R&D:  integrated  production  and  processing  chains,  agriculture,  forestry  and rural  development, 
fisheries  and aquaculture,  ethical,  legal  and social  aspects.  Demonstration:  agriculture,  forestry and 
rural development,  fisheries  and  aquaculture 

15/06/1995 
C148 

15/12/95 
C337 

15/09/95 

16/09/95-

13/03/96-

12/03/96 

30/06/96 

1/06/96 

50,5 

03/96 

15/03/96 

16/03/96-

16/09/96-

15/09/96 

30/11/96 

1/12/96 

110.00 

Integrated  production  and processing  chains,  scaling-up  and processing  methodologies,  generic 
science  and advanced technologies  for nutritious  foods,  agriculture,  forestry  and  rural  development, 
fisheries  and  aquaculture 

tfofl^fcctearmifcrgy 
Supplementary  call targeting  renewable  energy  sources  (specific  subjects  in the field of solar  energy, 
photovoltaics,  wind  energy  and  biomass) 

16/01/96 
C11 

SMEs Exploratory  awards 

Call for expression of interest for experts 

THERMIE Type A 
THERMIE Typé B 

'WEEEEEE8EEEEEE 

Transport 
Strategic  research, rail transport,  integrated  transport  chains, air transport,  urban  transport, 
waterway  transport,  road  transport 
Strategic  research, rail transport,  integrated  transport  chains, air transport,  urban  transport, 
waterway  transport,  road  transport 

15/06/95 
95/C  148/16 

15/09/95 
15/12/94 

15/12/95 
C337 

15/12/95 
C337 

15/12/96 

15/12/94 
C357 

15/06/95 
C  148 

15/06/95 
C  148 

16/10/95-

01/03/96-

29/02/96 

30/04/96 

1/06/96 

1,2 

01/02/96-

01/05/96 -

30/04/96 

30/06/96 

15/06/96 -

16/09/96-

15/09/96 

30/11/96 

1/08/96 

1,7 

1/12/96 

14/05/96 

14/05/96 

5/96-9/96 

9/96-11/96 

01/97 

25,3 

15/12/94 
94/C 357/11 

1/96-3/96 

4/96-5/96 

06/96 

0,5 

2/06/98 

6/96-8/96 

15/12/94 

1/02/96 
17/12/97 

3/96-07/1996  9/96-10/1996 
3/96-08/1996  9/96-10/1996 

11/96 
11/96 

105 
26 

28/02/96 

3/96-6/96 

07/96-08/96 

09/96 

46,7 

205,2 

15/12/95 
C337 

15/03/96 

04/96-05/96 

07/96-11/96 

10/96 

15/03/97 

RTD activities in 1996 : Work programme 1996 - Specific  programmes (EC FP4 + Euratom FP) 
Timetable for calls for proposals and the selection procedure: Budget 

Table 8 

>  /. 

Mf»^8 ?¥^MMMmwfiM9pp41Euratom 

•*&  *  *  *  « 

** 

* Î**  V» 

ft 

* 3§?B 

j 

i 

F p)a nd areas

 < W * R W ! W 5 ?^ 

• * * • *, 

•'i 

Ê É i i i i i f ^ Ë à i a ï i l i É ^^ 

• • - . . •- 

<-

Science and technology  policy  options, research on education  and training,  research on social 
integration and exclusion (only certain  sub-areas) 
iiii^ii^il!^H^Ëiiii 

Developing countries (DG XII) 
Fellowships  Japan, Korea  (DG  XII) 

Developing countries (DG XII) 

Cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the new Independent  States (DG XII) 

Training: fellowships  Japan, manufacturing  technologies  (DG  III) 

Developing countries (DG III) 

Cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the new Independent  States (DG XIII) 

Developing countries (DG XIII) 

Cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the new Independent States (DG XVII) 

Regional action (with DG XVI) 

Stimulation of public awareness 
Promotion of innovation  management  techniques 
OPET network  - Organizations  for the promotion of energy  technologies 
European networks  and  services for technology  transfer  and  innovation  support 

^ - A ^i 

Cecr 
stimulai 
M(8P 
measures)9 

(Çeïptof^ 
SC?P5??a!f^ 

4^4* 

*"{interest)^  . 

^ f s f c. 

i'XotalJf* 
§119961% 

f(MECU) 

35 

15/06/96 

15/10/96 

01/97 

03/97 

05/97 

C64 

15/02/1995 
C38 
15/03/1996 
C75 

17/10/95 
C27 

15/02/95 
C38 
15/03/1996 
C75 

17/10/95 
C27 

15/03/1996 
C75 

17/10/95 
C27 

15/09/95 
15/09/95 
15/12/95 
15/12/95 
15/12/95 

6/09/95 

10/95-03/96 

1/03/96 

12/09/96 

29/02/96 

1/03/96 

17/04/96-
06/07/96 
15/10/96-
02/97 

15/03/96-
15/04/96 

17/04/96-
06/07/96 

15/03/96-
15/04/96 

15/03/96-
15/05/96 

06/96-07/96 

47,2 

1/09/96 

1/09/96 

4,2 

15/11/96-
15/05/97 

07/97 

09/96-10/96 

10/96-11/96 

31,7 

1/09/96 

1/09/96 

09/96-10/96 

10/96-11/96 

15/03/96-
15/04/96 

1/96 - 3/96 
1/96 - 3/96 
4/96  -  6/96 
4/96 - 6/96 
4/96 - 6/96 
10/96-12/96 

15/12/95 
15/12/95 
15/03/96 
15/03/96 
15/03/96 
16/09/96 

09/96-10/96 

10/96-11/96 

03/96 
03/96 
06/96 
06/96 
06/96 
12/96 

04/96 
04/96 
07/96 
07/96 
07/96 
01/97 

4,4 

us 

RTD activities  in  1996 : Work  programme  1996 - Specific  programmes  (EC FP4 + Euratom  FP) 
Timetable for  calls for  proposals  and the selection  procedure:  Budget 

Table 8 

Names of specific programmes (EC FP4 + Euratom FP) and areas of work programme 

Dates and OJ 
references of calls 
for proposals (or 
expressions of 
interest) 

Technology 
stimulation 
(SME 
measures) 

Deadlines/ 
dates f o r ., 
receipt of 
proposals i;,. 

Selection 
procedures 
(period)^ 

<  Contract^ 
negotiation 
^(period);!1 

Anticipate 

ifr* 

v.contract •. 
signature 

Total 
1996 
Budget 
(MECU) 

Financial  actions 
Technology  transfer  projects,  technology  validation  projects 
European  networks  and services  for  technology  transfer  and  innovation  support 

Training and mobility of researchers 
Research  networks 

Training fellowships  for  research 

I 

Access to  large  scale  facilities 
Euroconferences,  summer  schools  and  practical  training  courses 

15/06/96 
15/09/96 
15/1J/95 

17/01/95 
16/09/96 
15/06/95 
15/09/95 
15/03/96 
16/09/96 
16/09/96 
15/12/95 
17/06/96 
16/12/96 

16/09/96 
15/12/96 
16/03/96 
18/09/97 

15/06/95 
3/02/97 
15/09/95 
15/12/95 
17/06/96 
16/12/96 
16/12/96 
1/04/96 
30/09/96 
1/04/97 

10/96-12/96 
1/97-4/97 
N.A. 
N.A. 

12/96 
12/96 
N.A. 
N.A. 

-

-
-
-

15/02/96 
09/97 
29/02/96 
05/96 
12/96 
05/97 
05/97 
06/96 
03/97 
06/97 

•

• & > & $ * * :. 

- ,  -  >#  < 

01/97 
05/97 
N.A. 

N.A. 

-

05/96 
08/96 
12/96 

1 
-
N.A. 
N.A. 

151,3 

84,9 

11,1 
12,8 

& 

RTD  activities  in  1 9 9 5:  Specific  programmes  (EC  FP4  +  Euratom  FP)  -  New  projects  -  Shared-cost  actions 

Total new projects (number and amount) classed according to the contractual value of the projects 

Table 9 

1 ) The total  contribution to  a project  is less than  or  equal to  0,1  MECU 
2)  Breakdown not  available  for  the  "Transport",  "Disseminatiion  and utilization"  and "Fusion"  programmes. 

50% of the projects take  15% of the total budget. 
80% of the projects  take 50% of the total budget. 

3f. 

Table 10 

Funding of the 4th Framework Programme and the Euratom Framework Programme 

Amounts (increased by 6,5%) in MECU and distribution 

4th  Framework  Programme 
Decisions  1110/94/EC, 616/96/CE 

Framework 
Prog.Decisions 
94/268, 
96/253/Euratom 

TOTAL 

SCA 

JRC 

SAT 
Support 

SCA 

J RC 

FIRST  ACTIVITY 
Information  and  communication  technologies 

1. Telematics 
2. Communication  technologies 
3. Information  technologies 
Industrial  technologies 
4. Industrial  and materials  technologies 
5. Measurement  and  testing 
Environment 
6. Environment  and  climate 
7. Marine sciences and  technologies 
Life  sciences  and  technologies 
8.  Biotechnology 
9. Biomedicine  and  health 
10. Agriculture  and  fisheries 
Energy 
11. Non-nuclear  energy 
12. Nuclear-fission  safety 
13. Controlled  thermonuclear  fusion 
Transport 
Targeted  socio-economic  research 
SECOND  ACTIVITY 
Cooperation  with third  countries  and  international  organiz 
THIRD  ACTIVITY 
Dissemination  and optimization  of  results 
FOURTH  ACTIVITY 
Stimulation  of training and mobility of  researchers 

TOTAL 
MAXIMUM  OVERALL  TOTAL 

XIIA3,157TABEN.XLS,13/08/96,13:55 

3 604 

898 
671 
2 035 
1906 
1 722 
184 
809,5 
566.5 
243 
1 592.5 
588 
358 
646,5 
1030 
1 030 

256 
112 

575 

312 

11,5 

10,5 

11,5 
208,5 
96 
112,5 
313 
313 

10,5 
10,5 

10,5 
27,5 
27,5 

50 

31,5 

50 
21 
21 

35 

31,5 
16 
16 

40 

3  626 

2  125 

1  150 

1674 

898 
671 
2  057 

1  818 
307 

907 
243 

588 
358 
728 

1  016.5 

319,5 

2 403 

170.5 
846 

270,5 
49 

1 067 
441 
895 

* 

7 

256 
147 

575 

352 

792 

792 
10 989 

639 
11 764 

136 

1  016.5 

319,5 

1336 

13 100 

Development of Community research commitments 

Table 11 

Period 1984 -1998 
(current prices) 

91 

92 

93 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

TOTAL 

Situation at 08.05.96 

84 

85 

86 

87 

88 

89 

593,0 

735,0 

874,0 

701,8 

260,8 

101,1 

90 

4,9 

188,1 

810,6 

1241,3 

1596,9 

1270,7 

230,9 

14,8 

3,9 

296,0 

2160,5 

1929,5 

1264,7 

150,0 

750,0 

0,2 

1,0 

3270,6 

5357,4 

5651,7 

900,0 

YEARS 

FP 1984-87 

FP  1987-91 

FP 1990-94 

Supp. finance FP 90-94 

PCFP 1994-98 (*) 

^ 

0,0 

3017,5 

3183,1 

3450,0 

3449,4 

13100,0 

RTD PROGRAMMES 

593,0 

735,0 

874,0 

889,9 

1071,4 

1342,4 

1601,8 

1566,7 

2391,4 

2094,3 

2018,6 

3018,7 

3183,1 

3450,0 

3449,4 

28279,7 

APAS 

RTD+APAS 

SPRINT 

ECSC 

80% of THERMIE 

593,0 

735,0 

874,0 

939,3 

1128,0 

1412,2 

1714,9 

1735,5 

2699,8 

2534,5 

2590,4 

3020,8 

3183,1 

3450,0 

3449,4 

30059,9 

49,4 

56,6 

69,8 

113,1 

168,8 

308,4 

440,2 

571,8 

2,1 

1780,2 

16,0 

17,5 

36,0 

16,0 

17,5 

17,0 

17,5 

17,5 

17,5 

118,4 

128,9 

139,2 

145,6 

49,0 

87,5 

568,1 

Total for all research (1) 

593,0 

735,0 

874,0 

939,3 

1128,0 

1412,2 

1784,4 

1887,4 

2863,2 

2691,2 

2753,5 

3020,8 

3183,1 

3450,0 

3449,4 

30764,5 

4269,3 

7151 

11980 

EC BUDGET (current prices) 

28905 

29925 

35842 

38392 

43080 

Total research as % of budget 

2,1 

2,5 

2,4 

2,4 

' 

2,6 

42569 
3,3 

45057 

4,0 

56111 
3,4 

% with suppl. of MECU 700 

(1) RTD  + THERMIE  + ECSC  +  SPRINT +  APAS. 
(*) The amounts of FP  1994-1998 are those of the EC proposal following  EU enlargement. 

61232 

67760 

65929 

78432 

85094 

91861 

97069 

4,7 

4,0 

4,2 

3,9 

3,7 

3,9 

3,8 

4,1 

3,6 

3,9 

15857 

157TABEN.XLS 

Development of Community research  commitments 

Table 12. 

Period  1984 - 1998 
(1992 prices) 

84 

85 

86 

87 

88 

89 

848,4 

991,9 

1139,5 

886,1 

317,7 

117,1 

90 

5,4 

91 

92 

93 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

TOTAL 

Situation at 08.05.96 

237,5 

987,3 

1438,4 

1770,4 

1339,0 

230,9 

14,6' 

3,8 

311,9 

2160,5 

1901,0 

1223,1 

147,8 

725,3 

0,2 

1,0 

4306,1 

6022,1 

5597,5 

873,1 

YEARS 
FP  1984-87 

FP 1987-91 

FP 1990-94 

Supp. finance.  FP 90-94 

PCFP  1994-98 (*) 

" 

0,0 

2884,8 

2966,5 

3153,6 

3077,1 

12082,0 

RTD PROGRAMMES 

848,4 

991,9 

1139,5 

1123,6 

1305,0 

1555,5 

1775,8 

1650,9 

2391,4 

2063,4 

1952,2 

2886,0 

2966,5 

3153,6 

3077,1 

28880,8 

APAS 

RTD+APAS 

SPRINT 

ECSC 

80% of THERMIE 

848,4 

991,9 

1139,5 

1186,0 

1373,9 

1636,4 

1901,2 

1828,8 

2699,8 

2497,1 

2505,2 

2888,0 

2966,5 

3153,6 

3077,1 

30693,4 

62,4 

68,9 

80,9 

125,4 

177,9 

308,4 

433,7 

553,0 

2,0 

1812,6 

17,7 

19,4" 

39,9 

16,9 

18,4 

17,0 

17,5 

17,2 

16,9 

124,8 

128,9 

137,1 

140,8 

51,6 

89,4 

571,5 

Total for all research (1) 

848,4 

991,9 

1139,5 

1186,0 

1373,9 

1636,4 

1978,2 

1988,9 

2863,2 

2651,4 

2662,9 

2888,0 

2966,5 

3153,6 

3077,1 

31405,9 

5539,7 

8163 

12145 

EC BUDGET (1992 prices) 

41352 

40385 

46730 

48475 

52473 

49327 

49952 

59126 

61232 

66759 

63761 

74983 

79305 

83968 

86591 

Total res.as % of budget 

Deflators  (**) 

Annual  inflation  (%) 

% with suppl.of MECU 700 

2,1 

2,5 

0,699 

0,741 

6,0 

2,4 

0,767 

3,5 

2,4 

2,6 

3,3 

4,0 

3,4 

4,7 

4,0 

4,2 

3,9 

3,7 

3,8 

3,6 

0,792 

0,821 

0,863 

0,902 

0,949 

1,000 

1,015 

1,034 

1,046 

1,073 

1,094 

1,121 

3,3 

3,6 

5,1 

4,5 

5,2 

3,5 

1,5 

1,9 

1,2 

2,6 

3,9 

2,0 

4,1 

2,5 

3,9 

14748 

(*) The amounts of FP  1994-1998 are those of the EC proposal  following  EU enlargement. 
(**) The deflators  used from  1995 take account of enlargement from  12 to  15 Member  States (COM(96)65). 
(1) RTD  + THERMIE  +ECSC  +SPRINT  +  APAS. 

IS7TARFNXÏ  S 

5? 

Main abbreviations  and acronyms used 

ACP countries 

African,  Caribbean and Pacific  countries 

ACTS 

Advanced  Communication Technologies  and Services (Specific  RTD 

programme) 

AIR 

Agriculture and Agro-industry,  including fisheries (Specific  RTD programme) 

ALTENER 

Alternative Energy programme 

APAS 

Preparatory,  accompanying and support actions 

AVICENNE 

Scientific  and technological cooperation with Maghreb countries and other 

BIOMED 

BRIDGE 

BRITE-EURAM 

CAP 

CBR 

CCFP 

countries  in the Mediterranean  region 

Biomedicine and Health (specific  RTD programme) 

Biotechnology  Research for  Innovation,  Development and Growth in Europe 
(specific  RTD programme under FP3) 
Basic Research  in Industrial Technologies for  Europe - EUropean Research in 
Advanced Materials  (Specific  RTD programme) 

Common Agricultural  Policy 

Community Bureau of  Reference 

Consultative Committee for  the Fusion Programme 

CEN-Cenelec 

European Committee for  Standardization/European  Committee  for 

CERN 

CIS 

Electrotechnical  Standardization 

European Centre for  Nuclear Research 

Commonwealth  of Independent States of the former  Soviet Union 

COPERNICUS 

Cooperation  in Science and Technology with Central and Eastern Europe 

CORDIS 

Community Research and Development Information  Service 

COST 

COSU 

CRAFT 

CREST 

CSTP 

DC 

EAEC 

EC 

ECE 

ECHO 

European Cooperation  in the field of scientific  and technical  research 

Cooperation  with the Soviet Union in the Field of Nuclear  Fission  Safety 

Cooperative  Research Action for  Technology 

Scientific  and Technical Research Committee (advises the European 

Commission and the Council) 

Committee  for  Scientific  and Technological Policy (OECD) 

Developing  countries 

European  Atomic Energy  Community 

European  Community 

Economic Commission for  Europe (UN) 

European  Commission Host  Organization 

32. 

ECSC 

EEA 

EFTA 

EMBL 

European Coal and Steel Community 

European Economic Area 

European Free Trade Association 

European Molecular Biology Laboratory 

ENRICH 

European Network for  Research on Global Change 

ESA 

ESF 

ESPRIT 

ESTA 

ET AN 

ETSI 

EU 

EUREKA 

EURET 

FP 

HCM 

HFSP 

IEA 

IMS 

INCO 

INTAS 

IPTS 

IRDAC 

ISC 

ISTC 

IT 

ITER 

European  Space Agency 

European  Science Foundation 

European  Strategic Programme for Research and Development  in  Information 
Technologies  (specific  RTD programme) 

European Science and  Technology Assembly 

European Technology  Assessment Network 

European Telecommunications  Standards Institute 

European Union 

European Research Coordination Agency 

European REsearch for  Transport (specific  RTD programme under FP2) 

Framework  Programme 

Human Capital and Mobility  (Specific  RTD programme under FP3) 

Human Frontier  Science Programme 

International  Energy Agency 

Intelligent  Manufacturing  Systems 

Cooperation with third  countries and international  organizations  (2nd activity of 
the 4th FP) 

International  Association for  the Promotion of Cooperation with Scientists  from 
the New Independent  States of the former  Soviet Union (INTAS) 

Institute of Prospective Technological  Studies (JRC, Seville) 

Industrial  Research and Development  Advisory  Committee of the European 
Commission 

International  Scientific  Cooperation 

International  Science and Technology  Centre (Moscow) 

Information  Technologies 

International  Thermonuclear  Experimental  Reactor 

ITER-EDA 

ITER - Engineering  Design Activities 

JET 

Joint European Torus 

93 

JOULE 

Joint Opportunities for  Unconventional or Long-term Energy  supply  (specific 

JRC 

MAST 
MEDA 

RTD programme) 

Joint Research Centre 

Marine Science and Technology (specific  RTD programme) 
Measures  accompanying the economic and social reforms  in the Mediterranean 
countries 

MERCOSUR 

Common market of the south (S. America) 

NAFTA 

North American Free Trade Agreement 

NIS 

OECD 

OJ 

OPET 

PECO 

PHARE 

RACE 

RIS 

RITTS 

RTD 

SAVE 

SMEs 

SPRINT 

STD 

TACIS 

New Independent  States of the former  Soviet Union 

Organization  for  Economic Cooperation and Development 

Official  Journal 

Organizations  for  the Promotion of Energy Technology 

Countries  of Central and Eastern Europe 

Action plan for  coordinated  aid for  PECO  : Poland-Hungary 

Research  and development programme  in Advanced  Communications 
technologies  for  Europe (Specific  RTD programme) 

Regional Innovation Strategies 

Regional  Innovation and Technology Transfer  Strategies and  Infrastructures 

Research  and Technological Development  including Demonstration  projects 

Special Action Programme for  Vigorous Energy  Efficiency 

Small and Medium-sized  Enterprises 

Strategic PRogramme for  INnovation and Technology  Transfer 

Science and Technology  for  Development  (specific  RTD programme) 

Technical  Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent  States (CIS) and 
Georgia 

TELEMAN 

TELEMANipulation  in dangerous and disturbed  nuclear  environments 

THERMIE 

Programme  for  the Promotion of Innovation in Energy Technology 

TIDE 

TMR 

TSER 

VALUE 

WTO 

Telematics  for  the Integration of Disabled and Elderly people 

Training  and Mobility of Researchers  (specific  RTD programmes  under  FP4) 

Targeted  Socio-Economic Research (specific  RTD programme) 

Utilization  of research results for Europe 

World  Trade Organization  =  ex.: GATT 

y]  co 

ISSN  0254-1475 

COM(96) 437  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

15 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-96-439-E]Nr-C 

ISBN  92-78-08603-7 

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