Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Competitive and sustainable growth" (1998 to 2002)
Date: 1998-06-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, aeronautical industry, innovation, research and development, research expenditure (EU), transport policy

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Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  adopting  a  specific  programme  for  research,  technological
development  and  demonstration  on  ‘Competitive  and  sustainable  growth’  (1998  to  2002)

(98/C  260/03)

(Text  with  EEA  relevance)

COM(98)  305  final  —  98/0179(CNS)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  on  10  June  1998)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Article  130i(4)  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Having  regard 
Parliament,

to 

the  opinion  of 

the  European

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee,

Whereas  by  Decision  No  . . ./98/EC (1),  the  European
Parliament  and  the  Council  adopted  the  fifth  framework
programme  of  the  European  Community  (hereinafter
referred  to  as  ‘the  fifth  framework  programme’)  for
research,  technological  development  and  demonstration
(hereinafter referred to as ‘RTD’) activities for the period
1998  to  2002  specifying  inter  alia  the  activities  to  be
carried  out  in  the  field  of  ‘Competitive  and  sustainable
growth’;

Whereas  Article  130i(3)  of  the  Treaty  stipulates  that  the
framework  programme  shall  be  implemented  through
specific programmes developed within each activity under
the  framework  programme,  and  that  each  specific
programme 
for
implementing  it,  fix  its  duration  and  provide  for  the
means  deemed  necessary;

the  detailed 

shall  define 

rules 

Whereas,  in  accordance  with  Article  4(2)  of  Decision
No  1110/94/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the
fourth
Council  of  26  April  1994  concerning 
framework  programme  of  the  European  Community
activities 
technological
development  and  demonstration  (1994  to  1998) (2)  and

field  of 

research, 

the 

the 

in 

the 

implementing 

Article  4(2)  of  the  Council  Decisions  on  the  specific
programmes 
framework
programme,  the  Commission  has  had  an  external
assessment  conducted  which  it  has  transmitted  to  the
European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the  Economic  and
Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions
together  with  its  conclusions  and  comments;

fourth 

Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee
has  been  consulted  on  the  scientific  and  technological
content  of  the  specific  programmes,  as  set  out  in  the
working  paper  adopted  by  the  Commission  on  5
November  1997 (3);

Whereas,  in  accordance  with  Article  130j  of  the  Treaty,
Council  Decision  98/. . ./EC  of  . . .  concerning  the  rules
for  the  participation  of  undertakings,  research  centres
and  universities  and  for  the  dissemination  of  research
results (4)  (hereinafter  referred  to  as 
‘the  rules  for
participation  and  dissemination’)  applies  to  this  specific
programme  and  allows  the  participation  of  the  Joint
Research  Centre  in  the  indirect  actions  covered  by  this
specific programme;

for 

implementing 

the  purpose  of 

Whereas, 
this
programme,  in  addition  to  cooperation  covered  by  the
Agreement  on  the  European  Economic  Area  or  by  an
association agreement, it may be appropriate to engage in
international  cooperation  activities,  in  particular  on  the
basis  of  Article  130m  of  the  Treaty,  with  third  countries
or  international  organisations;

Whereas  implementation  of  this  programme  will  also
comprise activities and mechanisms aimed at stimulating,
disseminating  and  exploiting  RTD  results,  in  particular
vis-à-vis 
small  and  medium-sized  enterprises,  and
activities  to  stimulate  the  mobility  and  training  of
researchers;

(1)  Common  position  31/98,  adopted  by  the  Council  on  23

March  1998  (OJ  C  178,  10.6.1998,  p.  1).

(2)  OJ  L  126,  18.5.1994,  p.  1.  Decision  as  last  amended  by
Decision  No  2535/97/EC  (OJ  L  347,  18.12.1997,  p.  1).

(3)  COM(97)553  final.
(4)  COM(97)587  final  (OJ  C  40,  7.2.1998,  p.  14).

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Whereas,  in  accordance  with  the  objectives  of  the  first
action  plan  for  innovation,  research  activities  under  the
fifth  framework  programme  should  be  geared  more
towards  innovation;

are  set  out  in  Annex  II.  They  are  consistent  with  the
fundamental  principles  and  the  three  categories  of
selection  criteria  indicated  in  Annex  I  of  the  fifth
framework  programme.

Whereas  the  implementation  of  this  programme  should
be  monitored  with  a  view  to  adapting 
it,  where
appropriate, to scientific and technological developments;
whereas in due course there should also be an assessment
of  progress  with 
independent
experts,

the  programme  by 

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  DECISION

Article  1

In  accordance  with  Article  3(1)  of  the  fifth  framework
programme, the specific programme on ‘Competitive and
sustainable  growth’  (hereinafter  referred  to  as 
‘the
specific  programme’)  is  hereby  adopted  for  the  period
from  [the  date  of  adoption  of  this  programme]  to  31
December  2002.

Article  2

2.
In  accordance  with  these  principles  and  criteria  the
selection  criteria  indicated  in  Article  10  of  the  rules  for
participation  and  dissemination  shall  be  applied  for  the
selection  of  the  RTD  activities  to  be  carried  out.

A selection criterion specific to this programme shall also
be  applied:  the  participation  of  industrial  entities  in  the
shared-cost  actions  should  be  appropriate  to  the  nature
of  the  activity.

these  criteria  shall  be  complied  with 

All 
the
implementation  of  the  programme,  including  the  work
programme referred to in Article 5(1), although they may
be  weighted  differently.

in 

3. The  rules  for  participation  and  dissemination  shall
apply  to  the  specific  programme.

4. Detailed  rules  for  financial  participation  by  the
Community  in  the  specific  programme  are  defined  in
Article  4  of  the  fifth  framework  programme.

1.
In  accordance  with  Annex  III  to  the  fifth  framework
programme,  the  amount  deemed  necessary  for  carrying
out the specific programme (hereinafter referred to as ‘the
amount’)  is  ECU  2 895 million, including a maximum of
6,30 % 
ex-
penditure.

the  Commission’s  administrative 

for 

indirect  RTD  actions  under 

5. The 
specific
programme  are  defined  in  Annexes  II  and  IV  to  the  fifth
framework  programme.

the 

Specific  rules  for  implementing  the  programme  are  set
out  in  Annex  III.

2. An  indicative  breakdown  of  this  amount  is  given  in
Annex  I.

Article  4

3. Of  this  amount

—  ECU  640  million  is  for  the  period  1998  to  1999,

and

—  ECU  2 255  million  is  for  the  period  2000  to  2002.

Where  appropriate,  the  latter  figure  will  be  adapted  in
accordance  with  Article  3(3)  of  the  fifth  framework
programme.

4. The budgetary authority shall, in compliance with the
scientific  and  technological  objectives  and  priorities  laid
down  in  this  Decision,  set  the  appropriations  for  each
financial  year  taking  into  account  the  availability  of
resources  within  the  multiannual  financial  perspective.

In  the  light  of  the  criteria  set  out  in  Article  3,  and  the
scientific  and  technological  objectives  and  priorities  set
out  in  Annex  II,  the  Commission  shall:

(a)  monitor 

the 

specific
implementation  of 
programme and, where appropriate, submit proposals
for adapting it, in accordance with Article 5(1) of the
fifth  framework  programme,

the 

(b) have  the  external  assessment  provided  for  in  Article
5(2)  of  the  fifth  framework  programme  conducted
concerning  the  activities  carried  out  in  the  fields
covered  by  the  specific  programme.

Article  5

1. The  Commission  shall  draw  up  a  work  programme
specifying:

Article  3

(a)  the  content  of  Annex  II;

1. The  general  outlines,  the  scientific  and  technological
objectives  and  the  priorities  for  the  specific  programme

(b) the indicative timetable for the implementation of the

specific programme;

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(c)  the  coordination  arrangements  indicated  in  Annex

Article  7

III;

(d) and,  where  necessary,  the  selection  criteria  and  the
arrangements  for  applying  them  for  each  type  of
indirect  RTD  action.

The  work  programme 
appropriate.

shall  be  updated  where

2. For  the  purpose  of  implementing  the  indirect  RTD
actions,  the  Commission  shall,  on  the  basis  of  the  work
programme,  initiate  the  procedures  set  out  in  the  rules
for  participation  and  dissemination,  primarily  through
calls  for  proposals.

Article  6

1. The  Commission  shall  be  responsible 
implementation  of  this  specific  programme.

for 

the

2.
It  shall  be  assisted  by  a  Programme  Committee
composed  of  representatives  of  the  Member  States  and
chaired  by  the  representative  of  the  Commission.

3. The representative of the Commission shall submit to
the  Programme  Committee  a  draft  of  the  measures  to  be
taken  concerning:

—  the drawing-up and updating of the work programme

referred  to  in  Article  5(1),

—  the  drawing-up  of  the  terms  of  reference  for  the
external assessment provided for in Article 5(2) of the
fifth  framework  programme,

—  any  adjustment  to  the  indicative  breakdown  of  the

1. The  Programme  Committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion
on the draft measures referred to in Article 6(3) within a
time  limit  which  the  Chairman  may  lay  down  according
to  the  urgency  of  the  matter.  The  opinion  shall  be
delivered  by  the  majority  laid  down  in  Article  148(2)  of
the  Treaty  in  the  case  of  decisions  which  the  Council  is
required  to  adopt  on  a  proposal  from  the  Commission.
The  votes  of  the  representatives  of  the  Member  States
within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set
out  in  that  Article.  The  Chairman  shall  not  vote.

The  Commission  shall  adopt  the  measures  envisaged  if
they  are 
the
Committee.

in  accordance  with 

the  opinion  of 

If  the  measures  envisaged  are  not  in  accordance  with  the
opinion  of  the  Committee,  or  if  no  opinion  is  delivered,
the  Commission  shall,  without  delay,  submit  to  the
Council  a  proposal  relating  to  the  measures  to  be  taken.
The  Council  shall  act  by  a  qualified  majority.

If, on expiry of a period of six weeks from the referral of
the matter to the Council, the Council has not acted, the
the
proposed  measures 
Commission.

adopted 

shall 

by 

be 

regularly 

shall 
of 

the
2. The  Commission 
the
Programme  Committee 
implementation  of  the  specific  programme,  and  shall  in
particular provide it with information about the results of
the  evaluation  and  selection  of  the 
indirect  RTD
actions.

inform 
progress  with 

Article  8

amount  as  set  out  in  Annex  I.

This  Decision  is  addressed  to  the  Member  States.

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ANNEX  I

INDICATIVE  BREAKDOWN  OF  THE  AMOUNT

Type  of  activity

Total

(a)  Key  actions

(i) 

innovative  products,  processes  and  organisation

(ii)  sustainable  mobility  and  intermodality

(iii)  land  transport  and  marine  technologies

(iv)  new  perspectives  for  aeronautics

(b) research  and  technological  development  activities  of  a  generic  nature

c)  Support  for  research  infrastructures

74,3 %

24,2 %

13,8 %

5,2 %

31,1 %

24,2 %

1,5 %

Total

ECU  2 895  million

ANNEX  II

THE  GENERAL  OUTLINES,  THE  SCIENTIFIC  AND  TECHNOLOGICAL  OBJECTIVES  AND  THE
PRIORITIES

INTRODUCTION

Competitiveness and sustainability are the keys to the long-term future of the Union’s economy: creation of
wealth  and  jobs,  enhancement  of  the  quality  of  life,  and  preservation  of  the  environment  and  the  natural
resource base. They depend on the capacity of citizens, enterprises, regions, nations and the Community to
generate and use the knowledge, science and technology of tomorrow, in high-quality goods, processes and
services,  and  in  new  and  more  efficient  organisational  forms.  Research  activities  are  clearly  crucial  in
generating a more competitive technological base for European industry and in fostering the transition to a
sustainable  world,  which  will  involve  both  a  transformation  of  working  practices  and  an  optimised  use  of
resources.

Competitiveness  and  sustainability  can  no  longer  be  considered  a  matter  for  individual  organisations  or
sector  alone.  In  the  context  of  an  increasingly  interlinked  and  globalising  economy  a  ‘systems  approach’  is
necessary, in which research activities support the development of coherent, interconnected and eco-efficient
industrial and social systems, responding not only to market but also to societal needs. At the heart of these
systems  will  be  efficient  and  quality-based  productions  systems,  embedded  in  agile  organisations  and
producing  high-quality  eco-friendly  products  and  services  (in  Europe  there  are  more  than  2  million
industrial  enterprises  employing  more  than  40  million  people,  with  80  million  working  in  related  services).
These  wealth-creating  activities  should,  in  turn,  be  supported  by  key  products  and  services,  including
efficient  transport  systems  and  clean  and  safe  vehicles,  promoting  trade  and  the  sustainable  mobility  of
goods  and  people.  Competitive  and  sustainable  growth  also  depends  on  the  development  of  quality
materials  and  reliable  measurement  and  testing  methods,  as  well  as  the  optimal  use  of  specific  research
infrastructures,  whether  physical  or  virtual.  Such  a  holistic  approach  is  the  best  way  to  improve  the
long-term  efficiency  and  sustainability  of  Europe’s  economic  system  in  the  face  of  world-wide  evolving
market  constraints  and  socio-environmental  responsibility.

Strategic  objective  of  the  programme

The  objective  of  this  specific  programme  must  be  to  support  research  activities  contributing  to
competitiveness  and  sustainability,  particularly  where  these  two  objectives  interact.  In  this  context,

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industry’s  role  will  be  not  only  to  identify  areas  for  collaboration  but  also  to  bring  together  and  integrate
projects,  especially  cross-sectoral  projects  along  the  value  chain,  so  that  technology  uptake  and  innovation
are  more  efficiently  ensured  across  Europe.  The  development  of  new  concepts  such  as  eco-industry,
intermodality,  new  generations  of  aircraft  and  other  means  of  transport,  and  innovative  approaches  to  the
integration  of  new  technologies  will  help  to  prepare  industrial  sectors  for  the  challenges  of  the  new
millennium,  and  to  generate  a  strategic  vision  of  research  in  all  industrial  sectors  throughout  Europe.
Research  activities  will  focus  on  clearly  identified  needs.

Answering  to  socio-economic  needs.  By  stimulating  holistic  approaches,  by  strengthening  the  innovative
capacity  of  the  European  industrial  system  and  by  fostering  the  creation  of  busineses  and  services  built  on
emerging technologies and new market opportunities, the programme will help face the major challenges of
society,  in  particularly  employment.  In  parallel,  research  into  sustainable  mobility  and  environmentally
friendly  processes,  products  and  services  will  contribute  to  improving  quality  of  life.

Stimulating European added value.  Activities  to  solve  the  cross-border  problems  arising  in  connection  with
the various key actions have a clear European dimension, as does the development of norms and standards
in support of Community policies. Achieving the critical mass needed to attain concrete and tangible results
in  cost-intensive  technologies  will  also  necessitate  mobilising  national  and  other  RTD  Community
resources.

Supporting  European  competitiveness.  Europe  suffers  from  a  recognised  gap  compared  with  its  major
competitors,  inasmuch  as  it  is  less  able  to  translate  its  scientific  knowledge  into  innovation.  Not  only
research  but  also  innovation  in  respect  of  new  concepts  of  products  and  services,  production  systems  and
organisational  concepts 
to  boost  competitiveness  and
productivity.

(e. g.,  eco-industries)  should  be 

fostered 

Ethical  framework.  Full  respect  of  human  rights  and  fundamental  ethical  principles  will  be  ensured
throughout all activities in the specific programme in accordance with Article 6 of the European Parliament
and  Council  Decision  on  the  fifth  framework  programme.

The key actions ‘innovative products, processes and organisation’, ‘sustainable mobility and intermodality’,
‘new  perspectives  for  aeronautics’  and  ‘Land  transport  and  marine  technologies’  are  intended  to  combine
efforts  in  various  research  areas  (e. g.,  materials,  application  of  information  society  technologies,
environmentally  friendly  technologies,  etc.)  to  achieve  the  objectives  described  above.  This  multi-sectoral
dimension  will  also  be  sought  in  research  activities  related  to  materials,  measurement  and  testing,  and
support for research infrastructures. The approach to all these activities will also pay particular attention to
the ‘innovation’ dimension and to stimulating and supporting the involvement of SMEs so as to reduce the
gap  between  the  achievement  of  the  research  results  and  their  effective  use  by  the  economy  and  society.

LINKS  AND  COMPLEMENTARY  WITH  OTHER  PROGRAMMES

RTD activities will be integrated and coordinated as necessary, within and between the different key actions
and  programmes,  as  well  as  with  the  JRC.  Appropriate  links  will  be  established  between  these  activities.
This  should  provide  mechanisms  by  which  industry,  public  authorities,  users  and  the  research  community
can work jointly on the resolution of common problems, particularly in fields such as intelligent production
systems,  microsystems,  next  generation  of  aircraft  and  other  means  of  transport  or  traffic  management.

The  economic  and  technological  challenge  of  deploying,  adapting  and  integrating  life  sciences  and
technologies  related  to  energy,  the  environment  or  the  information  society  is  crucial  for  promoting
competitive and sustainable growth. The specific applications meeting this challenge form an integral part of
the  various  activities  of  this  programme  and  will  be  conducted  in  close  coordination  with  the  specific
programmes  concerned.

Coordination  with  the  specific  programme  on  the  ‘user-friendly  information  society’  is  based  on  the
following principle: activities related to information society technologies as such (including development and
technology  demonstration  and  assimilation  activities)  will  be  concentrated  in  the  ‘user-friendly  information

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society’ programme, while activities linked to the deployment and integration of these technologies and their
adaptation  to  applications  relating  to  competitive  and  sustainable  growth  will  be  conducted  under  this
programme.

Aspects  related  with  the  horizontal  programmes  are  outlined  below:

—  Many  of  the  problems  addressed  by  this  programme  can  only  be  dealt  with  effectively  in  a  broader
international  context.  For  this  reason  close  coordination  will  be  developed  with  the  programme  on
confirming  the  international  role  of  Community  research,  in  particular  on  issues  where  world
competition  is  stiff  and  where  major  geo-economic  challenges  are  at  stake.  This  is  clearly  the  case  for
production,  transport,  maritime,  materials  and  standardisation  related  research  activities,  where
collaboration  with  international  initiatives  (e. g.,  the  Intelligent  Manufacturing  Systems  (IMS)  initiative)
would bring added value to European research work. Full use will be made of the possibilities offered by
COST  and  Eureka  and  by  co-operation  with  international  organisations  to  foster  synergy  between
actions  and  projects  in  this  programme  and  nationally  funded  research  activities.  In  the  case  of
co-operation  with  Eureka,  projects  corresponding  to  priority  themes  of  common  interest  may  be
deployed  in  the  context  of  the  key  actions.  Specific  activities  aimed  at  facilitating  the  involvement  of
entities  in  third  countries  and  maintaining  links  with  specialists  from  third  countries  trained  in  Europe
will  be  carried  out,  which  will  also  contribute  to  the  international  dimension  of  the  programme.

—  In view of the increasing need to bridge the gap between research results and their potential applications,
and  of  the  large  number  of  companies  which  could  be  interested  in  the  potential  results,  particular
attention  should  be  paid  to  activities  related  to  innovation  and  the  participation  of  SMEs.  This  will  be
the case for all activities in this programme (e. g., cooperative research, large industrial projects, support
to research infrastructures), and it will be closely coordinated with the programme on the promotion of
innovation  and  encouragement  of  participation  of  SMEs.  An  innovation  cell  will  centralise  promotion
activities with a view to the deployment and use of the results of this programme; it will also help ensure
complementarity  and  an  interface  with  the  innovation  activities  pursued  under  the  programme
‘Innovation  and  the  participation  of  the  SMEs’.

—  Improving  the  know-how,  skills  and  qualifications  of  European  researchers  in  the  fields  covered  by  the
programme  should  considerably  enhance  Europe’s  capability  to  produce  tangible  and  lasting  impacts.
For  this  reason,  research  activities  should  be  developed  in  association  with  measures  linked  to  training
and socio-economic aspects, which will thus form an integral part of the programme, and of projects if
appropriate.

(a)  KEY  ACTIONS

(i)  Innovative  products,  processes  and  organisation

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The overall goal of this key action is to develop new and improved methods of design, advanced equipment
and  process  technologies  for  production (1)  that  improve  the  quality  and  reduce  the  costs  of  processes  for
services  and  products  (aiming  for  a  substantial  improvement  in  these  factors  in  the  medium  term),  reduce
overall  life-cycle  impacts,  improve  understanding  of  ‘soft  technology’  aspects  (organisation,  management,
logistics,  teleworking,  etc.),  so  as  to  integrate  them  fully  into  relevant  industrial  processes,  and  ultimately
contribute  to  employment  growth  (aiming  at  creating  and  maintaining  in  Europe  a  number  of  jobs
comparable, in percentage terms, to those of Europe’s major competitors). Implementation of the key action
will focus on systemic approaches to production (products, production facilities, processes and organisation)
and on clustering and integrating projects into targeted groups, which will make it easier to take account of
socio-economic,  ecological  and  competition  aspects.  Particular  attention  will  be  paid  to  the  involvement  of

(1)  The  term  ‘production’  encompasses  all  industrial  activities  from  extraction  of  raw  materials  to  the  processing  and
manufacture  of  components  and  end-products.  It  covers  all  industrial  sectors  and  associated  services,  including
construction.

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SMEs, taking account of their specific needs and their roles in the supply chain. Where appropriate, research
activities will be coordinated with the activities of other programmes, and also with international initiatives
(IMS,  Eureka).

—  Efficient  design  and  manufacturing.

The  aim  is  to  improve  competitiveness  through  increased  industrial  added  value,  quality  and
responsiveness  to  market,  reduced  time  to  market  and  material 
in  product/service
combinations:

intensity 

RTD  priorities:  technologies  for  integrated  product-service  design  and  development,  multi-technology
integrated products (including production equipment and facilities) and related manufacturing processes;
advanced  production  and  construction  techniques  and  equipment  for  higher  process  accuracy  and
reliability;  manufacturing  technologies  and  equipment  for  optimal  use  of  resources  and  for  product
miniaturisation,  including  the  manufacture  and  assembly  of  microsystems;  methods  to  overcome  the
barriers  between  designers  and  consumers.

—  Intelligent  production.

The aim is to optimise the level of performance of all elements of the industrial environment through the
deployment,  integration  and  application  of  information  society  technologies  in  production  systems.

RTD  priorities:  intelligent  and  reconfigurable  production  systems,  machinery,  and  equipment;  on-line
control  using  advanced  sensors;  extended  life  and  optimal  use  of  production  facilities;  intelligent
operation  and  maintenance  systems,  including  self-repair;  application  of  advanced  technologies  for
flexible and interoperable supply/production/distribution systems and networks, including the integration
of  developments  in  the  field  of  electronic  commerce.

—  Eco-efficient  processes.

The  goal  is  to  minimise  ‘full  life-cycle’  impacts  on  the  environment,  taking  account  of  all  essential
elements  of  the  industrial  system  ranging  from  extraction  through  production  to  waste  management,
with  emphasis  on  resource  intensive  processes.

RTD  priorities:  clean  and  eco-efficient  processing  technologies;  research  aimed  at  mastering  basic
phenomena  such  as  synthesis,  catalysis,  separation  and  reaction  mechanisms,  process  modelling  and
simulation;  impact  monitoring  and  assessment  of  risks,  in  situ  and  on-line  recovery  of  waste;  novel
processes  for  treatment,  re-use  and  safe  disposal  of  waste  and  for  upgrading,  reusing  or  dismantling
products  and  production  systems.

—  Organisation  of  production  and  work.

The  goal  is  to  move  towards  high  performance  industrial  systems,  agile  customer-driven  networked
industrial  enterprises,  including  SMEs,  with  multi-skilled  highly  motivated  labour  force,  working  in
efficient and pleasant workplaces and taking into consideration the diversity and specificity of European
society  and  manufacturing  tradition.

RTD  priorities:  study  of  human,  organisational,  socio-economic  and  regulatory  determinants  for  a
smooth  transition  of  enterprises  towards  efficient  and  sustainable  production  and  consumption;  new
decision-making tools and new approaches to the management of change and human resources; studies
on the impact and acceptance of new business ideas and new industrial production patterns, compatible
with  the  concept  of  sustainability.

(ii) Sustainable  mobility  and  intermodality

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The overall aim of this key action is to achieve a better long-term reconciliation of the growing demand for
mobility  with  the  need  to  respect  environmental,  social,  economic  and  safety  constraints.  It  will  help  to
break  the  link  between  economic  growth  and  increased  traffic  volumes;  reduce  the  negative  impact  of
transport  modes;  and  encourage  their  more  sustainable  use.  Particular  attention  will  be  paid  to
intermodality and how best to integrate the respective strengths of the various modes of transport in order
to provide user-oriented door to door services for both passengers and freight. This should result in a better
management  of  mobility.

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—  Modal  and  intermodal  transport  management  systems.

The aim is to develop, validate, demonstrate and facilitate the deployment of rational, high-performance
transport management systems for air, sea, inland waterway, rail, road  and urban transport, both on a
modal  basis  and  for  integrated  intermodal  transport,  interfacing  inter  alia  with  the  possibilities  offered
by  the  programme  for  a  user-friendly  information  society,  including  the  application  and  validation  of
related  information  and  related  integrated  systems  to  facilitate  their  deployment.

RTD  priorities:  development,  validation  and  demonstration  of  modal  and  intermodal  traffic  and
transport management systems, including operational, regulatory, administrative and structural solutions
for  their  deployment,  and  providing  systems;  integration  of  information  and  data  exchange  systems
across  modes  including  real  time  user  information,  electronic  documentation  and  user  services  with
transport  management  and  logistics;  second  generation  satellite  navigation (1)  and  positioning  systems;
improvements  to  satellite-supported  haulage;  integration  of  services  such  as  traffic  management,  vehicle
and  freight  unit  identification,  location  and  guidance,  pricing,  freight  planning,  travel  information  and
passenger  services  within  the  transport  system.

—  Infrastructures  and  their  interfaces  with  transport  means  and  systems.

The  goal  is  to  enhance  interconnectivity  and  interoperability  and  to  promote  intermodality  in  the
transport  system,  through  integration  of  all  its  components  across  the  modes  at  the  levels  of
infrastructure,  transfer  points,  transport  means,  equipment,  operations,  services  and  the  regulatory
framework.

RTD priorities: more efficient use and reduced operating, development and maintenance costs of existing
infrastructure;  effective  interchanges;  interconnection  between  trans-European,  regional  and  local
networks;  innovative  infrastructure  concept  and  operations;  relationship  between  transport,  land  use,
regional  planning,  environment  and  health;  reduced  congestion,  energy  consumption,  pollution,  and
infrastructure  degradation;  integration  of  vehicles  and  public  transport  in  the  transport  system;
innovative  concepts  for  sustainable  mobility  in  urban  and  rural  areas  and  for  interurban  traffic;  safety,
including  for  the  transport  of  dangerous  goods;  accessibility,  safety,  security  and  comfort  of  transport,
including  for  people  with  special  needs;  human  factors  such  as  human/machine  interface,  human
behaviour,  user  and  operator  acceptance  of  new  ‘intelligent’  systems,  optimal  training  methods  and  use
of  simulators.

—  Socio-economic  scenarios  for  the  mobility  of  people  and  goods.

The  aim  is  to  develop  strategies  and  tools  for  managing  the  impact  of  economic  and  social
developments,  including  deregulation  and  liberalisation  of  transport  services  and  globalisation  of
economic  and  commercial  activities,  on  mobility  demand  and  transport  policies.

RTD priorities: scenarios on travel supply and demand and policy options for mobility demand, market
organisation  and  accessibility;  legal,  institutional,  organisational  and  financing  aspects  of  transport
systems  and  infrastructures;  understanding  of  the  role  and  constraints  of  logistics  with  a  view  to
optimisation;  benchmarking  tools;  methods  for  enforcement  of  regulations;  methodologies  to  measure
costs  and  benefits,  safety,  performance  and  impacts  of  different  transport  systems,  networks  and  their
operations;  assessment  of  new  technologies  and  concepts,  including  their  impact  on  employment,  users,
the  environment,  work  organisation,  social  conditions,  safety  and  security.

(iii)  Land  transport  and  marine  technologies

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  aim  is  to  meet  the  technological  challenges  needed  to  develop  and  validate  the  next  generation  of
vehicles, vessels, off-shore structures and intelligent and efficient interfaces for logistic infrastructures, and to
develop  off-shore  and  submarine  technologies  permitting  the  sustainable  exploitation  of  marine  resources.
Vehicles must be capable of meeting all public demands for sustainable mobility and improved safety, while

(1)  Space-related  activities  are  subject  to  an  overall  coordination  across  the  various  programmes.

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reducing the environmental impact and reinforcing Europe’s economic strength. The activities under this key
action  will  be  closely  coordinated  with  the  activities  on  land  and  maritime  transport  under  the  key  actions
on  ‘Sustainable  mobility  and  intermodality’  and  ‘Systems  and  services  for  the  citizen’.

—  Critical  technologies  for  road  and  rail  vehicles.

The  aim  is  the  acquisition  of  technologies  to  support  the  improvement  of  transport  vehicles  and  major
infrastructure  components.  Such  technologies  must  be  economical,  safe,  intelligent,  clean,  efficient,
reliable  and  responsive  to  new  social  and  economic  needs  and  the  expectations  of  Europeans.

RTD priorities: Technologies for on-board and fixed propulsion systems characterised by high efficiency,
environmental  friendliness  and  cost  effectiveness;  for  noise,  vibration  and  electro-magnetic  reduction,
light-weight  components  and  structures;  application  of  microtechnologies  and  sensor  technologies  for
advanced  components  and  systems;  technologies  for  improved  safety.

—  Innovative  road  and  rail  vehicle  concepts.

The  aim  is  the  development  and  demonstration  of  new  vehicle  concepts  using  new  construction
techniques  and  materials  and  fulfilling  all  functional,  technological,  social  and  economic  constraints,
This should contribute to the development of improved transport systems, with increased efficiency and
comfort,  enhanced  safety  and  environmental  friendliness,  and  improving  availability,  maintainability,
manufacturability  and  recyclability  of  vehicles.  Priority  will  be  given  to  concepts  for  the  long-distance
transport  of  passengers  or  goods,  with  the  key  action  on  ‘The  city  of  tomorrow  and  the  cultural
heritage’  dealing  with  the  technologies  and  demonstrations  relating  to  urban  transport.

RTD  priorities:  integration  of  new  systems,  structures,  and  power  trains  supported  by  parallel  research
into  specific  technologies  for  vehicle  design,  engineering  and  manufacturing  operations;  integration  of
on-board  systems  for  intelligent  and  safe  vehicles;  integration  of  technologies  for  cost-effective  vehicle
design,  manufacturing  and  use,  within  a  whole  life-cycle  approach.

—  Human-vehicle interaction.

The  aim  is  to  develop  cost-effective  routes  for  the  upgrading  and  industrial  deployment  of  on-board
components and systems, to be translated into enhanced operability of the various land transport means,
proving their flexibility, reconfigurability, robustness, and breadth of applicability. The work will focus
on  the  incorporation  of  human-vehicle  interaction  systems  within  the  overall  production  chain  and
vehicle  concept.

RTD  priorities:  Methodologies  supporting  the  incorporation  of  human-vehicle  interaction  elements
within  the  overall  vehicle  design  and  prototyping  processes;  effective  architecture  for  intelligent  vehicle
monitoring  using  fault-tolerant,  modular,  plug-in  technologies;  ergonomic  vehicle  design;  cognitive
engineering  technologies  for  effective  driver-vehicle  or  occupant-vehicle  interaction;  technologies  for
improve  cabin  environment.

—  Advanced  technologies  for  the  development  of  ships  and  off  shore  platforms.

The  aim  is  the  validation  and  demonstration  of  advanced  technologies  for  the  development  of  vessels
and off shore structures complying with safety, efficiency and environmental friendliness principles. The
acquisition and integration of critical technologies meeting these three objectives will cover all aspects of
design,  production,  operation  and  decommissioning  or  dismantling.

RTD priorities: development of critical technologies for vessels, systems and sub-systems, covering safety
concepts, environmental protection, efficiency, production, dismantling and recycling. Research will also
cover  the  development  of  the  new  generation  of  on-board  systems,  application  of  new  materials,
structures  and  components,  and  new,  optimised  and  alternative  power  train  concepts.

—  Use  of  the  sea  and  inland  waterways  to  transport  goods  and  passengers.

The aim is to develop and validate innovative vessel concepts with maximised performances, guided by
economics while fulfilling customers requirements. This will also include new technological solutions for
cargo  handling,  fast  intermodal  facilities,  for  port,  inland  waterways  and  marine  infrastructures.

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RTD  priorities:  integration  of  technologies,  of  advanced  equipment  and  systems  for  innovative  vessel
concepts;  integration  of  technologies  for  efficient,  safe  and  environmentally  friendly  transhipment
facilities  and  operations;  research  to  support  concurrent  development  of  technical  standards,  guided  by
life  cycle  approaches  and  performance  based  criteria.

—  Technologies  for  the  rational  and  sustainable  management  of  the  sea.

The  aim  is  the  development  of  technologies  intended  for  the  study  and  observation  of  the  sea  and  the
sustainable  exploitation  of  the  energy  and  mineral  resources  of  the  sea,  including  off  shore  and
submarine technologies, unmanned vehicles and submarine acoustics, promoted by a coherent approach
to  the  exploitation  of  the  sea  as  a  source  of  minerals  and  energy,  improvement  of  coastal  zone
management  and  minimisation  of  the  environmental  impact  of  sea-based  activities.

RTD  priorities:  application  of  innovative  technologies  to  monitor  and  forecast  the  state  of  the  sea,  the
environment and the sea floor, especially in the deep sea, including remote controlled vehicles; safe and
efficient submarine technologies for sensing, control, and data transfer in order to improve accessibility
to  and  the  exploitation  of  marine  mineral  resources,  including  off  shore  structures  and  floating
production  units.

Specific coordination activities with other key actions and with Eureka are planned in order to maximise the
effectiveness  of  Community  research.

(iv)  New  perspectives  for  aeronautics

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  overall  goal  of  this  key  action  is  to  facilitate  the  development  of  aircraft  and  their  subsystems  and
components  in  order  to  foster  the  competitiveness  of  the  European  industry  while  assuring  the  sustainable
growth  of  air  transportation.  The  medium-term  targets  of  the  RTD  effort,  including  large-scale  validation
activities,  are  to  substantially  reduce  development  time  and  costs  of  new  aircraft;  improve  efficiency  (fuel
consumption  and  maintenance  costs)  and  reduce  environmental  impacts  (pollutant  emissions  and  perceived
external  noise)  and  accident  rates  (by  at  least  the  same  factor  as  the  growth  of  traffic  volume).  In
technological  terms  particular  emphasis  will  be  placed  on  integration  for  subsonic  aircraft  and  the  use  of
enabling  technologies  for  the  second  generation  of  supersonic  aircraft.

—  Acquisition  of  critical  technologies.

The  aim  is  to  contribute  to  the  long-term  competitiveness  of  the  European  aeronautics  industry  from  a
strategic  perspective  by  stimulating  the  development  of  enabling  technologies  and  a  new  generation  of
aircraft  concepts,  including  aircraft  more  respectful  of  the  environment.

RTD  priorities:  innovative  approaches  and  evolutionary  advances  in  aerodynamics,  structures  and
application of new materials, propulsion, noise, equipment and systems, advanced sensors and avionics;
development  of  multi-disciplinary 
flight  mechanics  and
airframe-propulsion  integration;  methods  and  processes  for  aircraft  design  and  manufacture.

technologies,  such  as  aeroelasticity, 

—  Technology  integration  for  new-generation  aircraft.

The aim is to facilitate the introduction and combination of the newest technologies and to demonstrate
their economic and operational feasibility for new aeronautic products over their long life time. This will
involve  a  multi-disciplinary  approach,  including  technology  integrator  platforms  at  the  required  scale,
focusing  on  lower  design,  production  and  operational  costs,  reduction  of  consumption,  aircraft
performance,  and  environmental  aspects.

RTD  priorities:  advanced  design  tools  and  concurrent  engineering  for  reconfigurable,  flexible,
distributed  and  multi-site  production  systems;  advanced  developments  in  propulsion,  structural  and
aerodynamic  efficiency  and  systems  performance  and  integration;  airframe,  engine  and  systems
technologies and operational procedures to reduce significantly emissions and engine noise, and improve
cabin environment.

—  Operational  efficiency  and  safety.

The aim, with the integration of on-board systems, is to help alleviate congestion in airports, increase air
traffic  management  (ATM)  system  capacity,  and  improve  the  safety  performance  of  aviation,  to

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accommodate  the  threefold  increase  in  air  traffic  which  is  expected  over  the  next  15  years.  This  work
will  be  closely  coordinated  with  the  air-transport-related  activities  carried  out  under  the  key  actions
‘Sustainable Mobility and Intermodality’ and ‘Systems and Services for the Citizen’. Particular attention
will  be  paid  to  the  development  of  on-board  technologies  and  their  incorporation  into  vehicles  in  an
operational setting.

RTD priorities: validation and integration of on-board systems for improving the operational capabilities
of aircraft and supporting their integration within the future ATM system; maintenance techniques and
condition  monitoring  for  improved  aircraft  reliability  and  dispatch  availability;  technologies  and
methodologies,  including  the  study  of  human  factor  aspects  and  flight  simulation,  for  more  effective
accident  prevention  and  improved  aircraft  design  for  passenger  survivability.

(b) RESEARCH  AND  TECHNOLOGICAL  DEVELOPMENT  ACTIVITIES  OF  A  GENERIC  NATURE

These  activities,  with  potential  multi-sectoral  applications,  will  help  the  development  of  European
technological  capacity  and  stimulate  the  flow  of  ideas,  knowledge  and  applications  to  complement  and
support  the  key  actions.

(i)  New  materials  and  their  production  and  transformation

Objectives  and  RTD  activities

Efforts  will  be  made  to  support  and  network  RTD  projects  leading  to  the  optimisation  of  collaboration,
information  exchange,  and  Community  added  value.  These  networks  will  from  the  backbone  of  the
structure  of  the  research  activities.  They  will  also  play  an  important  role  in  stimulating  international
collaboration  between  Member  States  and  with  third  countries  (e. g.  CEECs,  United  States,  China)  and
developing  foresight,  socio-economic  and  strategic  studies  and  impact  and  risk  assessment.

—  Materials  with  a  wide  range  of  applications.

The  aim  is  to  promote  research  on  the  most  promising  avenues  for  improving  the  functionality  and
performance of existing materials, and the development of new materials with distinctly new or radically
improved characteristics.

RTD  priorities:  innovative  approaches  such  as  nanostructured  materials,  supramolecular  chemistry,
colloidal  systems  and  biomimetic  chemistry;  new  and  improved  structural  and  light  materials,  in
particular  for  construction,  transport  and  high-temperature  applications;  functional  materials,  in
particular opto-electronics and sensor-related materials, whose properties allow reliable operations; new
and  improved  biomaterials  such  as  implants  and  hybrid  tissues;  research  improving  understanding  of
deterioration  and  failure  mechanisms.

—  Materials  production  and  transformation  processes.

Research  will  focus  on  technologies  which  can  ensure  quality  (especially  in  the  context  of  the  trend
towards  shorter  production  cycles),  reliability  and  cost-effectiveness  of  materials  to  allow  optimum
exploitation.

RTD priorities: materials production technologies for high-value-added sectors, especially fine chemistry,
minerals,  metals,  polymers,  composites,  and  ceramics;  micro-  and  nanopowder  processing  technologies;
surface,  coating  and  interfacial  technologies  for  advanced  materials  and  functional  applications.

—  Sustainable  use  of  materials.

Research will focus on the environmental and safety impact of new materials and the re-use of materials,
with  the  aim  of  increasing  the  flow  of  secondary  raw  materials  with  reliable  material  properties,
reducing  life-cycle  impacts  and  overcoming  barriers  with  customers.

RTD  priorities:  research  supporting  the  development  of  materials  which  are  easy  to  recycle;  recycling
processes  guaranteeing  reliable  properties  and  cost-effectiveness  of  recycled  materials;  finding  uses  for
waste; research supporting new applications of renewable raw materials, for example for the production
of  organic  chemicals.

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(ii) New  materials  and  production  technologies  in  the  steel  field

Objectives  and  RTD  activities

In view of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty in 2002, and the conclusions of the Amsterdam European Council
(June 1987), there is an urgent need to speed up the progressive insertion of coal and steel research into the
framework  programme.  The  objective  is  to  reduce  costs,  improve  user  satisfaction,  and  increase  value
added,  to  the  benefit  of  both  the  iron  and  steel  industry  and  suppliers,  end  users  and  other  research
partners.

Steel  research  will  be  focused  on  the  development  of  flexible,  compact  and  safe  production  lines,  cleaner
processes,  innovative  steel  products,  and  improved  recycling.

RTD priorities: coke production for metal-working industries, research to reduce the costs and improve the
quality  of  coke,  to  improve  production  of  reducing  gases,  reduce  emissions,  and  improve  the  safety  and
health  of  workers  in  industrial  installations:  iron  and  steel  making  technologies  for  flexible  and
cost-effective  production;  technologies  to  reduce  energy  consumption  and  CO2  emission,  improve  steel
cleanliness, and increase recycling rates; casting, rolling and downstream treatment, reduction of weight, and
coating  and  surface  techniques;  development  of  improved  and  high-strength  steel  grades  for  higher
performance  and  use  in  extreme  conditions;  cost-effective  application  of  by-products.

(iii)  Measurements  and  testing

Objectives  and  RTD  activities

—  Prenormative  research  and  technical  support  for  standardisation.

Research  will  focus  on  the  development  and  validation  of  measurement  and  testing  methods,  and  the
production  of  scientific  and  metrological  data  needed  to  define  performance  and  safety  criteria  for
products  and  services.  The  goals  will  be  to  strengthen  Europe’s  overall  competitive  position  and  to
promote  the  implementation  of  the  key  actions  and  of  Community  policies.

RTD priorities: development of new standard and improvement of existing standards over the range of
industrial  requirements;  support  for  the  development  of  performance  standards  and  directives  to
facilitate  trade,  to  protect  consumers  and  the  work  environment  and  to  favour  mutual  recognition
agreements.

—  The  fight  against  fraud.

Research will focus on developing measurement and testing systems to detect and prevent fraud, in order
to  better  protect  the  economic  interests  of  enterprises  and  society  and  the  health  of  consumers.  The
long-term  aim  will  be  to  keep  know-how  and  technology  ahead  of  the  defrauder.

RTD  priorities:  techniques  to  combat  counterfeited  or  falsely  labelled  industrial  and  agricultural
products; avoidance of circumvention of trade regulations and Community legislation, including customs
tariffs,  quotas,  and  waste  disposal;  new  methods  for  the  detection  of  drugs  and  doping,  detecting  false
banknotes  and  value  certificates;  identification  of  the  provenance  of  cultural  artfacts.

—  Improvement  of  quality.

Research  will  support  the  development  of  generic  measurement  and  testing  methods,  instruments  and
measuring  systems,  including  software,  and  this  will  also  strengthen  the  SME-intensive  instrumentation
sector.  Research  will  focus  further  on  the  development  of  quality  assessment  systems  for  private  and
public  enterprises  and  on  identifying  measurable  attributes  that  customers  perceive  to  be  present  in
quality products and services. Research needed to remove technical barriers to trade within Europe and
with  third  countries  will  also  be  included.  The  activities  are  to  be  developed  in  conjunction  with  the
relevant  activities  in  the  other  programmes.

RTD priorities: calibration and transfer standards, feasibility studies for certified reference materials and
banks  of  reference  substances  to  assure  reliability  and  traceability  of  measurements;  instruments  for
in  situ  and  reference
high-performance  measurements;  robust  and  portable 
measurements,  models  and  software  tools  for  the  validation  of  measurement  methods;  tools  to  support
mutual  recognition  agreements,  for  improving  quality  within  enterprises,  including  SMEs,  and  for
measuring  customer  satisfaction;  methodologies 
in
metrologically  less  developed  fields.

to  support  certification  and  accreditation 

instruments 

for 

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c)  SUPPORT  FOR  RESEARCH  INFRASTRUCTURES

Industrial  research  in  Europe  is  widely  recognised  for  its  excellence,  with  well-established  strongholds  at
national level. To bring competitive advantages, scientific and technological RTD results must, however, be
converted  into  successful  applications.  Apart  from  the  development  of  exploitation-oriented  projects,  there
is a real need to share facilities effectively and to exchange data and experience more efficiently, for example
for testing new machines, vehicles, or processes. In addition, research constantly generates new data and in
increasing  quantities.  Collecting  and  organising  such  data  at  European  level  will  benefit  industry  and  the
whole  user  community.  Not  only  will  research  efficiency  be  improved  by  reducing  duplication  but,  more
importantly, focusing the whole fabric of research infrastructure in Europe on common goals will enable a
strategic  approach  to  be  put  in  place.

Objective  and  activities

Action  is  needed  to  encourage  the  optimum  utilisation  of  existing  research  infrastructures  and  large
installations  in  very  close  relation  to  the  key  actions.  Pooling  of  resources  and  transnational  access,  in
particular  for  research  manufacturing  centres,  transport  test  facilities,  high-power  wind  tunnels,  industrial
design  computing  centres,  or  materials  and  structures  test  facilities,  are  needed  to  better  exploit  new
techniques  based  on  fixed  major  equipment  and  associated  instrumentation.  Integration  of  the  existing
facilities  must  be  accomplished  as  far  as  possible  to  avoid  duplication  of  work,  increase  complementarity
and  ensure  interoperability  of  data  exchanges.  As  the  stages  of  development  of  the  various  national
institutions  vary  across  the  Community,  there  is  also  a  need  to  reinforce  collaboration,  in  areas  such  as
conformity  assessments,  training  activities  and  transfer  of  know-how.  In  summary,  support  for  research
infrastructures  is  aimed  at

(i)  The  optimum  utilisation  of  geographically  dispersed  medium-  and  large-scale  research  facilities,

(ii)  The  rapid  transfer  of  existing  and  complementary  RTD  results  to  industrial  applications  and

(iii)  The  improvement  and  interoperability  of  common  protocols  and  data  exchanges.

—  The support activities for research infrastructures are aimed at improving the information flow towards
European researchers and at facilitating access to facilities to which researchers would not normally have
access.  This  will  also  encourage  and  facilitate  the  improvement  of  existing  and  the  promotion  of  new
research  capabilities  in  response  to  emerging  needs.

Support  activities  will  stimulate  access  to  facilities  related  to  the  various  key  actions,  in  particular  to
computing  centres  for  industrial  research,  transport  test  facilities  and  high-power  wind  tunnels.

—  The  setting  up  of  virtual institutes will  promote  the  coordination  and  the  pooling  of  resources  between
research  centres  and  organisations  to  achieve  synergy  and  reap  wider  benefits  around  the  objectives  of
the  key  actions  and  generic  technologies.  This  activity  will  facilitate  the  creation  of  virtual  facilities
generating  sufficient  critical  mass  for  research  into  higher  performance  techniques,  instrumentation  and
technologies.  Community  support  will  be  limited  in  time.

Support  activities  would  be  meant  as  an  incentive  to  speed  up  cooperation  and  the  use  of  information
and communications technologies for geographically dispersed facilities leading to improve transfer and
exploitation  of  results,  in  particular  for  SMEs,  in  the  field  of  materials,  production  technologies,  and
measurement  and  testing.

—  Support  for  European  metrological  infrastructure  will  reinforce  cohesion  between  Member  States  and
third countries. This will benefit mutual recognition and conformity agreements. Particular attention will
be  paid  to  the  impact  of  these  agreements  on  SMEs.

Community  funding  will  be  directed  towards  intercomparisons  and  inter-laboratory  performance
analyses,  support  for  interoperable  database  structures,  the  production  of  certified  reference  materials
and  the  improved  use  by  SMEs  in  particular  of  the  implementation  of  the  abovementioned  agreements
and  the  ISO  9000,  ISO  14000  and  EN  45000  standards.

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—  Reference  databases  have  been  identified  as  one  of  the  means  of  strengthening  the  European  research
fabric. Efforts will focus on ensuring that the data generated are of acceptable quality and comparability
and  on  bringing  together  sectorial  and  local  activities  in  support  of  European  research.  Such  activities
will  preserve  the  property  rights  of  individual  organisations.

Support  activities,  in  particular  for  materials  and  aeronautics  research,  will  help  to  catalogue  and
compare  RTD  actions  at  national  and  international  level  and  the  output  of  different  research
facilities.

ANNEX  III

SPECIFIC  RULES  FOR  IMPLEMENTING  THE  PROGRAMME

The specific programme will be implemented through the indirect RTD actions defined in Annexes II and IV
to  the  fifth  framework  programme.  In  addition,  the  following  rules  specific  to  this  programme  will  apply:

1.  Accompanying measures

The  accompanying  measures  will  comprise  in  particular:

—  studies  in  support  of  the  specific  programme,  including  the  preparation  of  future  activities,

—  the  exchange  of  information,  conferences,  seminars,  workshops  and  scientific  and  technical  meetings,

—  recourse  to  external  expertise,  including  access  to  scientific  databases,  in  particular  for  the  purposes  of
the  monitoring  of  the  specific  programme  provided  for  in  Article  5(1)  of  the  fifth  framework
programme, the external assessment provided for in Article 5(2) of the fifth framework programme and
the  evaluation  of  indirect  RTD  actions  and  the  monitoring  of  their  implementation,

—  dissemination,  information  and  communication  activities,  including  scientific  publications,  activities  for

the  exploitation  of  results  and  the  transfer  of  technologies,

—  training  schemes  related  to  RTD  activities  covered  by  the  specific  programme  other  than  Marie  Curie

fellowships,

—  support  for  schemes  to  provide  information  and  assistance  for  research  players,  including  SMEs

—  recourse to external expertise in setting up and providing access to information, assistance and research

and  innovation  promoting  services  and  networks.

2.  Coordination  arrangements

The  Commission  will  endeavour  to  ensure  complementarity  between  the  indirect  RTD  actions  under  the
programme,  in  particular  by  grouping  them  around  a  common  objective,  and  to  avoid  duplication,  while
respecting  the  legitimate  interests  of  proposes  of  indirect  RTD  actions.

Coordination  will  also  be  ensured  between  actions  under  the  specific  programme  and  those  carried  out
in:

—  other  specific  programmes  implementing  the  fifth  framework  programme,

—  the research and training programmes implementing Council Decision . . ./. . ./Euratom of . . . concerning
the fifth framework programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for research and
training  activities  (1998-2002),

—  other  European  research  frameworks  such  as  Eureka,  COST  and  IMS,

—  other  Community  research-related  instruments  such  as  PHARE,  TACIS,  MEDA,  the  EIF,  the  Structural

Funds  and  the  EIB,

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It  will  comprise:

(i)  the  identification  of  common  themes  or  priorities,  resulting  in  particular  in:

—  the  exchange  of  information,

—  the carrying out of work decided upon jointly, entailing in particular the joint initiation of one of the

procedures  referred  to  in  Article  9  of  the  rules  for  participation  and  dissemination,

(ii) the  reassignment  of  proposals  for  indirect  RTD  actions  between  specific  programmes  or  between  a

specific  programme  and  a  research  and  training  programme.