Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources" (1998 to 2002)
Date: 1998-06-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, innovation, population ageing, quality of life, research and development, research expenditure (EU)

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II

(Preparatory  Acts)

COMMISSION

Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  adopting  a  specific  programme  for  research,  technological
development  and  demonstration  on  ‘Quality  of  life  and  management  of  living  resources’  (1998
to  2002)

(98/C  260/01)

(Text  with  EEA  relevance)

COM(98)  305  final  —  98/0177(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  ‘Quality  of  life  and  the
management  of  living  resources’;

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 

in 

the 

the 

field  of 

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

implementing 

research, 

fourth 

the 

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

(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).

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working  paper  adopted  by  the  Commission  on  5
November  1997 (1);

Article  2

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 (2)  (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;

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  2 635 million, including a maximum of
6,30 % 
ex-
penditure.

the  Commission’s  administrative 

for 

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

3. Of  this  amount

—  ECU  547  million  is  for  the  period  1998  to  1999,

and

—  ECU  2 088  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.

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

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.

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;

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  ‘Quality  of  life
and management of living resources’ (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.

(1)  COM(97)553  final.
(2)  COM(97)587  final  (OJ  C  40,  7.2.1998,  p.  14).

Article  3

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

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.

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indirect  RTD  actions  under 

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

the 

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

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

—  the drawing-up and updating of the work programme

referred  to  in  Article  5(1),

Article  4

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:

—  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

amount  as  set  out  in  Annex  I.

(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:

(a)  the  content  of  Annex  II;

(b) the indicative timetable for the implementation of the

specific programme;

(c)  the  coordination  arrangements  indicated  in  Annex

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.

Article  7

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
the
they  are 
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
proposed  measures 
the
Commission.

adopted 

shall 

by 

be 

regularly 

shall 
of 

the
2. The  Commission 
Programme  Committee 
the
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

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)  health,  food  and  environmental  factors

(ii)  control  of  infectious  diseases

(iii)  the  ‘cell  factory’

(iv)  sustainable  agriculture,  fisheries  and  forestry,  including  integrated

development  or  rural  areas

(v)  the  ageing  population

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

(c)  Support  for  research  infrastructures

76,1 %

19,0 %

12,7 %

15,2 %

21,6 %

7,6 %

20,9 %

3,0 %

Total

ECU  2 635  million

ANNEX  II

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

INTRODUCTION

Economic  and  political  developments  in  Europe  have  globally  resulted  in  greater  prosperity,  increased  life
expectancy  and  better  working  conditions.  These  improvements  have,  however,  been  accompanied  by
challenges  such  as  higher  health-care  costs,  an  ageing  population,  and  environmental  degradation.
Increasingly,  a  gap  is  becoming  evident  between  natural  resources,  whether  from  agriculture  and  fisheries,
mining  or  the  global  environment,  and  human  activities.  Paradoxically,  this  has  occurred  at  a  time  when
there  is  an  ‘explosion’  in  the  knowledge  base  concerning  the  structure  and  working  of  all  living  things,
pointing  towards  new  developments  in  the  corresponding  sectors,  e.g.  health-care,  pharmaceuticals,
agriculture,  food,  etc.

Europe  has  a  strong  tradition  and  an  excellent  record  in  research  and  application  of  life  sciences  and
technologies.  Furthermore,  Europe  provides  a  huge  single  market  with  a  tradition  of  receptiveness  for
bio-based  products.  It  has,  therefore,  the  potential  to  address  and  solve  major  challenges  such  as  a  varied
and  safe  food  supply,  affordable  health-care,  better  medicines,  etc.  The  scientific  basis  on  which  living  and
natural  materials  are  exploited  for  these  ends  is  undergoing  a  dramatic  change,  in  which  the  intimate  and
interactive workings of living beings are being revealed. With the progress of scientific knowledge in recent
decades,  one  can  now  expect  to  probe  more  deeply  the  questions  surrounding  the  production  of  food,  the
curing of diseases, and the sustainable management and use of biological resources. One can also anticipate
clarifying  their  relationships  with  human  behaviour  and  needs,  industrial  practices  and  consumer
demands.

The strategic objective of the programme is to link the ability to discover to the ability to produce, in order
to address the needs of society and to meet the requirements of the consumer, leading to future wealth and
job  creation.  The  strategy  of  this  programme  is  to  focus  on  specific  areas  where  growing  knowledge
potentially  contains  technical  answers  to  some  of  the  pressing  questions  asked  by  the  citizen  which  require
to  be  tackled  on  a  European  scale.

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The  novelty  of  this  approach  is  the  willingness  to  couple  the  dynamics  of  massive  knowledge  production
with few areas where there are expected to be desirable spin-offs, while pursuing the renewal of knowledge
to  reinforce  European  strengths  in  fields  associated  with  further  growth  and  quality  of  life.

The  proposed  scientific  and  technological  solutions  should  be  seen  as  part  of  an  integrated  ‘system’
approach,  in  which  man  is  at  the  core  of  the  issue  of  the  ‘quality  of  life’  and  of  ‘management  of  living
resources’. Five key actions have been identified in which European research should make a contribution, by
way  of  innovative  products,  processes  or  services,  to  problem  resolution.  These  key  actions  are  targeted  at
socio-economic needs and the Community’s policy objectives, e.g. in agriculture and fisheries, industry and
consumers,  and  in  the  fields  of  health  and  environment.

They are supplemented with research and technological development activities of a generic nature as well as
support to research infrastructures aiming at building up, in the longer term, the knowledge base in areas of
strategic  importance  for  the  future.

Meeting  socio-economic  needs.  On  the  demand  side,  research  should  be  developed  which  promotes  health,
reconcile economic developments with environmental requirements, and improves the response to consumer
needs. On the supply side, there is huge potential for economic growth and job-creation in this field, both in
the  traditional  industries  including  primary  production  and  in  the  nascent  high  technology  industries.

Increasing  European  added  value.  The  major  cross-border  issues  should  be  addressed  selectively,  such  as
health  aspects  of  diseases  (epdemiology,  nutrition,  food  safety,  ageing,  rare  diseases),  or  transboundary
resources management (terrestrial and aquatic living resources). Other areas such as drug abuse, biosafety or
bioethics,  involve  the  reinforcement  of  scientific  bases  in  support  of  Community  policies.  Many  of  the
activities  to  be  addressed  in  the  programme  (e.g.  genome  research,  neurosciences,  technology  assessment),
due  to  their  size  and  complexity,  are  only  feasible  if  they  are  addressed  at  the  European  level.

Improving  European  competitiveness.  The  programme  will  capitalise  on  specific  scientific  strengths  in
knowledge  areas  and  in  productive  sectors  with  strong  growth  potential,  such  as  the  biotechnology  and
food industries. Thus, the heart of this programme, improving the quality of life, promoting life sciences and
technologies and decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, will contribute in the short
and  in  the  longer  term  to  European  competitiveness  and  employment.  Europe  must  promote  start-ups  in
particular in the areas of biotechnology and the agro-food industry which have recently shown a consistent
growth  rate.

Promoting biosafety. The assessment of the behaviour and impact on health of recombinant organisms (e.g.
transgenic  plants,  microorganisms,  vaccines,  etc.)  and  of  their  fate  in  the  environment,  where  relevant,  is
part  of  every  key  action.

Respecting  an  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.

LINKS  AND  COMPLEMENTARITY  WITH  THE  OTHER  PROGRAMMES

Coordination  with  other  thematic  programmes  is  based  on  promoting  synergetic  interactions  and
complementary  activities  and  avoiding  unnecessary  duplication:

—  Coordination  with  the  specific  programme  on  a  ‘User-friendly  information  society’  is  based  on  the
following  principle:  activities  concerned  with  information  society  technologies  as  such  (which  include
development, demonstration and take-up actions) will be concentrated in the ‘User-friendly information
society’ programme; activities concerned with the deployment, integration and adaptation of information

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society technologies in applications relating to the quality of life and the management of living resources
will  be  conducted  in  this  programme.

—  Coordination  with  the  programmes  on  ‘Competitive  and  sustainable  growth’  and  ‘Preserving  the
ecosystem’ is based on close interaction between the key action ‘Health, food and environmental factors’
of  this  programme  and  the  key  action  ‘Products,  processes  and  organisation’  of  the  programme  on
‘Competitive  and  sustainable  growth’  and  the  corresponding  aspects  of  the  programme  on  ‘Preserving
the  ecosystem’.  Similar  interactions  will  be  established  between  the  key  actions  ‘The  cell  factory’  and
‘Sustainable management of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, including integrated development of rural
areas’  with  the  relevant  actions  of  the  programmes  on  ‘Competitive  and  sustainable  growth’  and
‘Preserving  the  ecosystem’.

—  Close  coordination  will  be  developed  with  the  programme  ‘Confirming  the  international  role  of
Community research’, in particular where collaboration with international initiatives could bring added
value  to  European  RTD  efforts.

—  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  developed  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.

—  Concerning  innovation  and  the  participation  of  SMEs,  as  new  knowledge  in  the  biosciences  constantly
drives  innovation,  research  partnerships  need  to  be  flexible  and  inclusive.  A  competitive  partnership
requires  a  high  level  of  interaction  of  biology,  engineering,  information  management,  standardisation,
capital investment, intellectual property rights, etc., which brings success only on a single-project basis. It
will  be  imperative  that  measures  to  stimulate  e.g.  SMEs  and  financial  partners  accompany  programme
management  for  each  individual  action.  An  ‘innovation  unit’  will  focus  the  promotion  activities  with  a
view  to  the  deployment  and  use  of  the  results  of  this  programme;  it  will  also  help  to  ensure
complementarity  and  an  interface  with  the  innovation  activities  implemented  in  the  context  of  the
programme  on  ‘Innovation  and  participation  of  SMEs’.

—  Training  with  a  view  to  providing  qualified  human  resources  in  the  entrepreneurial  and  professional
sectors,  as  well  as  socio-economic  analysis  of  technology  impacts,  will  be  carried  out  within  this
programme,  to  accommodate  the  rapid  turn-over  of  new  expertise  in  many  traditional  fields.

(a)  KEY  ACTIONS

(i)  Health,  Food  and  Environmental  Factors

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  overall  goal  of  this  key  action  is  to  improve  the  health  of  European  citizens  by  providing  them  with
safe, healthy and varied food products and by reducing the negative impact of environmental factors such as
air  pollution,  heavy  metals,  toxic  substances,  electromagnetic  radiation  and  noise,  as  well  as  the  effects  of
pollution at the workplace. A new multidisciplinary approach viewing the whole food chain as an integrated
entity while examining issues of food safety, pre-normative aspects, new and improved raw materials, food
processing,  and  a  more  profound  understanding  of  the  links  between  food  consumption,  well-being  and
health  will  be  developed.  This  key  action  will  also  study  in  detail  the  interactions  between  environmental
factors  and  human  health.  The  following  scientific  and  technological  objectives  will  be  pursued:

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—  Development  of  safe  and  flexible  and  new  and/or  improved  manufacturing  process  and  technologies

The aim is to improve the quality and consumer acceptability of food, while ensuring traceability of raw
material  and  final  products.

RTD priorities: improved use of raw materials, production and processing systems; development of food
crops  and  functional  foods;  use  of  fishery  by  products  and  poorly  exploited  species;  quality  and
traceability  of  raw  materials  and  food  products  in  the  food  chain;  minimal  processing  and  process
control;  advanced  food  technologies  and  packaging  systems;  improvement  of  traditional  technologies;
quality  monitoring  and  quality  assurance,  including  the  development  of  methods  for  measuring
quality.

—  Development  of  tests  to  detect  and  processes  to  eliminate  infectious  and  toxic  agents

Research will focus on the hazards of food contaminants, their exact origins and strategies for safer food
production.

RTD  priorities:  improved  understanding  and  control  of  contamination  conditions;  rapid  detection  tests
for  pathogens,  xenobiotics  and  hormones;  new  and  safer  methods  of  food  production;  new
methodologies  for  assessing  microbial,  chemical  and  allergenic  risks.

—  Research  into  the  role  of  food  in  promoting  and  sustaining  health  with  respect  to  diet  and  nutrition,

toxicology,  epidemiology,  environmental  interaction,  consumer  choice  and  public  health

The  aim  is  to  reduce  diet-related  risk  factors  contributing  to  chronic  disease  and  to  develop  new
approaches  for  improved  nutrition  and  more  balanced  diets.

RTD priorities: the role and impact of food and diet on physiological functions, and physical and mental
performance;  the  particular  nutritional  needs  of  defined  population  groups;  links  between  diet  and
chronic  diseases  and  disorders  including  genetic  factors  involved;  consumer  protection,  attitudes  and
reactions  with  regard  to  food  products,  food-processing  methods  and  labelling.

—  Research into diseases and allergies related to or influenced by the environment, and research into their

treatment  and  prevention

The  focus  is  on  health  impairment  caused  directly  by  exposure  to  the  environment  and  on  ways  on
treatment  and  prevention,  based  on  sound  epidemiological  data  and  an  understanding  of  pathogenesis
mechanisms.

RTD  priorities:  analysis  and  quantification  of  the  impact  of  environmental  factors  on  human  health;
assessment  of  the  relative  importance  of,  and  the  interactions  between,  factors  impinging  on  health;
improved  understanding  of  the  interrelations  between  environmental  and  public-health  indicators  for
better  treatment  and  prevention;  development  of  an  integrated  approach  to  risk  assessment  taking  into
account  environmental  and  public-health  aspects.

—  Development  of  new  methods  of  diagnosis,  risk  assessment  and  of  processes  to  reduce  causes  and

harmful  environmental  health  effects

The objective is to use a multi-disciplinary approach for better understanding of the interactions between
the social and physical environment and health and to improve the identification of vulnerable groups to
environmental  exposures  and  to  identify  preventive  measures  in  order  to  reduce  causes  and
environmental  factors  hazardous  to  health.

RTD  priorities:  bio-markers  (including  bio-indicators)  of  environmental  exposure,  effect  and/or
susceptibility  to  environmental  agents,  including  mixed  exposures  and  cumulative  effects;  improvement
of  predictive  toxicity  testing  and  mechanism-based  risk  assessment  aiming  at  an  eventual  reduction,
refinement and eventual replacement of animal testing; improved methods and technologies for long and
short-term  exposure  and  effects  assessment;  epidemiological  and  biomedical  studies  on  possible  effects
linked  to  non-ionising  irradiation,  particularly  from  cellular  phones.

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(ii) Control  of  Infectious  Diseases

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  overall  goal  of  this  key  action  is  to  combat  established,  emerging  or  re-emerging  infectious  diseases,
linked  to  old,  new  or  mutated  agents  in  humans  or  animals.  This  would  be  achieved  primarily  by  mixing
complementary  expertise  in  transdisciplinary  projects,  by  linking  these  activities  to  national  and
international  organisations,  and  by  encouraging  the  interface  between  academic  research,  policy-makers,
health-care providers and the human and animal health-care industry, pursuing the following scientific and
technological objectives:

—  The  development  of  improved  or  novel  mono-component,  multi-component  and  combined  vaccines,

especially  against  viral  diseases,  including  the  support  of  multi-centre  clinical  trials

RTD priorities: vaccines against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and other diseases related
to  infectious  agents  (e.g.  some  cancers)  with  a  view  to  reduction  and  eventual  replacement  of  animal
testing;  vaccines  against  animal  pathogens;  development  of  European  networks  for  clinical  and  field
trials  of  vaccines  and  drugs  including,  where  necessary,  better  understanding  of  the  immune  system.

—  New  and  improved  strategies  to  identify  and  control  infectious  diseases,  directed  at  treatment  and
prevention  and  based  on  studies  on  pathogenesis,  emergence  of  resistance  and  immunological  control

RTD  priorities:  improved  understanding  of  mechanisms  of  protection  against  infectious  agents,  of  drug
resistance and control of immunological responses; technologies for safer and more efficient vaccines and
immunotherapy;  specific  risk  factors,  including  xenotransplants  influencing  the  spread  of  infectious
diseases and development of new strains; development and validation of diagnostic tests; development of
an early-warning system and response network for infectious diseases; improved methodologies for early
and  accurate  detection  of  adverse  reactions  to  drugs  and  vaccines.

—  Aspects  connected  with  public-health  and  care-delivery  systems,  notably  management,  prevention  and

surveillance aspects

RTD  priorities:  organisational  and  economic  public-health  aspects;  surveillance,  monitoring  and
assessment  methodologies  in  prevention  and  cure;  methodologies  for  product  safety  surveillance  in  the
market  place.

(iii)  The  ‘Cell  Factory’

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

This key action is aimed at helping the Community’s enterprises, either established or starting up, to exploit
the  advances  made  in  life  sciences  and  technology,  particularly  in  the  fields  of  health,  environment,
agriculture, agro-industries and high value-added products such as chemicals. It is aimed at the development
of multidisciplinary technologies based on the exploitation of the properties of micro-organisms, plants and
animals,  in  particular  at  the  tissue,  cellular  and  sub-cellular  levels.  The  objective  is  to  understand  the
versatile  functioning  of  cells  and  to  develop  bio-reactors,  bio-molecules  and  bio-processes  with  high  added
value capable of enhancing the quality of life and health. Being a prerequisite to the functioning of cells as
minute factories, sufficient knowledge will have to be secured of their blue-print at the scale at which they
operate, through underpinning contributions of structural biology, physiology, nanobiotechnology, genomics
and proteomics, with the support of notably physico-chemistry, bioinformatics and biochemical engineering.
This  key  action  should  also  aim  at  using  RTD  to  reinforce  the  prenormative  by  making  cell  cultures
available  as  models  for  medicine,  pharmacology,  toxicology  and  environmental  monitoring  as  a  substitute
for  testing.  Emphasis  would  be  put  on  the  following  scientific  and  technological  objectives:

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—  New  and  innovative  health-related  processes  and  products  particularly  from  molecular  engineering  (for

example:  diagnostics,  antibiotics,  anti-cancer  agents,  including  plant  produced  therapeutics)

Research  will  focus  on  bio-products  relevant  to  preventing,  detecting  and  treating  human  and  animal
diseases  and  improving  the  quality  of  life.

RTD priorities: Improved understanding of the cell, gene functions and gene-delivery methods applicable
to  the  development  of  new  diagnostic  and  therapeutic  substances  and  strategies;  anti-cancer  agents,
antibiotics, antibodies and therapeutics, vaccine production, novel in vitro testing and screening methods
as  alternatives  to  animal  testing;  cells  as  production  units  and  as  diagnostic  and  detection  tools.

—  Energy-efficient  bio-remediation  and  waste  bio-treatment  processes

The  objective  is  to  prevent,  detect,  monitor,  treat  and  remove  pollution  as  well  as  to  maximise  the
economic  value  of  waste.

RTD  priorities:  new  bio-processes  for  preventing  industrial  pollution,  treating,  upgrading,  and/or
recycling  bioaccumulable  wastes  and  industrial  by-products;  bioassays  and  biosensors;  bio-degradation
of  recalcitrant  chemicals  by  microbial  catalysts  alone  or  in  combination  with  plant  systems  and/or
chemical  catalysts;  biodiversity  and  ecological  dynamics  of  natural  and  introduced  populations.

—  New  biological  processes  and  products,  new  processing  technologies  using  micro-organisms,  plants  or

animals  for  agri-food  and  agro-industry  and  high-value-added  chemical  applications

The  focus  is  on  high-value  bio-molecules  and  bio-processes  leading  to  enhanced  exploitation  of
renewable resources and to enhanced expression of desirable characteristics for micro-organisms, plants
and animals.

RTD priorities: approaches at genome level and exploiting the cellular and sub-cellular characteristics of
improved  micro-organisms,  plants  and  animals  taking  into  account  socio-economic,  agronomic,
ecological  and/or  consumer  perspectives;  development  of  methods  and  strategies  for  identifying
recombinant  organisms  and  their  residues  in  the  environment  and  their  impact  on  human  and  animal
health;  new  biocatalysts;  use  of  terrestrial  and  marine  organisms  as  a  source  of  new  valuable  products;
identification  and  sustainable  use  of  metabolic  and  genetic  diversity.

(iv)  Sustainable  agriculture,  fisheries  and  forestry,  including  integrated  development  of  rural  areas

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  aim  is  to  develop  knowledge  and  technologies  for  the  production  and  exploitation  of  living  resources,
including  forests,  covering  the  whole  production  chain,  taking  into  account  the  highly  competitive
international context and in the light of the need for adaptation to the evolution of the common agricultural
and  fisheries  policies,  whilst  also  providing  the  scientific  basis  for  Community  regulations  and  standards,
and to promote the multi-functional role of forests and the sustainable management and utilisation of forest
resources  as  an  integral  factor  of  rural  development.  The  priority  areas  are  as  follows:

—  New  and/or  improved  systems  of  production  and  exploitation  in  agriculture,  fisheries  and  aquaculture,

including  the  multi-functional  management  of  forests

These  systems  will  combine  competitiveness,  sustainable  management  of  resources,  product  quality  and
employment.

RTD  priorities:

For  agriculture:  sustainable  farm  production  systems  and  methods  and  corresponding  ex-ante  and
ex-post control and analysis; diversification of production and activities; support to Community policies
on  plant  health  (prevention  prediction,  protection),  animal  health  (prevention,  control,  eradication  of
major  diseases  and  zoonoses)  and  animal  welfare;  identification  and  characterisation  of  the  quality  of
agro-food  products  and  agricultural  farm-processed  products  and  farm-processing  technologies;

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definition  of  parameters,  specifications,  methods,  forms  of  organisation  and  technologies  for  total
quality;  organic  farming  systems;  plant  and  animal  breeding  and  genetic  resources.

For fisheries: support to integrated fishery management linking resource conservation, means of capture,
interactions with ecosystems, market requirements and socio-economic considerations, identification and
characterisation  of  the  quality  of  marine  products  and  technologies;  development  of  new  concepts  for
the  sustainable  use  of  marine  living  resources.

For  aquaculture:  sustainable  production  systems  with  the  reduction  of  impact  on  ecosystems  and
diversification  of  cultivated  species  (both  plant  and  animal);  improvement  of  production  techniques;
promotion  of  genetic  improvement,  disease  resistance  and  control.

For  forests:  multifunctional  management  of  forests;  support  to  forest  policy  issues;  diversification
(non-wood  uses,  agro-sylvo-pastoral  systems),  multifunctional  and  sustainable  management  combining
quality  production  with  conservation  and  protection.  Forests  ecosystems  biodiversity  and  protection  of
forests  soils.  Sustainable  and  multi-purpose  utilisation  of  forest  resources;  the  forestry-wood  chain;
resources;  efficient,
strategies 
environment-friendly  processes  and  recycling  technologies;  high  value  added  and  diversified  products
accounting  for  market  needs,  and  consumer  requirements.

sustainable  management  and  utilization  of 

forest 

the 

for 

—  Integrated  production  and  exploitation  of  biological  materials  for  non-food  uses

This  will  cover  integrated  production  and  processing  chains  with  the  emphasis  on  enduse  and  market
requirements.

RTD  priorities:  industrial  products  from  the  ‘green’  chemical,  biopolymers  and  bioenergy  integrated
chains.

—  Support  for  common  policies

The  aim  is  to  develop  methods  of  control,  surveillance  and  protection  to  support  the  sound
implementation  of  the  common  agricultural  and  fisheries  policies  and  related  activities  and  to  provide
support for Community regulations by prenormative research activities. This research may also be useful
to  the  Community  in  the  context  of  international  trade  negotiations  and  of  dispute  settlements  in  the
framework  of  WTO,  in  the  area  of  agriculture.

RTD  priorities:  reliable,  transparent  and  cost-effective  methods  of  monitoring,  assessment  and  control;
prenormative  research  to  provide  the  scientific  basis  for  regulation  in  the  context  of  the  common
agricultural  and  fisheries  policies.

—  New  tools  and  models  for  the  integrated  and  sustainable  development  of  rural  and  other  relevant

areas

This approach is based on optimisation of the specific potential of each area, including at regional level,
the  diversification  of  activities  and  land  use  and  the  involvement  of  the  people  concerned.

RTD  priorities:  analysis  of  the  situation  and  changes  under  way,  taking  into  account  the  relationship
between  all  the  sectors  involved  and  the  factors  influencing  technological  and  socio-economic  changes;
diversification  and  job  opportunities;  development  of  the  ‘integrated  rural  and  fishery  development’
concept,  with  the  investigation  of  potentials  and  constraints,  the  elaboration  of  new  models  and  tools,
including  for  spatial  planning  and  the  improvement  of  the  organisational  capacity  of  local  actors;
support  to  follow-up  and  evaluation  of  rural  and  coastal  development  programmes  and  policies  with
tools  to  monitor,  assess  and  forecast  socio-economic  and  environmental  benefit.

(v)  The  Ageing  Population

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The overriding goal of this key action is to promote quality of life and healthy ageing and independence in
old  age  by  preventing  and  treating  age-related  diseases  and  disability,  and  their  societal  consequences.  A
complementary  objective  will  be  to  reduce  the  need  for  long-term  care  and  limit  the  constantly  increasing
costs  of  health-care  systems.

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—  RTD into age-related illnesses and health problems with high morbidity where there is a real prospect of

significant  prevention,  treatment  or  delay  in  onset

RTD  priorities:  studies  on  major  age-related  diseases  (e.g.  Parkinson’s  and  Alzheimer’s  diseases),
physiology  and  pathophysiology  of  ageing  and  disability;  co-morbidity  studies.

—  RTD  into  biological,  psychological,  social  and  economic  determinants  of  healthy  ageing  and  of  the

mechanisms  leading  to  disability

RTD  priorities:  cellular  and  molecular  bases  of  ageing;  genetic  predisposition;  immunology  of  ageing;
basic  biological  and  psychological  mechanisms  underlying  age-related  changes  (including  occupational
and  genetic  effects);  model  studies  for  specific  ageing  processes;  biomarkers;  endocrine,  neurocrine  and
metabolic  factors  of  ageing;  psychological  implications  of  ageing.

—  Demographic  and  epidemiological  research  on  ageing  and  disability  trends  to  enable  prediction  of  the

size  and  nature  of  the  ageing  population  as  a  basis  for  policy  and  planning

RTD priorities: clinical trials; analysis and quantification of demographic, medical, sociological, lifestyle
(including  exercise,  mobility  and  nutrition)  and  environmental  factors;  prevention;  methodology  linked
to  collection  of  specific  data.

—  RTD  into  new  approaches  to  delaying  the  onset  of  disability,  to  reducing  the  challenge  to  older  people
of their social and physical environment, including the design and development of products and services
adapted  to  their  needs  (e.g.  in  housing,  transport  and  leisure)  and  to  supporting  mental  and  physical
functioning

RTD  priorities:  methodology  relating  to  quality  of  life,  social  integration  and  coping  mechanisms;
technologies  contributing  to  less  dependency;  research  on  sensory  degeneration;  psychomotor,  sensory
and  cognitive  impairments;  rehabilitation  and  replacement  therapies;  intervention  assessment  studies;
assessment  and  quantification  of  needs  and  design/development  of  competitive  and  adapted  products
and services.

—  RTD  into  effective  and  efficient  delivery  of  health  and  social  care  services  to  older  people,  including

comparative  research  on  the  financing  of  long  term  care  and  pensions

RTD  priorities:  health  care  outcome  research  for  elderly  and  disabled,  research  into  specific  health
services  and  social  care  services,  as  well  as  into  health  care  services  organisation;  efficiency  and  quality
of health care delivery for the elderly; impact of ageing on the evolution and financing of care systems,
notably  for  long  term  care,  and  of  pensions.

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

These  activities  have  a  longer-term  impact  that  may  even  preclude  the  possibility  of  satisfying  some  of  the
citizens’ expressed needs, for as long as fragmentary knowledge is not pooled together to a sufficient degree
of  completeness.  There  is,  in  the  related  disciplines,  a  time-dependent  need  for  integration  of  the  science
base, which is why industry, services and policy-making in Europe must maintain or reinforce their response
capacity  in  a  rapidly  changing  world.

Efficient  interaction  between  research  laboratories  and  industry  will  be  promoted.  Clustering  of  projects
involving  core  centres  and  associated  laboratories  will  be  encouraged  to  create  a  critical  mass,  to  promote
interaction between basic and applied research and to ensure maximum transfer of knowledge to and from
industry  and  undertakings.  Support  ranging  from  training  of  young  scientists  to  fellowships  for  senior
researchers  will  be  developed.

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—  Chronic  and  degenerative  diseases  (in  particular  cancer  and  diabetes),  cardiovascular  diseases  and  rare

diseases

Major  challenges  in  biomedical  research  are  the  elucidation  of  the  aetiology  and  pathogenesis  of  multi
factorial  diseases  (genetic,  environmental,  life-style)  of  high  (e.g.  cardiovascular,  cancer,  diabetes)  or  low
(e.g.  rare  diseases)  morbidity.  There  is  an  urgent  need  to  improve  diagnosis,  treatment,  prevention  and
surveillance  through  epidemiology  and  applying  advances  in  modern  technology,  requiring  a  multinational
approach.  The  objective  is  to  increase  knowledge  with  regard  to  the  epidemiology,  pathogenesis  and
diagnosis  of  diseases  by  integrating  basic  and  clinical  research,  and  to  apply  modern  technology  to  the
treatment  and  control  of  major  diseases,  including  rare  (e.g.,  Creutzfeldt-Jakob  disease)  and  ‘orphan’
diseases  (e.g.  illnesses  which  are  prevalent  in  developing  countries  but  are  receiving  less  attention  for
research  in  industrialised  countries).

RTD priorities: contribution of molecular, genetic, environmental and life-style factors and their interactions
to  the  aetiology,  pathophysiology,  progress  and  outcome  of  diseases,  leading  to  new  approaches  to
prevention,  diagnosis  and  treatment.  Evaluation  of  novel  interventions  where  multinational,  large-scale
studies/trials  are  required,  and  optimum  use  of  databases,  registries,  reagents  and  sample  banks.

—  Research  into  genomes  and  diseases  of  genetic  origin

The aim of this activity is to identify the physiological functions of genes and to improve the understanding
of  the  meaning  of  sequence  information.  The  new  knowledge  and  technologies  deriving  from  this  generic
action  should  promote  the  exploitation  of  genome  information  to  the  benefit  of  European  health,  industry
and  the  environment.  The  organisation  of  collaboration  in  this  area  will  underpin  the  development  of
expression systems to facilitate the study of genes of industrial and agronomic interest as well as the design
of  effective  molecular  and  gene-based  preventive  and  therapeutic  strategies  for  human  and  animal  disease.

RTD  priorities:  this  area  will  address  the  meaning  of  genome  information.  This  will  require  structural
studies;  comparative  analyses  of  genomes  and  proteomes;  development  of  novel  and  user-friendly
informatics  approaches  to  enable  acquisition  of,  access  to  and  interpretation  of  genomic  and  functional
data; development of novel expression systems, model organisms, mutant, transgenic and hybrid organisms;
development  and  application  of  underpinning  biochemistry,  biophysical,  statistical  and  computational
approaches.  Particular  emphasis  will  be  given  to  improve  the  knowledge  and  understanding  of  genetic
diseases.

—  Neurosciences

This  activity  will  provide  new  insights  and  a  better  understanding  of  the  mechanisms  governing  the
interrelationship  of  biological  and  psychological  processes,  to  promote  new  diagnostic  (e.g.  imaging),
preventive  and  therapeutic  approaches  to  neurological  and  psychiatric  disorders  and  to  underpin
opportunities for education, innovation in health-care and computational industries. In this context, synergy
and  an  appropriate  flow  of  information  will  be  strengthened  with  ‘the  human  frontier’  science
programme.

RTD  priorities:  understanding  cell  communication,  including  mechanisms  of  learning  and  memory;
mechanisms  of  brain  development,  disorder  and  repair,  and  their  clinical,  epidemiological  and  social
implications. Brain theory, computational neurosciences, and neuroinformatics; human behaviour, cognition
and functional mapping of the brain. Integration of theoretical and experimental approaches; integration of
basic  and  clinical  research  in  developing  innovative  diagnostic,  preventive  and  therapeutic  strategies  based
on  novel  genetic,  cellular,  non-invasive,  pharmacological  and  psychological  approaches.

—  Public-health  and  health-services  research

I m p r o v e m e n t   o f   h e a l t h   s y s t e m s :   To  improve  the  health  of  European  citizens  and  the  effectiveness
and  cost-effectiveness  of  health-promotion  and  health-care  technologies  and  interventions,  enhance  health
and  safety  at  work,  evaluate  health-care  models,  develop  the  evidence  base  for  clinical  practice  and  health
policy,  and  study  public-health  variations  across  Europe.

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RTD  priorities:  improved  methodologies  in  epidemiology;  identification  of  new  health  determinants
(including  factors  leading  to  inequalities  in  health)  and  etiologic  factors  of  disease  through  common
methodologies  and  comparative  research;  socio-economic  and  organisational  determinants  of  prevention,
care  and  health  services;  work-related  exposure  to  biological,  chemical  and  physical  agents  and  to  physical
and  mental  stress.

F i g h t i n g   d r u g - r e l a t e d   p r o b l e m s :   To  prevent  and,  where  appropriate,  control  drug-related  health
problems  through  establishing  the  psychological  and  socio-economic  factors  involved  in  drug-taking  and
drug abuse, developing better understanding of the long-term health and social consequences of abuse, and
developing  more  effective  treatment  strategies.

RTD priorities: comparative and analytical research on biological and social causes, risk factors and effects
of  drug  addiction  and  misuse;  psychological  and  socio-economic  factors  of  drug  abuse;  long-term  health
effects  of  drug  consumption;  physical  detection  aspects,  drug  profiling  and  biological  monitoring  of
drugs.

—  Study of problems relating to biomedical ethics and bioethics in the context of respect for fundamental

human  values

The  objective  is  to  identify  the  ethical,  legal  and  social  questions  raised,  not  only  by  biomedical  and
biological research alone but also, more broadly, by scientific and technological developments to understand
and  address  issues  of  public  concern,  and  to  analyse  the  ethical  dimension  of  legal  and  regulatory
measures.

RTD  priorities:  ethical  aspects  of  life  sciences  research  and  its  application  to  medical  practice,  animals,
plants,  and  the  environment (1).

—  Study  of  the  socio-economic  aspects  of  life  sciences  and  technologies  within  the  perspective  of

sustainable  development  (the  impact  on  society,  economy  and  employment)

Competitiveness  and  sustainable  development  will  together  be  the  source  of  the  Union’s  future  wealth  and
employment  opportunities,  ensuring  an  enhanced  quality  of  life  for  Europe’s  citizens.

Simultaneous  pursuit  of  these  objectives  is  only  possible  through  an  adequate  recognition  of  the  key
interrelations between technologies, environment and society and integration of knowledge into sustainable
development policies.

Socio-economic  research  is  also  needed  to  enhance  the  quality  of  the  public  debate,  as  illustrated  by  the
interest  shown  in  the  applications  of  modern  biotechnologies.  The  regulatory  process  in  life  sciences  and

(1)  Research activities under this programme must comply with the international conventions and codes of conduct, and in
particular  the  Helsinki  Declaration  of  the  World  Medical  Association  adopted  by  the  World  Medical  Assembly.
Research will be carried out also taking into account: the European Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine of
the  Council  of  Europe;  the  opinions  of  the  Group  of  Advisors  on  the  Ethical  Implication  of  Biotechnology  and  the
opinions of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies; the Universal Declaration on the Human
Genome  and  Human  Rights  of  UNESCO  of  11  November  1997  and  the  resolutions  of  the  WHO,  as  well  as  EC
legislation (Council Directives of 26 January 1965 and 20 May 1975 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and
administrative  provisions  relating  to  proprietary  medicinal  products  (65/65/EEC  and  75/319/EEC;  Council  Directive
86/609/EEC of 24 November 1986 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the
Member  States  relating  to  the  protection  of  animals  used  for  experimental  and  other  scientific  purposes.
No research modifying or seeking to modify the genetic constitution of human beings by alteration of germ cells or of
any  stage  of  embryo  development  which  may  make  this  alteration  hereditary,  and  research  activities  aiming  at  the
creation of individuals by reproductive cloning whether it involves embryo splitting or nucleus transfer will be carried
out  under  the  present  programme.
Concerning  animal  experimentation,  the  principles  of  replacement  by  alternative  methods,  reduction  of  the  number  of
animals and the refinement of experiments must be applied. Animal suffering must be avoided or kept to a minimum.
These  principles  must  be  applied  particularly  rigorously  to  the  animal  species  that  are  the  closest  to  human  beings.
Modification  of  the  genetic  heritage  of  animals  and  animal  cloning  will  be  envisaged  within  this  programme  only  for
objectives which are justified on ethical grounds and when carried out under conditions respection animal welfare and
the  genetic  diversity.
Participants in EC research projects must conform to national legislation and applicable codes of conduct and seek the
approval  of  the  relevant  ethics  committee  prior  the  start  of  the  RTD  activities.

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EN

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18.8.98

technologies  and  its  impact  on  citizens’  confidence  influences  public  opinion,  which  in  turn  has  a  strong
impact  on  decision-makers.

The objectives are to assist in the construction of strategies and models for sustainable development and to
provide  a  sound  scientific  basis  for  the  conception  and  implementation  of  relevant  policies,  exploiting
knowledge  and  technologies  from  the  life  sciences  and  technologies  (including  the  creation  of  employment
opportunities  in  the  bioindustries);  and  to  develop  a  better  understanding  of  the  links  between  science  and
policy, including the ways in which opinions on the benefits and risks of technological progress are formed
and  are  reflected  in  their  regulatory  process.

RTD priorities: technology evaluation and assessment, public perception, education and opinion forming in
the  field  of  life  sciences  and  technologies;  analysis  of  social  and  economic  driving  forces  and  of  new
opportunities 
indicators  and  knowledge  bases  relevant  to
decision-making  and  regulation;  analysis  of  the  social  and  economic  aspects  of  the  links  between  life
sciences and technologies and policies in the field of industry, agriculture, fisheries, environment, sustainable
development,  public-health,  etc.

in  the  bioindustries;  development  of 

(c)  SUPPORT  FOR  RESEARCH  INFRASTRUCTURES

Objectives

To  broaden  access,  to  make  optimum  use  of  and  to  improve  the  consistency  of  the  existing  European
research  fabric  at  Community  level.

To  facilitate  and  to  encourage  the  development  of  RTD  facilities  in  response  to  emerging  needs.

In  order  to  reinforce  the  European  added  value  and  the  optimisation  of  the  required  efforts,  Community
support  will  be  directed  towards:

—  transnational  co-ordination,  integrated  management  of,  specific  aspects  of  operation  of,  access  to  and

improvement  of  existing  facilities;

—  co-ordination and complementation of national or multinational initiatives to develop facilities needed at

the  European  level;

—  networking  of  communities  of  researchers  and  users  through  research  projects  and  specific  training
activities  centred  on  appropriate  infrastructures,  or  co-operation  of  several  partners,  leading  to  an
integrated  service  provider;

—  increasing  the  compatibility  of  dispersed  systems,  aiming  to  provide  rapid  and  effective  integration  of

facilities  and  resources.

Classes  of  infrastructures

—  Biological  data  and  collections  of  biological  material.  Databases,  information  services  and  networks  of
biological  expertise;  major  specialised  instrumentation  for  the  study  of  biological  structures;  collections
of  genetic  materials,  living  and  non-living  specimens;  breeding  of  animals  to  develop  models  of  human
diseases.

—  Clinical  research  facilities,  including  pre-clinical  research  and  clinical  trials.

—  Facilities  for  aquaculture  and  fishery  research.

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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,  encouragement  of  innovation  financing  and
assistance  with  the  protection  of  intellectual  property.

—  training  schemes  related  to  RTD  activities  covered  by  the  specific  programme,

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

—  recourse  to  external  capacities  for  the  establishment  of  and  access  to  services  and  networks  for

information,  assistance  and  promotion  of  research  and  innovation.

2.  Coordination  arrangements

The  Commission  will  endeavour  to  ensure  complementarity  between  the  indirect  RTD  actions  within  the
programme,  in  particular  by  grouping  them  around  a  common  objective,  and  to  avoid  duplication,  while
respecting  the  legitimate  interests  of  proposers  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 98/. . ./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  and  COST,

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

Funds  and  the  EIB.

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.