Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

N o C 186/56 Official Journal of the European Communities 27. 7. 90

Call for proposals for the definition phase of specific projects for intra-Community innovation
transfer as part of the implementation of the Sprint programme

(90/C 186/18)

1. Introduction

By Council Decision 89/286/EEC of 17 April 1989 ('),
the European Communities have approved the
implementation of the main phase of the strategic
programme for innovation and technology transfer
(Sprint) (1989 to 1993).

The principal objectives of Sprint are to promote innovation in the Community's economies and to encourage
the penetration of those economies by new technologies
as they become available.

One of the main lines of action of Sprint concerns
support for specific projects for intra-Community innovation transfers — abbreviated to 'specific projects'.

2. Definition, rationale and objectives of the specific
projects

'Specific projects' is the designation chosen for a new
type of project to be stimulated and supported by Sprint.
They are projects concerned with transfering new technologies already applied in one sector or region of the
Community to another sector or region where these
technologies are not yet used, so that the transfer (and
possible adaptation of these technologies to the new
specific requirements) represents an innovation in itself,
innovation being defined as the emergence of a new,
economically viable product, process or service.

Their inclusion in Sprint is dictated by the following
main considerations:

— many available new technologies are not as widely
used as they might be. Their introduction into
certain, often traditional, industrial sectors and
certain firms, especially small and medium-sized
ones, is slower than it could be. This is often due to

lack of relevant information on their economic

advantages and on the proper way to implement
them. This general reluctance to risk and change can
in many cases be overcome by appropriate targeted
actions of a significant enough dimension,

— classical technology demonstration projects, while
providing working examples of technical innovations,
are not usually organized to answer firms' questions
about the practicalities of implementation (e.g. how
to integrate them into an existing production set-up,
modification of distribution channels, staff retraining,
etc.). There is a growing need for companies to be
provided with a global approach for adopting new
technologies covering all the aspects mentioned
above, not just technical performance,

( [l] ) OJ No L 112, 25. 4. 1989, p. 12.

— in certain regions or industrial sectors, groups of
companies have common innovation or modernization needs, whose solution is to be found in
another Community region or sector. Experience
shows that these needs often have to be pointed out
to companies, especially SMEs in traditional sectors,
and that such companies require guidance during the
modernization process. This may involve some adaptation of available technologies to specific
requirements which may represent an innovation in
itself,

— introduction of new technologies poses specific
problems, especially when different agents are
involved. Multi-agent applications normally make use
of a wide mix of technologies and rely on a high
degree of cooperation and interaction among
participants (such as industrialists themselves but also
their suppliers, public administration, local officials,
training centers, financing bodies, etc.). In such cases
spreading innovations more widely and adapting
technologies calls for experiments involving all parties
concerned. There are many such examples in the
various Member States and it is essential that the

Community dimension is taken into account to avoid
duplication of effort and incompatibility of technical
solutions.

In view of the above considerations, specific projects
have been designed with the following objectives:

1. to facilitate the effective adoption of new available
technologies by companies in the sectors and regions
where a need common to a group of companies is
demonstrated and where these technologies are not
yet used;

2. to illustrate the approach as well as the conditions and
elements necessary for the adoption of innovations by
firms (this includes technical factors, aspects of organization, training, staff motivation, technical and
economic assessments, etc.);

27. 7. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 186/57

3. to demonstrate the effectiveness of (transnational)
partnerships between complementary bodies such as
companies, regional development agencies, industrial
research associations, contract research organizations,
specialist consultants, financial establishments,
professional associations, suppliers and users, etc.

The specific project as a whole must meet a number of
requirements as laid down in the Annex.

3. The definition phase of specific projects

In view of their complexity, it is the Commission's
opinion that specific projects, in general, should be
carried out in several stages spread over a number of

years:

— the definition phase (phase I): feasibility and definition of the transnational specific project,

— the implementation phase (phase II): experimental
implementation of the project with joint but limited
dissemination of its results,

— the dissemination phase (phase III): general dissemination, including possible replication, of the
experiment/experience.

The definition phase which, in general, should not last
more than six months, should have the following aims:

— to demonstrate the feasibility/the viability of the
project from the technical, industrial and financial
point of view,

— to define the subsequent phases of the project and to
mobilize all the partners for the launch of the
implementation phase,

— to establish the terms of the contractual arrangements
(especially with regard to intellectual or industrial
property), management structure and financial
structure (financing plan) for the subsequent phases.

4. Call for proposals

The Commission is prepared to provide financial support
for the carrying-out of the definition phase of specific
projects. Preference will be given to projects focusing on
the application of broad spectrum technologies such as
biotechnologies, manufacturing technologies, assembling
technologies, etc. in:

— traditional industrial sectors,

— sectors with a low technology intensivity,

— sectors with a high social utility/visibility (health,
environment, urban engineering, etc.),

where these technologies are not yet used.

The Commission invites all interested organizations to
submit proposals for carrying out the definition phase of
specific projects. A first such call was launched at the
end of 1989 _(_ _[l]_ _)_ and resulted in the selection of 25
proposals, a number of which are described in detail in
the guide for applicants (see item 7: How to apply).

5. Selection criteria

In view of the selection procedure, proposals for the
carrying out of the definition phase of specific projects
are required to:

— involve organizations from at least two Member
States (preference will be given to proposals
involving, for the implementation phase of the
specific projects, organizations from more than two
Member States). Proposals involving organizations
from regions of the Community lagging behind or of
industrial decline are more particularly welcome,

— be concrete, documented and well circumscribed as
far as the technology and the sector are concerned,

— demonstrate the existence/availability of the technology which will be transferred (e.g. in which
sectors/regions is it already applied),

— identify the recipients, and if different also the
ultimate beneficiaries, of the transfer,

— demonstrate the industrial relevance of the project
(preference will be given to projects which identify
and involve — even at this stage — companies or
their representative organizations which may take
part in the implementation of the proposed technology),

— show — even at this definition stage — potential
compliance of the envisaged specific project as a
whole with the requirements laid down in the Annex,

(*) OJ No C 185, 22. 7. 1989, p. 15.

No C 186/58 Official Journal of the European Communities 27. 7. 90

— provide convincing arguments to the effect that the
Community support is essential for the project to
take place at Community level (additionality),
particularly at the implementation phase of the
specific project,

— demonstrate the ability, also from a technical point of
view, of the proposed participants to carry out the
definition phase (e.g. provide evidence of preliminary
work in related areas) and possibly demonstrate their
effective commitment, even at this early stage of the
project, to take part in the eventual implementation
of the subsequent phases of the specific project.

6. Financial support

The overall Community contribution to a multi-annual
specific project is limited to 50 % of the total budget.
However for the definition phase of these projects the
financial contribution may be as high as 75 % of the
costs of this phase.

It is the view of the Commission that the definition phase
should not last more than six months. At the conclusion

of this definition phase, the Commission reserves the
right to halt its financial support on the basis of the
results achieved and the assessment made.

7. How to apply

Proposals may be submitted by any legal person, public
or private body, institution or group established in the
territory of a Member State and satisfying the conditions
set out in paragraph 5.

Persons and undertakings that are interested are invited
to submit their proposals to:

Mr Robin Miege,
Commission of the European Communities,
Sprint programme,
DG XIII/C/4, B4-099,
L-2920 Luxembourg.

A guide for applicants is available at the above address.

Proposals must be submitted in one of the official
Community languages.

Proposals duly signed by the applicant(s) with eight
copies must be delivered to the above address no later
than Friday, 7 December 1990, 17.00.

8. Processing of proposals

The Commission will assess the proposals on the basis of
the conditions and criteria set out in this communication.

The Commission will advise applicants in due time of the
outcome of their application. A decision on the projects
is expected to be taken in spring 1991 and contracts to
be signed in the second semester of 1991. The applicants
whose proposals are selected will receive the agreed
amounts in instalments.

_17. 7._ 90 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 186/59

_ANNEX_

REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF SPECIFIC PROJECTS FOR
INTRA-COMMUNITY TRANSFER OF INNOVATIONS (IMPLEMENTATION PHASE) (')

The Sprint specific projects must meet the following requirements:

1. transfer and apply new but available technologies to traditional sectors where these technologies are not
yet used, to sectors with a low technology intensity or to sectors with a high social utility/visibility;

2. guarantee a significant economic impact (e.g. in terms of number of firms, level of employment,
potential financial benefits, etc.) through the choice of the sector(s) or of the technology(ies) involved
and through possible replication in other sectors/regions;

3. concern a concrete and tangible application, producing results which will quickly be apparent (in two or
three years) and have an industrial relevance by effectively involving well-identified companies which
are committed to implementing the proposed technologies;

4. lead to real innovation (i.e. projects will not be considered if they concern a simple limited upgrading of
existing processes, a revamping of existing products or an adaptation to new norms, since these are
simply a matter of normal investments by undertakings in a competitive environment);

5. be model projects by employing a systemic overall approach to the introduction of technological
change, not only in purely technical terms but also with regard to such aspects as company organization, the training or motivation of staff and the use of management techniques (such as value
analysis, good design, etc.);

6. provide an optimum combination of skills or fields of action by means of partnerships between
complementary bodies or companies (e.g. universities, companies, contract research organizations,
regional development organizations, manufacturers' associations, consultants, financial establishments,
etc.) and cooperation among organizations from several (preferably three or more) Member States;

7. contribute to reducing regional disparities in the supply of, and access to technologies. Particular
attention will be given to projects involving organizations from regions of the Community which are
lagging behind or suffering industrial decline;

8. emphasize the training dimension of the project which consists in demonstrating the process of technology transfer, the understanding of which can be used for future projects;

9. be based on existing infrastructures (e.g. advanced technologies centres, etc.) and enhance the use made
of them, rather than creating new structures.

(') Though these requirements and criteria are to be fulfilled for the implementation phase only, proposals
for the definition phase must show from the outset that the whole project has the potential to comply
with them.