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No C 30/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 6. 2. 91

Amendment to the proposal for a Council Decision concerning a specific programme of
research and technological development in the field of information technology

(1990 to 1994) (')

_COM(90) 679 final — SYN 258_

_(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of the EEC Treaty on 14 December_

_1990)_

(91/C 30/07)

(') OJ No C 174, 16. 7. 1990, p. 1.

TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION TEXT AMENDED BY PARLIAMENT

(Amendment No 1)

Recital 4

Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 of and Annex I to
Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, the amount deemed
necessary for the whole framework programme includes
an amount of ECU 57 million for the centralized

dissemination and exploitation of results, to be divided
up in proportion to the amount envisaged for each
activity; whereas in view of the importance of this
specific programme within the information and
communications technologies action the estimate of the
financial resources needed by this programme is to be
reduced by ECU 13,52 million, which amount is to be
allocated to the centralized activities, in order to comply
with the second sentence of Article 130p (2) of the
Treaty;

Recital 4

Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 and Annex I of Decision
90/221/Euratom, EEC, the amount deemed necessary
for the whole framework programme includes an amount
deemed necessary of ECU 57 million for the centralized
dissemination and exploitation of results, to be divided
up in proportion to the amount envisaged for each
activity; whereas in view of the importance of this
specific programme within the information and
communications technologies action the estimate of the
financial resources needed by this programme is to be
reduced by ECU 13,52 million, which amount is to be
allocated to the centralized activities, in order to comply
with the second sentence of Article 130p (2) of the
Treaty;

(Amendment No 2)

Recital 4a

(new)

Whereas, in addition to the specific programme on
human capital and mobility, training of researchers in the
various activities of the programme must be ensured;

(Amendment No 3)

Recital 4b

(new)

Whereas the implications for society of projects and
project clusters must be investigated in the form of technological impact and risk assessments that are integral
components of the projects and project clusters
concerned. Steps must be taken to ensure that
assessments are carried out independently;

6. 2. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 30/17

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(Amendment No 4)

Recital 6

Whereas this programme must be implemented essentially by the selection of research and development
projects to enable them to benefit from Community
participation; whereas the Commission should encourage
the submission of such projects by the usual means of
publishing calls for proposals in the _Official Journal of the_
_European_ _Communities;_ whereas a special procedure
should also be devised so as to maintain a degree of
flexibility enabling the Commission, in the face of the
continuous evolution and gradual acceleration of technological progress, also to take into consideration spontaneous proposals consistent with the objectives of the

programme;

Ninth recital, first sentence

Whereas, in accordance with Article 130g of the Treaty,
the Community's activities aimed at strengthening the
scientific and technological basis of European industry
and encouraging it to become more competitive include
promoting cooperation on research and technological
development with third countries and international
organizations; whereas such cooperation may prove
particularly beneficial for the development of this

programme;

Recital 6

Whereas this programme must be implemented essentially by the selection of research and development
projects to enable them to benefit from Community
participation; whereas the Commission should encourage
the submission of such projects by the usual means of
publishing calls for proposals in the _Official Journal of the_
_European_ _Communities;_ whereas an exceptional
procedure should also be devised so as to come into
effect between calls for proposals and so as to maintain a
degree of flexibility enabling the Commission, in the face
of the continuous evolution and gradual acceleration of
technological progress, also to take into consideration
spontaneous proposals consistent with the objectives of
the programme;

Recital 6 a

(new)

Whereas support for the international competitiveness of
European industry through Community research and
technological development programmes, is linked with
the Community's external relations policy based on the
principle of 'the global equilibrium of opportunities' and
that it is also in the light of this policy that the participation of non-Community European companies must be
considered;

(Amendment No 5)

Recital 7a

(new)

Whereas Regional, Social and Structural Fund measures
and the specific programmes must be coordinated by the
Commission and the relevant national authorities;

(Amendment No 6)

Ninth recital, first sentence

Whereas, in accordance with Article 130g of the Treaty,
the Community's activities aimed at strengthening the
scientific and technological basis of European industry
and encouraging it to become more competitive include
promoting cooperation on research and technological
development with third countries, in particular the
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and international organizations; whereas such cooperation may
prove particularly beneficial for the development of this

programme;

No C 30/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 6. 2. 91

TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION TEXT AMENDED BY PARLIAMENT

(Amendment No 7)

_Article 1_

A specific research and technological development
programme for the European Economic Community
in the field of information technology, as defined in
Annex I, is hereby adopted for a period of five years as
from 1 January 1990.

_Article 5_

Paragraph 1

1. During 1992 the Commission shall review the
programme and address a report on the results of the
review to the Council and the European Parliament,
together with proposals for any necessary changes.

Paragraph 3

3. The reports shall be drawn up having regard to the
objectives set out in Annex I to this Decision and in
accordance with Article 2 (4) of Decision 90/221/
Euratom, EEC.

_Article 6_

1. The Commission shall be responsible for the
execution of the programme. It shall be assisted by a
committee, hereinafter referred to as 'the Committee',
composed of representatives of the Member States and
chaired by a representative of the Commission.

2. The contracts concluded by the Commission shall
govern the rights and obligations of each party, including the procedures for disseminating, protecting and
exploiting the research results, in accordance with the
arrangements adopted pursuant to the second paragraph
of Article 130k of the Treaty.

_Article 1_

A specific research and technological development
programme for the European Economic Community
in the field of information technology, as defined in
Annex I, is hereby adopted for the period from the date
of publication of this decision in the _Official Journal of_
_the European Communities_ to 31 December 1994.

(Amendment No 9)

_Article 5_

Paragraph 1

1. During 1992 the Commission shall review the
programme and address a report on the results of the
review to the Council and the European Parliament and
on the prospects for the specific programme beyond
1994.

(Amendment No 10)

Paragraph 3

3. The reports shall be drawn up having regard to the
objectives set out in Annex I to this Decision, in
conformity with the provisions of Article 2 (4) of
Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, and shall assess the
coherence of the programme's measurable implementation with the six major concerns set out in Annex II to
Council Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC.

(Amendment No 11)

_Article 6_

2. The contracts concluded by the Commission shall
govern the rights and obligations of each party, inducing
the procedures for disseminating, protecting and
exploiting the research results, in accordance with the
arrangements adopted pursuant to the second paragraph
of Article 130k of the Treaty and where appropriate
procedures for training and evaluation.

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3. A work programme for each year shall be drawn up
and updated where necessary. It shall set out the detailed
objectives and types of projects to be undertaken, and
the financial arrangements to be made for them. The
Commission shall make calls for proposals for projects
on the basis of the annual work programmes.

_Article 10_

Where cooperation with third countries and international
organizations in pursuing the objectives of this
programme requires legal undertakings between the
Community and the third parties concerned, the
Commission shall be authorized to negotiate, in
accordance with Article 13 On of the Treaty, international
agreements establishing the arrangements for such
cooperation.

Decisions on the conclusion of such agreements shall be
adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 130q (2) of the Treaty.

3. A work programme shall be drawn up at the start
of the programme and shall be regularly revised. It shall
set out the detailed objectives and types of projects to be
undertaken, and the financial arrangements to be made
for them.

(Amendment No 14)

_Article 10_

Where cooperation with third countries and international
organizations in pursuing the objectives of this
programme requires legal undertakings between the
Community and the third parties concerned, the
Commission shall be authorized to negotiate, in
accordance with Article 130n of the Treaty, international
agreements establishing the arrangements for such
cooperation.

Priority will also be given to cooperation with EFTA
countries and European countries not members of the
European Community and in accordance with the
guidelines agreed between the Council of Ministers and
the European Parliament ( [l] ).

The negotiations for such international agreements may
only be initiated with third countries who are already
signatories of an Agreement with the Community which
explicitly cites research and technological development
or scientific progress as one of the objectives of
cooperation.

The decision on the conclusion of such international

agreements shall be adopted in accordance with the
procedure described in Article 130q (2) of the Treaty.

(') Drawn up during the conciliation on the framework
programme for Community activities in research and
technological development 1990 to 1994.

No C 30/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 6. 2. 91

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_ANNEX I_

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT

(Amendment No 15)

Last paragraph, third sentence

They include acquisition of information both within the
programme and from the IT community at large, as well
as measures to create awareness of opportunities and
availability of results, and to develop synergies between
participants and with the IT community at large.

Last paragraph, third sentence

They include acquisition of information both within the
programme and from the IT community at large,
programme-related training measures to increase skill
levels of researchers and engineers, as well as measures
to create awareness of opportunities and availability of
results, including standardization-oriented results, and to
develop synergies between participants and with the IT
community at large.

Area I: Microelectronics

(Amendment No 16)

First paragraph

(new)

In microelectronics, which provides the technology
foundation for information technology and telecommunications, the three main strategic actions will be to:

contribute to the strengthening of a European
technology base on which future manufacturing
capability of a broad range of leading-edge ICs can
be based. This will be done by stimulating the exploitation, and building on and extending the work
which has been performed in the previous phases of
Esprit and in the national programmes. Strategic
work on submicron CMOS technologies will be
carried out in conjunction with the joint European
submicron silicon project (Jessi),

strengthen the capabilities in the Community with
respect to the chain of designing, manufacturing,
testing and applying advanced and reliable integrated
circuits,

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draw on all resources available, ensuring wide
participation of the largest number of potential actors
(large and small industries, both producers and users,
universities and research centres) in the Community.

(Amendment No 17)

First paragraph

Emphasis will be on application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs), including notably multifunction circuits,
high speed circuits, optoelectronic circuits, advanced
power circuits ('smart power'), new equipment, manufacturing technology and materials for integrated circuits
and, in conjunction with other initiatives in the
Community such as the joint European submicron silicon
project (Jessi), the advanced technologies linked to
submicron silicon.

Sixth paragraph, last sentence

Work on high-density ICs will be carried out in
conjunction with Jessi.

Ninth paragraph

Technology transfer, training and other accompanying
measures will be undertaken where there is a specific
need for action; special emphasis will be put on prenormative work on a standard CAD framework with

interfaces allowing for an effective integration of CAD
systems. Measures to tackle specific skills deficits that
can only be addressed in cooperation with industry (for
instance, those that require access to industrial facilities)
will be undertaken. Measures to promote uptake of
ASIC technology in innovative products, especially by
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will also be
undertaken.

First paragraph

Emphasis will be on application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs), including notably multifunction circuits,
high speed circuits, optoelectronic circuits, advanced
power circuits ('smart power'), new equipment, manufacturing technology and materials for advanced circuits.

(Amendment No 18)

Sixth paragraph, last sentence

Work on high-density integrated circuits will be carried
out in conjunction with Jessi, taking into consideration
the different research activity characteristics performed
by Community programmes and Eureka, the need to
avoid overlaps, and the need to safequard the cohesion
requirements and subsidiarity principle.

(Amendment No 19)

Ninth paragraph

The longer-term, most innovative aspects of the work in
microelectronics will be carried out taking into account
the achievements and the objectives of the basic research
area, thus securing overall coherence in this sector,
within the programme.

Technology transfer, training and other accompanying
measures will be undertaken where there is a specific
need for action to establish closer links and access to

sources of IC supply in Europe. In particular a set of
measures will be established, building on the
achievements of projects addressing ASICs and bringing
coherence to initiatives undertaken to provide support
and stimulation for small and medium-sized enterprises
in the use of microelectronics; specific skills deficits that
can only be addressed in cooperation with industry (for
instance, those that require access to industrial facilities)
will be tackled.

No C 30/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 6.2.91

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Area 2: Information processing systems and software

(Amendment No 20)

First paragraph, seventh and eighth sentences First paragraph, seventh and eighth sentences

Operating systems allowing information sharing between
existing systems and newly emerging parallel operating
systems will be addressed. Technical and scientific workstations with very high performance will be based on
parallel architectures.

Operating systems allowing information sharing between
existing systems and newly emerging parallel operating
systems, and languages will be addressed. Enabling
research for high-performance technical and scientific
workstations based on parallel architectures will be
performed. Together with the substantial increases in
computing power, there is a need to manage and process
great increases in the volume of information currently
available. Current data management technologies are
estimated to be able to cope with only 5 % of the information available to the average organization, yet information is increasingly an organization's most critical
asset. New technologies based on a convergence of
knowledge-base techniques and highly parallel architectures are needed. These must deal with volumes and

data rates several orders of magnitude greater than those
currently managed. The ranges of data types and media
should be substantially increased.

(Amendment No 21)

Second paragraph, add to last sentence

(new)

Such interfaces will employ not only conventional techniques with improved integration but increasingly the
understanding of direct speech, the use of animated
graphics and the introduction of new techniques of interaction using movement and gesture. Furthermore,
systems are increasingly required to interact with their
external environment in a fully automatic manner via
vision, acoustic and other sensory elements. The need for
automatic inspection and scene interpretation is growing
rapidly and covers applications ranging from improved
industrial robotics, through environmental monitoring to
medical imaging. Of particular relevance are architectures that will include a range of sensory devices, cope
with an increasing range of signal types and rates and
deal with real-time interpretation.

6. 2. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 30/23

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(Amendment No 22)

Third paragraph, third and fourth sentences

Tools and methods to support systems integration and to
increase software productivity will be enhanced where
significant progress can be expected. The work will build
on existing or emerging standards.

Third paragraph, third and fourth sentences

Tools and methods to support systems integration and to
increase software productivity will be enhanced where
significant progress can be expected, for instance in
real-time applications. The work will build on existing or
emerging standards and aim at harmonizing European
activities.

Area 3: Advanced business and home systems; peripherals

(Amendment No 23)

First paragraph, after the second sentence insert a new

sentence

In this area in particular, impact on society and on the
individual must be an integral component of research
and development and taken account of accordingly.

(Amendment No 24)

Third paragraph, from second sentence

It includes the integration of mobile terminals into
business information systems. In this context, systems for
cooperative work play an important role. They allow
cooperation through the provision of, e.g., the following
facilities: cooperative writing, file processing, project
management, decision making, informal interaction,
problem definition and conferencing. The improvement
of working conditions and job-level qualifications are of
major concern.

Sixth paragraph

The peripherals technology activities include R&D
aspects of specific peripheral technologies for printers,
displays, input and storage devices. Special emphasis will
be put on flat panel display technologies, magnetooptical storage systems, non-impact printing technologies, and scanning technologies.

Third paragraph, from second sentence

It includes the integration of mobile terminals into
business information systems, where close links need to
be established with the work undertaken in the specific
programmes on communication technologies and
telematic systems. In this context, systems for
cooperative work play an important role. They allow
cooperation through the provision of, e.g., the following
facilities: cooperative writing, file processing, project
management, decision making, informal interaction,
problem definition and conferencing. Another strategically important research direction is open systems for
the integration of heterogeneous software components
supporting different applications, including multimedia
systems. The improvement of working conditions and
job-level qualifications are of major concern.

(Amendment No 25)

Sixth paragraph

The peripherals technology activities will focus on
selected areas where there are routes to exploitation and
where there is a chance of industrial viability. The work
will inlcude R&D aspects of specific peripheral technologies for future generations of peripherals. Special
emphasis will be put on flat panel display technologies,
magneto-optical storage systems, non-impact printing
technologies, and scanning technologies.

No C 30/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 6. 2. 91

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Area 5: Basic research

(Amendment No 26)

First paragraph, first indent

— their potential to produce future breakthroughs or
important advances even if they have no immediately
visible application,

Third paragraph, second sentence

Therefore the logical and algebraic foundations of
computer science will be addressed providing the
necessary framework for the development of concurrent
systems, specification and verification techniques, as well
as the next generation of programming languages and
algorithms.

Final paragraph, second and third sentences

Both technology transfer and training demand the
emergence of European centres of excellence in different
areas of IT. Basic research is uniquely positioned to play
an important role in meeting this demand by acting as a
catalyst for the emergence of such centres of excellence.

First paragraph, first indent

their potential to produce future breakthroughs or
important advances even if they have no immediately
visible application; particular emphasis will be given
to topics which are expected to have long-term
industrial potential,

(Amendment No _27)_

Third paragraph, second sentence

Therefore the logical and algebraic foundations of
computer science will be addressed providing the
necessary framework for the development of concurrent
systems, efficient parallel and sequential algorithms,
specification and verification techniques, as well as the
next generation of programming languages and algorithms.

(Amendment No 28)

Final paragraph, second and third sentences

Both technology tansfer and training demand the
emergence of European networks of excellence in
different areas of IT. Basic research is uniquely positioned to play an important role in meeting this demand
by acting as a catalyst for the emergence of such
networks of excellence.

_ANNEX II_

INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD 1990 TO 1994

(Amendment No 31)

Point 5a

(new)

In areas 1 to 4, at least 5 % of appropriations shall be
used for the training of researchers.

6. 2. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 30/25

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_ANNEX III_

RULES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMME AND ACTIVITIES FOR DISSEMINATION

AND EXPLOITATION OF THE RESULTS

(Amendment No 33)

Point 2, fourth paragraph

The concerted actions shall be as defined in the Financial

Regulation.

Point 3, paragraph 1

The participants in the projects must be natural or legal
persons established in the Community, such as universities, research organizations and industrial firms,
including small and medium-sized enterprises, or associations thereof, in particular European economic interest
groupings (EEIGs).

Point 3, second paragraph

Natural or legal persons established in countries which
have concluded agreements with the Community foreseeing scientific and technical research, may, based on
the criterion of mutual advantage, take part in the
projects undertaken in the context of this programme.
The contracting parties under such arrangements shall
not benefit from Community funding. They shall
contribute to the general administrative costs.

Point 2, fourth paragraph

The concerted actions shall be as defined in Article 92 of

the Financial Regulation.

(Amendment No 35)

Point 3, paragraph 1

The participants in the projects must be natural or legal
persons established in the Community, such as universities, research organizations and industrial firms,
including small and medium-sized enterprises, or associations thereof, for example European economic interest
groupings (EEIGs).

(Amendment No 38)

Point 3, second paragraph

Natural or legal persons established in countries which
have concluded cooperation agreements on scientific and
technical research with the Community may, on the
principle of mutual benefit, participate in the projects
undertaken in the framework of this programme. Such
contracting parties will no benefit from Community
financing under the framework programme. They will
contribute to the general administrative costs.

(Amendment No 39)

Point 3, add to second paragraph

(new)

Central and Eastern European organizations may be
exempted from mandatory cost-sharing. They may
furthermore benefit from Community funding, provided
that monies for this are made available from special
programmes (e.g. Phare).

(Amendment No 40)

Point 4, paragraph 2a

(new)

Where other criteria of scientific excellence are satisfied,
and in accordance with the guidelines agreed between
Council and the European Parliament, in the case of a
number of project proposals of equal scientific value,
preference shall be given:

No C 30/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 6. 2. 91

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(i) to project proposals whose implementation involves
project participants in less-developed regions and/or
regions in industrial decline as defined by Articles 8
and 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88;

(ii) to project proposals involving small and
medium-sized enterprises or an association of such
enterprises.

The Commission shall determine in each case whether

the management of the programme, or parts thereof, can
be undertaken by organizations or institutions outside
the Commission without delegating its decision-making

powers.

(Amendment No 41)

Point 4, fifth and sixth paragraphs

The exceptional procedure must be completed before the
ordinary procedure in such a way that the available
amount for the Community's financial participation in
projects retained by the ordinary procedure can be
determined precisely. The closing date for the exceptional procedure shall be published each year in the
_Official Journal of the European_ _Communities._

The amount of the financial participation of the
Community for all the projects retained by the exceptional procedure will be decided each year, in relation to
the projects selected according to particularly strict
criteria of excellence. In any case this amount may not
exceed 15 %; it may be revised each year in the light of
experience.

Point 7

The knowledge acquired during the course of the
projects shall be disseminated on the one hand within
the specific programme and on the other hand by
means of a centralized activity, pursuant to the
Decision referred to in the third paragraph of
Article 4 of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC.

Point 4, fifth and sixth paragraphs

The exceptional procedure shall take effect after the first
call for proposals and must be completed before the
ordinary procedure in such a way that the available
amount for the Community's financial participation in
projects retained by the ordinary procedure can be
determined precisely. The closing date for the exceptional procedure shall be published each year in the
_Official Journal of the European_ _Communities._

The amount of the financial participation of the
Community for all the projects retained by the exceptional procedure will be decided each year, in relation to
the projects selected according to particularly strict
criteria of excellence. In any case this amount may not
exceed 10 % of the annual budget appropriation; it may
be revised after two years in the light of experience.

(Amendment No 44)

Point 5, add

(new)

Except in connection with projects relating to the area of
basic research, these two partners should, as a rule, be
industrial firms.

(Amendment No 45)

Point 7

7. To take due account of the impact on society and on
the individual of the measures under this programme,
the Commission shall apply the following procedure:

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when calls are made for projects/project clusters,
proposers shall be required to take account, in
their proposals, of social impact and to indicate
the relevant accompanying research that has been
carried out in this regard,

when projects are selected, special importance
shall be attached to these factors,

the activities concerned, in both the projects or
project clusters and accompanying studies, shall be
funded from the monies made available in

connection with the exceptional procedure,
accounting for 0,8 to 3,5 °/o of the total for the

programme.

(Amendment No 46)

Point 8

(new)

With a view to establishing synergy, there shall be
close interaction with the specific programme on
human capital and mobility, in particular with respect
to the activities undertaken in area 5 referred to in

Annex I.

(Amendment No 58)

_Article 8_

Point 1, second indent

evaluation of the projects referred to in point 2 of
Annex III, as well as the estimated amount of the
Community's financial contribution when these
projects are submitted through the ordinary
procedure referred to in point 4 of Annex III and the
abovementioned amount is more than ECU 5 million,

_Article 8_

Point 3, third indent

projects, referred to in point 2 of Annex III,
submitted through the ordinary procedure, for which
the Community contribution is less than ECU
5 million, and the results of their evaluation,

_Article 8_

Point 1, second indent

evaluation of the projects referred to in point 2 of
Annex III, as well as the estimated amount of the
Community's financial contribution when these
projects are submitted through the ordinary
procedure referred to in point 4 of Annex III and the
abovementioned amount is more than ECU 1 million

per year,

(Amendment No 59)

_Article 8_

Point 3, third indent

projects, referred to in point 2 of Annex III,
submitted through the ordinary procedure, for which
the Community contribution is less than ECU
1 million per year, and the results of their evaluation,