Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

15.12.2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 361/11

Call for proposals for indirect RTD actions under the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on �Promotion of innovation and encouragement of
SME participation�(1998-2002)

Call identifier: INN/00/04

(2000/C 361/10)

1. In accordance with the Decision of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 22 December 1998, concerning the
fifth framework programme of the European Community
for research, technological development and demonstration
(RTD) activities for the period 1998 to 2002 ( [1] ) (hereinafter
referred to as the fifth framework programme), and with the
Council Decision of 25 January 1999, adopting the specific
programme for research, technological development and
demonstration on �Promotion of innovation and encouragement of SME participation�( [2] ) (hereinafter referred to
as the specific programme), the European Commission
hereby invites proposals for indirect RTD actions under
the specific programme.

In conformity with Article 5 of the specific programme, a
work programme, specifying detailed objectives and RTD
priorities and an indicative timetable for their implementation, was drawn up by the European Commission to
serve as the basis for implementing the specific programme.
The objectives, priorities, indicative budget and types of
indirect RTD actions referred to in this call notice
correspond to those set out in the work programme.

2. This call relates to proposals, specified under point 4 of this
call, called by a fixed deadline following which evaluation
will take place. Proposals not having met this deadline will
not be considered under this call notice.

3. The specific programme is implemented through indirect
RTD actions as provided for in Annexes II and IV of the
fifth framework programme and in Annex III of the specific

programme.

Evaluation and selection criteria and modalities relevant to
this call are given in the fifth framework programme, the
specific programme, the Decision of 22 December 1998,
concerning the rules for the participation of undertakings,
research centres and universities and for the dissemination
of research results for the implementation of the fifth
framework programme ( [3] ) (hereinafter referred to as the
rules for participation and dissemination), and the work
programme. The fifth framework programme manual of
proposals evaluation procedures ( [4] ), along with its annex
on this specific programme, and the European Commission

( [1] ) OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 1.
( [2] ) OJ L 64, 12.3.1999, p. 91.
( [3] ) OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 46.
( [4] ) Commission Decision C(1999) 710 of 24 March 1999; C(2000)
2002 of 14 July 2000.

Regulation on the implementation of the rules for participation and dissemination ( [5] ), provide further details.

Information on these rules and on how to prepare and
submit proposals is given in the guide for proposers,
which can be obtained, along with the work programme
and other information relating to this call, from the
European Commission using the following address:

European Commission
Innovation Help Desk
Directorate-General ENTR C4
Office EUFO 2286
Rue Alcide de Gasperi
L-2920 Luxembourg.
E-mail: innovation@cec.eu.int
Fax (35-2) 43 01-320 84
Web: http://www.cordis.lu/innovation-smes/src/
cec-cont.htm

4. Those eligible to participate in indirect RTD actions under
the specific programme are hereby invited to submit
proposals that address the following part of the work

programme:

Awareness and assistance actions in the fields of intellectual property rights (IPR) and LIFT-linking innovation, finance and technology (accompanying
measures)

The current call for proposals covers three separate actions:

(a) THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS-HELPDESK
(INDICATIVE BUDGET EUR 4,5 MILLION):

an IPR helpdesk to provide the RTD community with
assistance in the field of the Community rules of
dissemination and protection of RTD results ( [6] ) and to
raise awareness on IPR issues related to transnational
research projects.

(b) THE NATIONAL PATENT OFFICES (INDICATIVE BUDGET
EUR 3,5 MILLION):

pilot actions to support the exchange between National
Patent Offices (NPO), their partners and innovators of
experiences and best practices on awareness raising and
promotion of innovation.

( [5] ) Commission Regulation (EC) No 996/1999 of 11 May 1999.
( [6] ) The legal basis relating to these rules can be found in Council
Decisions under: http://www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/decisions.htm

C 361/12 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 15.12.2000

(c) THE LIFT HELPDESK (INDICATIVE BUDGET EUR 4 MILLION):

one central LIFT helpdesk (linking innovation, finance
and technology) to provide efficient information,
promotion and networking facilities at transnational
level, in support of innovation finance assistance
measures at local or regional level which help
potential business developers to identify and secure
transnational investment/finance.

The total indicative budget available for this call is EUR 12
million of Community contribution from the specific

programme.

Each proposal must address only one of the three above
mentioned actions and clearly identify which. Proposals
are invited to be submitted in one step.

Deadline for receipt: 15 March 2001, by 17.00
(Luxembourg local time).

5. Proposals must be received by the Commission on or before
the above indicated deadline by one of the following
methods:

�Registered post, as confirmed by the acknowledgement
of receipt, by 17.00 (Luxembourg local time) to:

European Commission
Directorate-General ENTR C3
Office EUFO 2269
Rue Alcide de Gasperi
L-2920 Luxembourg.

�Courier ( [1] ) or hand-delivered, as confirmed by acknowledgement of receipt, by 17.00 (Luxembourg local time)
to:

European Commission
Directorate-General ENTR C3
B�timent Euroforum, Reception
Rue Robert Stumper 10
L-2557 Luxembourg.

Please mark envelopes with the appropriate call
identifier.

�Electronic submission, the details of which are given in
the guide for proposers. When packaging a proposal for
electronic submission, two files are created. The first is a

( [1] ) For courier services that require a telephone number for the
recipient, please use (352) 43 01-380 88.

small validation file which provides basic information on
the proposal and a unique identification code. This validation file must be received by the European
Commission on or before the deadline specified above.
The second file contains the proposal and must be
received unmodified, as verifiable from the unique
identification code, not later than 48 hours after this
deadline.

Proposals that are sent by post, by courier service or that
are hand-delivered must be received by the Commission on
or before the applicable deadline.

Important notice: the above constitutes a change with
respect to previous calls where deadlines applied to
submission. Deadlines now apply to receipt by the
Commission.

Proposers are requested to use only one of the methods,
described above by which to submit proposals, and to
submit only one version of any given proposal. In the
case of an eligible proposal being received in both
paper ( [2] ) and electronic formats, only the electronic
version will be evaluated.

6. In all correspondence relating to this call (e.g. when
requesting information, or submitting a proposal) please
make sure to cite the relevant call identifier.

In submitting a proposal, either on paper or electronically,
proposers accept the procedures and conditions as described
in this call and in the documents to which it refers.

All proposals received by the European Commission will be
treated in strict confidence.

According to the rules for participation and dissemination
and the European Commission Regulation for implementing
them, Member States and associated States may have access,
on presentation of a reasoned request, to useful knowledge
which is relevant to policy-making. This knowledge must
have been generated by those RTD actions supported as a
result of this call and which addressed a part of the work
programme specified as eligible for such access.

The European Community pursues an equal opportunities
policy and, in this context, women are particularly
encouraged to either submit proposals or to be involved
in their submission.

( [2] ) In accordance with the revised version of the evaluation manual,
photocopies of completed forms will be accepted.