Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

_11._ 7. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 185/15

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

(89/C 185/12)

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. Innovation is the process
whereby ideas originating in research and development
or from the identification of demand are successfully
converted into new or improved, economically viable
products, processes or services.

The Council Decision 89/286/EEC defines three main

_lines of action_ for the implementation of Sprint up to the
end of 1993:

1. to strengthen the infrastructure of innovation services
in the Community by the formation or the consolidation of intra-Community networks of agents for
technology transfer and innovation support;

2. to support Specific Projects for intra-Community
innovation transfers;

3. to improve the environment for innovation through a
better knowledge of its workings and increased
concertation between the Member States and the

Commission.

This communication annnouces a call for proposals in
connection with the second of the above lines of action.

2. Objectives of the 'specific projects'

Specific projects for intra-Community innovation
transfers aim by their scale, their tangible contents and
their innovative nature to encourage innovation and the
dissemination of new technologies throughout the
Community. In particular, they have the following
objectives:

— to facilitate the effective adoption of new technologies by companies in the sectors and regions where
these technologies are not yet used;

(') _O]_ No L 112, 25. 4. 1989, p. 12.

to encourage transnational cooperation between
bodies and companies with complementary skills;

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.),

to demonstrate the effectiveness of partnerships
between complementary bodies such as companies,
industrial research associations, contract research
organizations, specialist consultants, financial establishments, professional associations, suppliers and

users, etc.,

to demonstrate the benefits which derive from the

application of special management techniques such as
value analysis, total-quality approach, etc. as well as,
for example, the use of good design.

Specific projects may involve any industrial sector and
any technology which has recently become available. The
Commission however would more particularly welcome
proposals for projects focussing on the application of
_'broad spectrum' technologies_ (such as information technologies, biotechnologies, manufacturing technologies,
assembling technologies, etc.) _in traditional_ _industrial_
_sectors,_ or in sectors with a _low technology intensity,_ or
sectors with a _high_ _'social' utility/visibility_ (health,
environment, urban engineering, etc.).

Two approaches can be followed for these specific
projects:

the first one ('technology push' approach) is based on
identifying available technologies, the cost-benefit
ratio of which would suit them for widespread
adoption by companies, notably in regions of lagging
development or in industrial decline,

the second one ('demand pull' approach) is based on
identifying a need, common to a group of companies
in a given sector or region. It encourages the identification and possible adaptation of available technologies to deal with the identified problem.

No C 185/16 Official Journal of the European Communities _11._ 7. 89

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

In view of their complexity, the Commission feels that
these specific projects should be carried out in _several_
_stages_ spread over a number of years. _The first phase_ of
these projects, also called the _definition phase,_ is the
object of this call for proposals.

3. Call for proposals (definition phase)

The Commission is prepared to provide financial support
for the carrying out of the _definition phase_ of specific
projects for intra-Community innovation transfer. Preference will be given to projects focussing on the
application of 'broad spectrum' technologies in

— traditional industrial sectors where these technologies
are not yet used,

— sectors with a low technology intensity,

— sectors with a high 'social' utility/visibility.

This definition phase should have the following aims:

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

— to define the subsequent phases of the project and to
mobilise 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,

— to define procedures for the evaluation and dissemi
nation of results.

The Commission invites all interested organization, _inter_

_alia:_

— sectoral industrial research associations,

— contract research organizations,

— chambers of commerce and industry,

— regional development organizations,

— science parks, etc.

to submit proposals for carrying out the definition phase
of specific projects.

4. Selection criteria

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

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

— involve organizations from at least two Member
States (preference will be given to proposals involving
organizations from more than two Member States,
for the implementation phase of the specific project),

— substantiate the Community interest of the project,

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

— provide evidence of preliminary work carried out in
areas related to the proposed project,

— demonstrate the ability of the proposed participants
to ensure the feasibility of the whole project,

— demonstrate 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,

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

5. Financial support

The Commission is prepared to grant financial aid for
the definition phase of a limited number of specific
projects. The overall Community contribution to a multiannual specific project is limited to 50 % of the total
budget. In justified cases, the financial contribution may
be higher for the definition phase of the projects.

It is the view of the Commission that the definition phase
should not last more than six to nine 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.

22. 7. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 185/17

6. How to apply

Proposals may be submitted by any natural or 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 4.

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

Commission of the European Communities,
Mr Robin Miege,
Sprint programme,
DGXIII/C-l,B4/99,
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 must be duly signed by applicants and
dispatched by registered post no later than Friday 27th
October 1989 (with postmark as evidence of posting).

Eight copies of the proposal must be sent (not necessarily
by registered post) under separate cover on the same
day.

7. Processing of proposals

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

and with the help of independent experts.

The Commission will advise applicants in due time of the
outcome of their application. The applicants whose
proposals are selected will receive the agreed amounts in
instalments.

_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. guarantee a significant economic impact through the choice of the sectors of activity or of the technologies involved;

2. 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;

3. lead to real innovation (i.e. projects will not be considered if they concern a simple modernization 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);

4. 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, total quality approach, as well as the use of good design, etc.);

5. 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.

6. contribute to reducing regional disparities in the supply of and access to technologies.

(') 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.

No C 185/18 Official Journal of the European Communities _22._ _7._ 89

7. 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.

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. include follow-up and evaluation provisions, based in particular on quantitative targets;

10. provide for a programme for the dissemination of the results of the project, illustrating the methodology used, the successes and the difficulties encountered, by means of publications, films, videos or
meetings to help publicise the project and its findings;

11. be based on existing infrastructures and enhance the use made of them, rather than creating new
structures;

12. demonstrate the applicants' ability to run the whole project in all its aspects by proposing a structure or
mode of functioning which will involve all the partners in the management of the project (e.g. through
the setting up of a multilateral project steering group);

13. finally, demonstrate the applicants' ability to assume a significant part of the financing of the project,
or be able to find and mobilize other partners who will secure the financing, especially in the
implementation phase.

Commission communication pursuant to Article 18 (3) of Council Regulation (EEC) No
4257/88 of 19 December 1988, applying to general tariff preferences for 1989 with regard to

certain industrial products originating in developing countries

(89/C 185/13)

Pursuant to Article 18 (3) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4257/88 of 19 December 1988 (OJ
No L 375 of 31. 12. 1988), the Commission informs that the following tariff ceilings have been

reached:

Amount of ceiling

225 800 tonnes

225 800 tonnes

547 500 tonnes

ECU 350 000
ECU 3 000 000

ECU 1 700 000

ECU 5 000 000

Kuwait
Libya
Libya
Mexico
China

Romania

Thailand

Origin

Order No

10.0010

10.0010

10.0030

10.0210
10.0770

10.1090

10.1110

Description

Light oils
Light oils
Heavy oils
Citric acid
Glassware
Electric filament lamps
Thermonic, cold cathode
or photocathode valves
and tubes