Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

##### **COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES**

```
                          C0MC90) 160 final - SYN 265

                           Brussels, 28 May 1990

                    Proposal for a

                   COUNCIL DECISION

       adopting a specific research and technological development

            programme in the field of Biotechnology

                     (1990-1994)

                (presented by the Commission)

```

```
                   - 1 
                    CONTENTS

Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a
specific research and technological development
programme in the field of Biotechnology (1990-1994)

ANNEX I

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Page

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Scientific and technical objectives and content 11

ANNEX I I

Indicative breakdown of expenditures 18

ANNEX I I I

Rules for Implementing the Programme and Activities

for Dissemination and Exploitation of the Results 19

```

```
                   - 2 
                 Proposal for a

                COUNCIL DECISION

    adopting a specific research and technological development

         programme in the field of Biotechnology

                  (1990-94)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic

Community, and in particular Article 130q (2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,^ [1] )

In cooperation with the European Par I lament,< [2] )

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,( [3] >

(1) OJ No C

(2) OJ No C

(3) OJ No C

```

```
                    - 3 
Whereas by its Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC [( 4 )], the Council adopted a

third framework programme for Community activities in the field of

research and technological development (1990-94), specifying Inter alia

the activities to be pursued for contributing to the development of the

European potential for understanding and exploiting the properties and

structures of living matter; whereas this Decision should be taken in

the light of the grounds set out in the preamble to that Decision;

Whereas Article 130k of the Treaty stipulates that the framework

programme Is to be implemented through specific programmes developed

wi thin each act Ivlty;

Whereas an estimate should be made of the amount of Community financial

resources needed to carry out this specific programme; whereas the

definitive amounts will be fixed by the budgetary authority in line

with the financial perspectives covering the period 1988-1992 included

in the Inter Inst itut ional Agreement of 29 June 1988^ [5] ^ and with any

future financial perspectives covering the period 1993-1994;

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 of 57 million ecus 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 "Life

Sciences and Technologies" action the estimate of the financial

resources needed by this programme is to be reduced by 1.64 mi I I ion

ecus, 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;

(4) OJ No L 117, 8.5.1990, p.28.

(5) OJ No L 185, 15.7.1988, p.33

```

```
                    - 4 
Whereas this programme must be Implemented by the Commission; whereas

to help accomplish this, the Member States are bound, pursuant to

Article 5 of the Treaty, to facilitate the achievement of its tasks

where necessary, notably within a committee;

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; 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;

Whereas the projects to be carried out under the programme must be

selected with special attention to the principle of economic and social

cohesion in the Community, the transnational nature of the projects and

the support to be given to small and medium-sized enterprises;

Whereas it is only in the light of experience gathered in the course of

this programme that the Commission will be able to propose and the

Council to adopt supplementary programmes by having recourse to the

means provided for in Articles 1301, 130m or 130o of the Treaty, if

they contribute to the achievement of the programme's objectives, in

accordance with the option made available by Article 2(2) of

Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC;

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;

```

```
                   - 5 
Whereas It is necessary, as Annex II to Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC,

provides, to reinforce biological knowledge as the common and

integrated foundation needed for applications in agriculture, industry,

nutrition and the environment.

Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (CREST) has

been consulted,

```

```
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

```

```
 - o 
Art icle 1

```

```
A specific research and technological development programme for the

European Economic Community in the field of Biotechnology, as defined

in Annex I, is hereby adopted for a period of five years as from

1 January 1990.

                    Art icle 2

1. The Community funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the

   programme under this Decision amount to 164 million ecus. Of this

   amount 1.64 million ecus is drawn for the centralized dissemination

   and exploitation of results. The amount thus reduced to

   162.36 million ecus includes staff costs which may not exceed 2%.

   An indicative breakdown of expenditure is set out in Annex II.

2. Should the Council take a decision in implementation of Article

   1(4) of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, this Decision shall be

   adapted to take account of the abovementioned decision.

3. The budgetary authority shall decide on the appropriations

   available for each financial year.

                    Art icle 3

Rules for the implementation of the programme are set out in Annex III.

                    Art icle 4

The rate of the Community financial contribution shall be laid down in

accordance with Annex IV to Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC.

```

```
                   - 7 
                  Article 5

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.

2. At the end of the programme the Commission shall assess the results

  obtained. It shall address a report thereon to the Council and the

  European Par I lament.

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.

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.

```

```
                   - 8 
                  Article 7

1. In the cases envisaged in Article 8(1), the Commission

  representative shall submit to the Committee a draft of the

  measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on

  the draft within a time limit which the chairman may set according

  to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by

  qualified majority as provided for 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 Member States'

  representatives within the Committee shall be weighted in the

  manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote.

2. The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged where they are in

  accordance with the Committee's opinion.

3. If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the

  Committee's opinion, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission

  shall forthwith submit to the Council a proposal relating to the

  measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified

  majority.

4. If the Council has not acted within one month of submission of the

  proposal, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission.

                  Article 8

1. The procedure laid down in Article 7 shall apply to:

     the preparation and updating of the work programmes referred to

     in Article 6(3);

     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 5 million ecus;

```

```
     evaluation of all projects submitted through the exceptional

     procedure referred to In point 4 of Annex III, as well as the

     estimated amount of the Community's financial contribution;

     measures for evaluating the programme.

2. The Commission may consult the Committee on any matter falling

  within the scope of the programme.

3. The Commission shall inform the Committee with regard to;

     the progress of the programme;

     planned calls for proposals, referred to in Article 6 (3);

     projects, referred to In point 2 of Annex III, submitted

     through the ordinary procedure, for which the Community

     contribution is less than 5 million ecus, and the results of

     their evaluation;

     accompanying measures, referred to in point 2 of Annex ill;

     concerted actions, referred to in point 2 of Annex III.

                  Article 9

In implementing this programme, supplementary programmes within the

meaning of Article 1301, participation within the meaning of Article

130m and Joint undertakings or any other structures within the meaning

of Article 130o of the Treaty may also be decided on as the need

ar ises.

```

```
                   - 10 
                  Article 10

Where cooperation with third countries and international organisations

aiming at achieving 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 laying down the terms of

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.

                  Article 11

This Decision Is addressed to the Member States.

Done at, For the Counc11,

                       The President

```

11

**SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT**

Annex 1

This specific programme fully reflects the approach embodied in the Third Framework

Programme in terms of the scientific and technical goals and the underlying aims

which it pursues.

Paragraph 4A of Annex II of the Framework Programme forms an integral part of the

present specific programme.

Pre-normative research will be carried out in each of the areas described below, with

emphasis on the safety assessment of new techniques and novel products.

The ethical and social implications of biotechnology will be monitored and studied.

A multidisciplinary approach involving representatives from the various sciences,

professions and activities concerned will be pursued. Special attention will obviously

be given to the areas of biotechnology covered by Community research. For all

projects conducted in this framework, contractors will be requested to provide, when

applicable, information necessary for the detailed evaluation of the social, ethical and

ecological impact of their studies, and, where necessary, approval from the responsible

authorities.

Information technology will be used throughout the programme for collecting, pooling,

analyzing, distributing or simulating data.

Research will be carried out at the level of molecules, cells, organisms and

populations. Integration between levels will be assured.

The following presents an analytical description of the content of the programme,

based on and taking account of the above elements.

**-** **12** **-**

**Area 1. Molecular approaches**

_**Protein structure and function**_

**Research under this theme is aimed at two goals. First, to understand and control**

**biological functions carried out by proteins (enzymes, hormones, antibodies, receptors,**

**body** **structures,** **etc.). Second, to produce tailor-made proteins adapted to the specific**

**requirements of man (new drugs, industrial enzymes, artificial organs, etc.).**

**Target areas will include enzymes and** **proteins** **associated with biological membranes**

**participating in energy transduction (chemi-osmotic enzymes); immunoglobulins and**

**their interactions with antigens, protein messengers and receptors. The latter work is**

**connected with research described below on biological communication systems.**

**A specific objective of the programme will be the analysis of structure-function**

**relationships for a number of membrane proteins.**

_**Structure and function**_ _**of genes**_

**The ultimate goal is to provide the knowledge necessary for a rational use of**

**biological species important in agriculture, industry and the diagnosis of genetic**

**disorders. The study of the genetic message in representative species will be pursued**

**at two levels: precise ordering of the genes within chromosomes (gene mapping) and**

**detailed determination of the chemical composition of genes (gene sequencing).**

**Efforts will be undertaken to complete the sequencing work of the entire genome of**

**yeast, which displays a genetic structure and organisation (genome) comparable to**

**that of plants and animals, and to initiate a Community effort for sequencing genes**

**in a model plant species** **(Arabidopsis)** **and physical mapping in** **Drosophila.** **This work**

**will complete research under the BRIDGE programme on mapping the genes in**

**Arabidopsis and on sequencing certain chromosomes in yeast.**

**- 13** **-**

**A specific objective will be the sequencing of more than 10 million nucleotides in the**

**organisms studied.**

**Close liaison will be maintained with research under the Human Genome Analysis**

**programme to ensure that developments in methodology, mapping and sequencing**

**techniques are shared with mutual benefit.**

_**Expression**_ _**of genes**_

**In order to make full use of the above information on gene structure, the processes**

**through which the information stored as DNA in the genes is expressed in the form**

**of active proteins will be studied in some models of practical importance. Transcription**

**factors, RNA polymerases, their interactions with signals, ligands and DNA will be**

**examined. A specific objective is the analysis of a number of DNA polymerases and**

**transcription factors in yeast, plants and mammalian cells.**

**-** **14 -**

**Area 2. Cellular and organism approaches**

_**Cellular**_ _**regeneration,**_ _**reproduction**_ _**and**_ _**development**_ _**of**_ _**living organisms**_

**In order to provide basic knowledge required by biotechnology, comparative studies**

**of reproductive events (meiotic pairing, gamete packaging, gamete recognition and**

**fertilization), cell-cell interaction and cell replication in animals and plants will be**

**undertaken. Research will be centred on the control of development, cell commitment**

**and cell totipotency in higher organisms starting with the simplest levels of**

**organisation, namely gametes, eggs, proliferating lines and their reorganisation into**

**organs and embryos.**

**At the same time, with regard to pre-normative research, in vitro test systems will be**

**elaborated which take into account the high specificity of modern drugs and their**

**potential** **toxic** **effects during cell differentiation and organogenesis.**

_**Metabolism**_ _**of**_ _**animals,**_ _**plants and**_ _**microbes;**_ _**essential physiological tracts**_

**The objective is to provide industrial and agricultural operators with the basic**

**knowledge required for a more rational exploitation of resources in production,**

**processing and animal husbandry. New animal models, more representative of human**

**material, will be developed for biological analysis, including the use, where necessary,**

**of transgenic animals relevant to the study of human health and its protection.**

**Research will concern the regulatory mechanisms governing some of the biological**

**functions or metabolic activities in species which are important to man (e.g., as**

**specific objectives, production and secretion in microorganisms, metabolic pathways**

**under extreme environments, nitrate assimilation in plants, food utilisation and**

**metabolic control in animals, etc.).**

**- 15 -**

_**Communication systems within living matter**_

**The goal is to provide industrial biotechnologists, agricultural and medical operators**

**with a new approach to dealing with the complexity of living systems. This emerging**

**subject will be studied at the cellular and systemic level.**

**Research will be focused on the immune and the nervous systems. Immunological**

**studies will concern the complex interaction between the three main types of cells**

**(antigen presenting cells,** **T-lymphocytes** **and** **B-lymphocytes)** **responsible for the**

**reaction of the animal body to foreign substances (antigens). Concerning pre-**

**normative objectives, pharmacological and toxicological test systems will be developed,**

**with special attention to immune reactions in "drug targeting" and** **immunotoxicoiogy**

**as such. Synergism with protein engineering will be assured.**

**In neurobiology, attention will be given to the basic unit of the brain, the neuron. The**

**production, release and specific reception of chemical messengers used by neurons to**

**communicate among themselves and to transmit messages to target cells such as**

**muscles and glands will be a priority. The biochemical, pharmacological and genetic**

**characterisation of newly discovered neuroreceptors systems will constitute a specific**

**objective of the programme in view of possible applications to the diagnosis and**

**treatment of pathological behaviour. The interaction between neurons and the**

**development of neural networks will also be studied. This research will complement**

**projects undertaken in the ESPRIT and SCIENCE programmes, dealing with the**

**informatic,** **behavioural, cognitive and physiological aspects of neurobiology.**

**- 16 -**

**Area 3. Ecology and population biology**

_**Ecological implications**_ _**of**_ _**Biotechnology**_

**The goal is to study the environmental implications of biotechnology and, in particular**

**of the release by man of living organisms in the environment in connection with the**

**industrial, agricultural and environmental policies of the Community.**

**Particularly in the case of microorganisms, the systematic analysis of possible adverse**

**effects will be carried out taking into consideration the need for a comprehensive**

**understanding of the ecosystems involved. Research will include the analysis of**

**representative examples of interactions between microbial populations and with their**

**hosts;** **the study of the impact of the introduction of genetically modified**

**microorganisms on natural microbial populations in different habitats; the**

**determination of the behaviour and effects upon ecosystems of organisms modified by**

**genetic engineering (including as a complement to ongoing research in BRIDGE, fishes**

**and insects).**

_**Conservation**_ _**of**_ _**genetic resources**_

**The aim is to ascertain the real dimension of the problem of loss of genetic diversity.**

**Knowledge of genetic erosion in plants, animals and microorganisms will be pursued,**

**collected and circulated.**

**Taxonomy will be revitalised with inputs from molecular biology, providing specific**

**and target support to decentralised collections of biotic materials; a systematic**

**assessment of the residual genetic variability of agricultural and industrial species of**

**regional and traditional importance will be initiated.**

**- 17 -**

**These activities will be carried out in cooperation with relevant international**

**organisations and countries outside the European Community.**

**Work in this area will link into Community research programmes dealing with**

**environmental issues. '**

**- 18 -**

**INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN OF EXPENDITURES**

**in** **%,** **for the period 1990-1994.**

**Area 1. Molecular approaches** **35 - 40**

**Area 2. Cellular and organism approaches** **45 - 55**

**Area 3. Ecology and population biology** **10-15**

**Annex II**

**The breakdown between different areas does not exclude the possibility that projects**

**could cover several areas.**

```
                   - 19 
                  Annex 111

          Rules for Implementing the Programme

  and Activities for Dissemination and Exploitation of the Results

1. The Commission shall Implement the programme on the basis of the

  scientific and technical content described in Annex I.

2. The rules for implementing the programme, referred to In Article 3,

  comprise research and technological development projects,

  accompanying measures and concerted actions.

  The projects shall be the subject of shared-cost research and

  technological development contracts.

  The accompanying measures consist of applying the means to ensure

  proper technical execution, management and evaluation of the

  programme, as well as adequate dissemination and accessibility of

  the results, and coordination, training and consciousness-raising

  of the participants In the programme.

  The concerted actions are those defined In the Financial

  Régulât Ion.

3. 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 (EElGs).

  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.

```

```
                    - ?0 
4. The choice of projects shall be carried out according to the

  following order of priority, the first method being the rule, the

  second the exception:

  The participants in the projects shall be selected on the basis of

   the ordinary procedure of calls for proposals referred to In

  Article 6 (3) and published In the Official Journal of the European

  Commun(ties.

  The Commission may also accept proposals according to an

   exceptional procedure and under the conditions mentioned below,

  when they make a particularly promising and significant

   contribution as regards the originality of the theme proposed, the

   novelty of the scientific and technical approach and the

  methodology of execution, also taking into account the particular

   nature of the proposers.

   A favourable technical evaluation of such proposals shall not by

   itself be a sufficient justification for accepting a project; this

   exceptional procedure may only apply after verification that the

   nature of the project, as defined above, does not justify the use

  of the normal procedure for calls for proposals.

   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.

   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 exper ience.

```

```
                    - 21 
  The Commission shall draw up a vade mecum setting out all the rules

  applicable to this exceptional procedure in order to guarantee full

  transparency.

5. The projects must involve at least two mutually independent

  partners established in different Member States.

6. The Commission may encourage the participants to form a European

  Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) or make other arrangements for

  carrying out projects, such as those on a large scale, permitting

  decentralized management adapted to the specific requirements of

  the project.

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 in

  Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC.

```

_**22>**_

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1. BUDGET HEADING AND TITLE

Part B of the general budget

Subsection 6, Item 6221

Specific programme of Community RTD activities in the field of

Bioterfinolopv n99Q-1994l

2. [(] LEGAL BASE

Article 130 Q(2) of the Treaty.

3. OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION

See Annex I of the proposal.

4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

/ ounts deemed necessary in MIOECU :

Programme implementation 162.36

Centralized action for dissemination and

exploitation 1.64

TOTAL 164.00

The indicative operational breakdown of the 162.36 MIOECU for the programme implementation

is given in Annex II of the proposal.

_**ÙM**_

Indicative multiannual schedule (in MIOECU) :

1992

39.30

22.10

1993

59

38

1994 ')

34.06

94.26

TOTA

162.36

162.36

Commitments

Payments

1990 1991

30

8

The definitive yearly amounts will be determined by the budgetary authority in accordance with

the financial perspectives for the period 1990 -1992 (annexed to the Interinstitutional Agreement

of 29 June 1984) and with subsequent financial perspectives which may be adopted for 1993 and

###### **H4.**

5. STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

In addition to the principal means of action which are contracts (annex III), the above amounts

include programme-related staff and administrative expenditure estimated at no more that 7

MIOECU.

The expenditure on staff will not exceed 2% of the amount deemed necessary for the programme

implementation. This implies a maximum of 30 statutory posts (A,B and/or C) at any given time

during the life of the programme. The infrastructure costs related to statutory staff will be borne

uy Part A of the budget.

') for the payment appropriations: 1994 and beyond

###### **^ 5**

6. IMPLICATIONS FOR REVENUE

The contributions by third country contractors towards the cost of administration of the

programme will be reused pursuant to articles 27.2 and 96 of the Financial Regulation [2] ).

7. TYPES OF CONTROL

Control will be exercised by:

the Programme Management Committee (scientific control)

the services of the DG responsible for the execution of the programme, possibly

assisted by independent experts

the Commission's Financial Controller.

In accordance with Article 2 of the Financial Regulation 2), the use of appropriations will be

subject to analyses of cost-effectiveness and the realization of quantified objectives will be

monitored.

External audit may be carried out by the Court of Auditors in accordance with the Treaty.

: ) Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977, as last amended by Regulation
610/90 of March 1990.

## **_ze_**

FICHE D'IMPACT SUR 17V COMPETITIVITE ET L'EMPLOI

I - Justification en faveur de la proposition

Le programme de recherche et de développement technologique proposé a

pour objectif primordial de contribuer, à moyen et à long terme, à la

promotion de la compétitivité industrielle, des innovations agricoles et de la

croissance économique dans la Communauté.

En l'absence d'un tel programme, le champ des nouvelles technologies

auxquelles donne régulièrement naissance la biologie moderne, sera moins

vite exploité par l'industrie et l'agriculture européennes.

2. Caractéristiques des entreprises concernées

A long terme, les agriculteurs, les fournisseurs de l'agriculture, les industries

de transformation des produits agricoles, les industries de la santé, les

secteurs chimique et pharmaceutique sont directement concernés par la

proposition.

A court et moyen terme, cependant, les secteurs immédiatement concernés

par les résultats du programme sont ceux du diagnostic et du traitement des

troubles immunologiques et neurobiologiques et, dans une moindre mesure,

de la microbiologie industrielle. L'accroissement _des_ efforts communautaires

en faveur du génie des protéines et du séquençage des génomes devrait

promouvoir encore davantage les innovations dans le domaine de la bic

inf^rmatiau? _ei_ de l'instrumentation.

###### **_2^_**

3. Obligations que le programme impose aux entreprises

Il s'agit _des_ mêmes obligations qui sont imposées à tous les laboratoires

participant au programme, à savoir

conformité de la recherche proposée à l'annexe technique du

programme

partage des frais (en règle générale à 50%)

coopération transnationale

libre accès des sites aux agents de la Commission

participation à _des_ séminaires et à _des_ réunions de contractants

organisés par la Cbrnrnission

rapports annuels d'activités et de résultats.

4. Obligations indirectes susceptibles d'être imposées aux entreprises par les

autorités nationales, régionales ou locales

Obligation de suivre les normes et règlements nationaux qui concernent

certaines recherches en génie génétique et l'exploitation des résultats de cène

recherche.

5. Dispositions relatives aux PME

L'action de recherche du présent programme ne prend aucune disposition

spécifique à l'égard des PME qui devraient pourtant en être largement

bénéficiaires. Souvent incapables d'effectuer à elles seules de longues et

difficiles recherches, ces entreprises dépendent des résultats de la recherche

développement financée par des fonds publics. Leur participation aux projets

sera examinée d'un oeil favorable lors de la sélection des propositions.

##### **2«**

**La dissemination de l'information** **relative** **aux résultats** **de** **la recherche, et**

**tout particulièrement à l'intention des PME, sera mise au premier rang** _**des**_

**priorités.**

**Les conditions de participation privilégient les PME en ce sens que tous les**

**participants à un projet BIOTECH seront traités sur un pied d'égalité.**

**6.** **Incidence probable :**

**a)** **sur la compétitivité des entreprises**

**BIOTECH ne devrait avoir aucun effet immédiat sur la compétitivité des**

**entreprises. Toutefois, il pourrait avoir divers effets à court et moyen termes**

**et de nombreux effets à long terme** **-** **voir point 1.**

**b)** **sur l'emploi**

**Les effets du programme sur l'emploi sont difficiles à évaluer. Toutefois, une**

**meilleure compétitivité internationale de la biotechnologie européenne**

**pourrait contribuer à réduire le déclin à long terme de l'agriculture et devrait**

**avoir des conséquences favorables sur l'emploi dans divers secteurs**

**industriels, en particulier dans les firmes à fort potentiel de croissance dans**

**des créneaux spécialisés du marché à haute valeur ajoutée.**

**7.** **Consultations des organisations représentatives**

**La** **liste** _**des**_ **organisations industrielles consultées durant** **la** **phase préparatoire**

**du** **piogranmie** **inclut, notamment, le** **groupe** **de travail** **"biotcchnologie"** **du**

**comité consultatif de la recherche et du développement industriel de la**

**Commission** _**des**_ **Communautés européennes** **(IRDAC).**

**ISSN 0254-1475**

#### COM(90) 160 final

# **DOCUMENTS**

### **EN 16**

#### Catalogue number : CB-CO-90-243-EN-C ISBN 92-77-60745-9

**PRICE** **1 - 30 pages: 3.50 ECU** **per additional 10** **pages:** **1.25 ECU**

**Office for Official Publications of the** **European** **Communities**

**L-2985** **Luxembourg**