CELEX: 51982PC0737
Language: en
Date: 1982-11-16
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on a preparatory phase for a Community research and development programme in the field of information technologies (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

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COM (82) 737
Vol. 1982/0226
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 ---pagebreak---     COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                      COM(82)737 final
                                                      Brussels , 16 November 1982
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                                                                      Secrétariat>£>/o/
                                     Proposal for a
                                    COUNCIL DECISION
     on a preparatory phase for a Community research and development programme
                        in the field of information technologies
                     ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
ν
?
 \
  ?  C0MC82 ) 737 final
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 1 -
                                  Proposal for a
                                 COUNCIL DECISION
  on a preparatory phase for a Community research and development programme
                     in the field of information technologies
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
 and in particular Article 235 thereof ,
 Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
 Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament , ( l )
 Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee , ( 2 )
 Whereas by its Resolution of 14 January 1974 the Council invited the
 Commission to define projects of interest to the Community in the field of
 science and technology ;
 Whereas the need to develop scientific and technical research at Community
 level was stated by the Council on 9 November 1981 and the Heads of State
 or Government on 26 and 27 November 1981 ;
 Whereas the overall Community strategy results from the creation and
 implementation of a general framework programme of common scientific and
 technical activities ; whereas amongst the basic options proposed by the
 Commission for the framework programme the " promotion of industrial
 competitiveness " calls for special support measures ;          whereas " the
 development of the new information technologies is a special objective ,
 especially as they must back up and enhance the efficiency of the
-Community 's research and innovation capability ,       which are essential
 factors for European industrial competitiveness ;
 Whereas it is necessary to make an urgent start on a preparatory phase in
 order to prepare a full-scale programme of research and development in
 information technologies ;
 Whereas the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community has not
 provided the necessary powers for this purpose ,
 ( 1 ) ( date + reference )
 ( 2 ) ( date + reference )
 ---pagebreak--- HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS
                                  Article 1
A Community research and development activity in the field of information
technologies is adopted for a maximum period of one year commencing not
earlier than 1 January 1983 .
This activity will be a preparatory phase for a Community research and
development programme in this field .
                                  Article 2
The activity is designed essentially to verify the approach to the
establishment , in the field of information technologies , of precompetitive
research and development cooperation at Community level concerted with
national programmes .
The activity will take account of requirements regarding the development
of standards to serve the interests of European industry in this field .
The activity will consist of 16 pilot projects as defined in the Annex
( 1 ).  The projects will be executed by means of shared cost contracts ,
normally on the basis of a minimum of 50% from contractors with the
remainder being contributed by the Community . In some exceptional cases ,
it may be necessary to fall below the minimum of 50% from contractors but ,
in all cases ,     a substantial contribution from contractors will be
required .
                                  Article 3
The activity will be open , on an equal footing and under appropriate
conditions , to participation by all undertakings , including small and
medium sized undertakings , universities and other bodies in all the Member
States which are carrying out research and development activities in
information technologies in the Community and which are interested in
taking    part .  Each  contract   should   have at  least   one  industrial
participant .
( 1 ) Annex I
 ---pagebreak---                                  Article 4
The Community funds estimated as     necessary for the execution   of the
activity should be 11.5 MECU .
                                 Article 5
The Commission will institute an evaluation by experts of the experience
obtained during the activity with special reference to the establishment
of precompetitive research and development cooperation at Community level
concerted with national programmes and will transmit a report thereon to
the Council at the end of the activity .
Done at Brussels ,   December 1982 .
                          For the Council
 ---pagebreak--- lot Projects include within the giver, areas the following specific
ojects :
Advanced Microelectronics
– Acvar.cec Ir.~erconr.ect for VLSI
  The development of a multi-layer metal interconnection
  technology that will enable one micron minimum feature size
  components to be interconnected at high density within the
  chip .
  High Level Computer Aided Design for Interactive Laycut and
  Desisn .
  The ceveicpment of new high level computer aided design tools
  needed to solve the layout anc connectivity problems inherent
  in VLSI circuit technology .
Software Technology
- Portable Common Tool Environment
  A research anc ceve^opment project to investigate the problems
  of providing a common base for software development toolsets to
  be used to fester European cooperative research anc" development
  in software technology . The work should leac to a software tool
  environment and the definition of interfaces and standards .
- Formal Specification & Systematic Program Development
  A research anc development project to identify a systematic
  approach to software development based on formal specifications
  ar.c transformations of representations ar.c to develop a coherent
  toolset suooorting each chase of the software life eveie .
- Software Production & Maintenance -Management Systems ( SPMMS )
  A research anc development project to define anc implement a
  complete consistent and efficient information management system
   for ail the activities in the life cycle of software .    Emphasis
  is on the organisational aspects of software development , on' the
  product characteristics of software ,         and on the mutual
  dependencies between business anc technical decisions .
Acvar.ced Information Processing
- Advanced Algorithms anc Arch i tec ture for Signal Processing
  To develop algorithmic structures , languages for expressing them
   and experimental prototypes for signal processing leading to a
   technology for the man machine interfaces that will be an
   essential part of future information systems and will enable
   inout anc output information to be spoken ar.c visual .
                                                                  /
 ---pagebreak---                                      2 -
     - Knowledge lnfcr~.gti.cr. Management Sys tem
       A research and development project leading to the definition anc
       construction cf experimental prototypes of a first generation
       knowledge based system .          These will serve as vehicles for the
       development of advanced knowledge processing technologies .
     - Interactive Ouery Svstem -
       A research anc development project concerning query language ,
       inference techniques anc cuerv optimization leading to the
       technology needed for interactive query systems that will be
       significantly easier to use by non-cp exoerts .
IV . Office Automation
     - Functional Analysis of 0:fice Requirements
       A methodical investigation leading to the              classification of
       office activities by high level function .             The classification
       will enable the functional specifications cf new systems to be
       formulated and the technologies needed to implement the chosen
       fuctions to be developed .
     - Multi-mecia User Interface at the Office Workstation
       A research anc development project leading to the development of
       the technologies needed to hahcle in an integrated way multi
       media communications anc documents ,             carrying simultaneously
       text ,   picture and voice .            Work is to include ergoncmic
       considerations of new terminals that will be needed .
     - Local Wideband Communication System
       A research anc development project              to  define   anc   take    to
       experimental       prototype       stage    a    local    area    wideband
       communications system embracing speech cata , text , graphics and
       video , that can also form the basis for a European standard .
     - Office Filing 4 Retrieval cf Unstructured Information
       A project defining office filing systems permitting ( partially
       content addressable ) retrieval of mixed mode information .
       This is expected to lead to the establishment of requirements
       anc    functional       capabilities     suitable   for   standardisation
       proposals .                                                   -
V.   Computer Integrated Manufacturing ( C.I.M. )
     - Design Rules for Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems
       A methodical investigation into the design rules required for
       system    integration       cf    different   sub-systems     cf " computer
        integrated    mar.uf acturi.ng systems .      The investigation is to
        include a   detailed study of manufacturing system design for the
       automated    factory covering such topics ' as operating rules ,
        orocucticr.  control , productivity ar.c economic factors .
                                                                          • • •/• • •
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 3 -
              - Integrated Microelectronic Sub-Sys terns for Plant Autorr.a t i or.
                A development project to design ,       develop ,     test and crove
                experimental prototypes cf a single chip integrated three axis
                continuous path interpolator ,     a single   chip integrated axis
                controller anc a single chip integrated servo interface .           The
                work is to be cone for application to machine tool anc robot
                control systems .
             •- Process and Production Control based on Real-Time Imagine
                Systems and as a tool for cooperative R&D
                A research ar.c development programme to define target
                applications involving 2      ar.c 3D imaging ,     utilising visual ,
                tactile ar.c thermal sensing and to implement the hardware anc
                software development of an experimental prototype with which to
                demonstrate and study , complex , real time , image driven , pattern
                directed control applications in actual or simulated production
                environments .
   . VI .     Information exchange sys"tem .
              A  system  fcr   exchange  of  information   and    to   link computing
              facilities to allow distributed software develcDment .
(\        -A
          * V
 ---pagebreak---  B/688                                  Avant-projet do budget général 1983                         15 . 6 . 1982
 ARTICLE 773 – STRATÉGIE COMMUNAUTAIRE EN MATIERE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE
                         L' INFORMATION
                                                                                      «
                                                                                          Action nouvelle
 POSTE 7730 – ACTIONS PRÉPARATOIRES AU PROGRAMME ESPRIT
                                                                                                         (en Écus)
 1983 – crédits d' engagement demandés                                         11 500 000
       – crédits de paiement . demandés                                                           7 500 000   ■
 1 . Base juridique et description de 1 action
 a) Base juridique
– Résolution du Conseil du 15 juillet 1974 concernant une politique communautaire de l'informatique .
– Communication de la Commission au Conseil européen « La Société européenne face aux nouvelles
     technologies de l' information : une réponse communautaire » (COM(79 ) 650 final du 26.11.1979).
– Résolution du Conseil du 11 septembre 1979 concernant une action communautaire de promotion de
     la technologie microélectronique .
 b) Description de l'action
 Reconnaissant comme la Commission des CE la nécessité et l' urgence de développer une stratégie
commune , les principales sociétés européennes actives dans le domaine des technologies de l' information
ont procédé avec le concours de la Commission à un « Exercice conjoint de planification en technologies
de l' information » (JEPE-1T , Joint European Planning Exercise ). En 19S2 , une centaine d' experts de ces
sociétés prennent part à l'exécution de cet effort de réflexion et d' identification des objectifs.
Le Conseil sera appelé à statuer sur une proposition de la Commission concernant un programme
stratégique d' action dans le domaine des technologies de l' information , le programme ESPRIT. La date
visée pour le début de ce programme est le 1 er janvier 19S4 . Il comprendra des projets à mener en
coopération entre des firmes industrielles et des instituts , pendant une durée de 5 à 10 ans , l' objectif visé
étant qu' au terme de cette période , une amélioration substantielle et durable ait été provoquée, dans la
situation de l' industrie européenne des technologies de l' information .
Un programme d\inc telle portée demandera au cours des exercices à venir la mise en œuvre de moyens
d' une importance proportionnelle .
Le lancement d'un programme de cette importance pose de nombreux problèmes pratiques, en
particulier dans le domaine de l'organisation de la coopération , des modes de financement , de
l'exploitation des . ésultats. Afin de pouvoir entreprendre le programme ESPRIT en 1984 dans des
conditions optimales , il importe d'accumuler préalablement les solutions les plus opérationnelles et d'en
faire la vérification . C' est dans cette perspective de préparation que seront lancés en 1983 un nombre
limité de projets pilotes ponctuels. L'exécution de ces projets pilotes , utiles en eux-mêmes , ne préjugera
pas la décision du Conseil sur le programme ESPRIT.
2. Nature de la dépense
La participation de la Communauté permettra de financer les projets pilotes à raison de 50 %, le reste
étant financé par l' industrie .
3 . Mode de calcul et justification de la variation
a) Mode de calcul
Évaluation faite en liaison avec l' industrie sur base du coût du personnel hautement qualifié a affecter aux
projets pilotes.
 ---pagebreak---  15 . 6 . 1982                        Avant-projet de budget généra ! 1983                                      B /639
                    ÉCHÉANCIER PRÉVISIBLE DES CRÉDITS DEMANDÉS POUR 19S3
                                                                                                             (en Écus)
                                                                             Pkicmcoti
                         Engagement·
                                                       1982           1983                19S4      Exercices ultérieur«
Engagements contractés avant 19S2 ¿
liquider sur crédits de paiement
nouveaux                                                                                                            i
                                                                                                                    I
Crédits substituants de 1981
Crédits 19S2
Crédits 19S3                           11 500 000                  7 500 000           2 000 000        2000 000
                                Total  11 500 000                  7 500 000           2 000 000        2 000 000
b) Justification de la variation                                    "                                               ;
Ces actions préparatoires doivent constituer la démonstration de l'avantage que peuvent retirer les Étals
membres et l' industrie d' une coopération étroite au niveau communautaire , impliquant la mise en
commun de ressources humaines et matérielles.                                                                       ;
                                                                                                                    !
                                                                                                 Action nouvelle
POSTE 7731 – ESPRIT – PROGRAMME STRATÉGIQUE D' ACTION EN MATIÈRE DE
                        TECHNOLOGIE DE L' INFORMATION
                                                                                                             (en Écus)
1983 – crédits d'engagement demandés                                              p.m.
       – crédits de paiement demandés                                                                    p.m .
1 . Base juridique et description de l action
a) Base juridique
– Résolution du Conseil du 15 juillet 1974 concernant une politique communautaire de l' informatique .
– Communication de la Commission au Conseil européen « La société européenne face aux nouvelles
     technologies de l' information : une réponse communautaire » (COM(79) 650 final du 26.11.1979).
– Résolution du Conseil du 11 septembre 1979 concernant une action communautaire de promotion de
     la technologie microélectronique .
– Proposition de décision du Conseil concernant le programme ESPRIT (Europcan Stratégie
     Programme in Information Technologies) (COM) 82...
b) Description de l'action
Le Conseil sera appelé à statuer sur une proposition de la Commission concernant un programme
stratégique d'action dans le domaine des technologies de l' information , le programme ESPRIT.
 ---pagebreak--- B/690                            Avant-projet de budget général 1983 15 . 6 . 19S2
Ces projets pilotes porteront sur les cinq domaines du programme :
– traitement de données avancé ,
– technologie du logiciel ,
– technologie avancée des circuits intégrés ,
– bureautique ,
– technologie de production flexible.