CELEX: 51988PC0385
Language: da
Date: 1988-07-25
Title: Forslag til RÅDETS BESLUTNING om et særprogram for forskning og teknologisk udvikling i Det Europæiske Økonomiske Fællesskab inden for industrielle produktionsteknologier og anvendelse af avancerede materialer (BRITE/EURAM) (1989 - 1992) (forelagt af Kommissionen)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (88) 385
Vol. 1988/0139
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KOMMISSIONEN FOR DE EUROPÆISKE FÆLLESSKABER
                                                KOM(88) 385 endelig udg . - SYN 142
                                                                                    i
                                                Bruxelles , den 25 . juli 1988      i
                                  Forslag til
                             RODETS BESLUTNING
       om et særprogram for forskning og teknologisk udvikling
            i Det Europæiske Økonomiske Fællesskab inden for
                 industrielle produktionsteknologier og
           anvendelse af avancerede materialer ( BRITE / EURAM)
                                ( 1989 - 1992 )
                       ( forelagt af Kommissionen )
         ^
         IV     I"
                       m8 M
                          .   L
 ---pagebreak--- RESUME
Fabriksindustrien, der tegner sig for ca . 30% af BNP og beskæftiger omkring
41 millioner mennesker , er og bliver et væsentligt led i Fællesskabets
økonomi . De europæiske fabrikanters evne til at efterkommen en voksende
og stadig mere konkurrencepræget efterspørgsel pi de mere og mere udviklede
markeder, viser imidlertid tegn pi strukturbetingede svagheder .
Begrundelsen for dette nye program er for det første behovet for en positiv
reaktion overfor konkurrencepresset pi verdensmarkedet for færdigvarer og
inden for udviklingen af støtteteknologier for produkter og processer . For
det andet er forsknings- og udviklingssamarbejde , som siir bro over sektor¬
grænser og nationale grænser , et effektivt middel til udnyttelse af res¬
sourcerne og en direkte vej frem mod det indre marked .
Det nye BRITE / EURAM-program omfatter de aktioner , som blev fastsat i punkt
3.1 og 3.2 i rammeprogrammet for Fællesskabets forskning og teknologiske
udvikling ( 1987-1991 ). Det hører under afsnittet "modernisering af industri ¬
sektorerne " og omfatter produktionsteknologier og avancerede materialer .
Programmet bygger pi de erfaringer og resultater , man allerede har haft med
BRITE- og EURAM-programmet .
De opmuntrende resultater af det første BRITE- og EURAM-program , som blev
bekræftet af BRITE og EURAM-evalueringspanelerne viste , at programmerne
spillede en vigtig rolle for Fællesskabets videnskabs- og teknologipolitik .
Ikke blot var det meget tilfredsstillende , at 80% af projekterne viste sig
at gøre gode fremskridt , der var ogsi blevet tilføjet en ny og vigtig dimen¬
sion ved oprettelse og konsolidering af industrielt forsknings- og udvik¬
lingssamarbejde og forbindelser mellem industri og universiteter pi tværs
af grænserne . Det viste sig desuden, at programmet havde hjulpet smi og
mellemstore virksomheder til at knytte forbindelser med større virksomhe¬
der og med universiteterne og drage fordel af de resultater , som derved
blev skabt . Også Fæl lesskabets smi og mindre udviklede stater har deltaget
fuldt ud .
Programmets vigtigste målsætning er at forbedre Fællesskabets materiale-
og fabriksindustris konkurrencedygtighed pi verdensmarkedet ved at støtte
den med et forsknings - og udviklingsprogram , som skal skabe det industrielle
og materialeteknologiske grundlag for strategiske og fornyende produkt - og
procesudviklinger .
Programmet skal bidrage til industriens konkurrencedygtighed ved at stimu¬
lere de forskellige industrisektorers samt industriens , forskningsinstitutio¬
nernes og universiteternes samarbejde om prækonkurrencemæssig , industrielt
orienteret forskning på tværs af grænserne, og det skal derved bidrage
til oprettelsen af det indre marked i 1992 . Der vil blive taget særlig
hensyn til projekter , der inddrager små og mellemstore virksomheder for at
sikre dem en rimelig deltagelse i programmet .
Det nye program skal ikke fratage industrien ansvaret for , at der udføres
tilstrækkelig forskning og udvikling til støtte for dens behov, det skal
derimod ligesom det tidligere program virke som en katalysator , der fremmer
den bedste mulige udnyttelse af Fællesskabets ressourcer .
Efter tilskyndelse fra industrien og på baggrund af erfaringerne fra de
tidligere programmer skal materiale- og produktionsteknologi nu sammen¬
fattes i et enkelt program, der omfatter følgende områder .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 2 -
- avancerede materialeteknologier
-  konstruktionsmetodologi og produkt - og processikkerhed
- produktionsteknologiernes anvendelse
- produktionsprocesteknologier
Det fireårige programs aktiviteter vil , når bidragene i forbindelse med
EFTA-landenes forventede deltagelse medregnes , kræve et beløb på næsten
1 milliard ECU . Heraf stiller Kommissionen 439,5 mio ECU til rådighed .
Der bliver tale om fire forskellige former for støtte .
Mere end 90% af budgettet skal gå til anvendt industri forskning , som vil
blive iværksat ved hjælp af kontrakter med omkostningsdeling , der skal
omfatte mindst 2 selvstændige industrivirksomheder . De samlede projektom¬
kostninger kommer til at ligge mellem 1 og 3 mio ECU og skal dække aktivi ¬
teter svarende til mindst 10 mandår . Fællesskabets bidrag bliver højst
50% af de samlede omkostninger, resten skal stilles til rådighed af indu¬
strien .
Indtil 7% af budgettet skal stilles til rådighed for koncentreret grund¬
forskning inden for materialeudvikling , hvor den industrielle udvikling
hæmmes af grundvidenskabelige mangler . For at sikre , at denne aktivitet ,
hvortil der ikke kræves nogen industripartner, virkelig får et industrielt
sigte , vil der blive forlangt en godkendelse fra udpegede industrifolk .
Projekterne vil koste mellem 0,4 og 1 mio ECU og skal omfatte aktiviteter
svarende til mindst 10 mandår .
Kommissionen indfører desuden en forsøgsordning med gennemførlighedstilskud,
som skal hjælpe de små og mellemstore virksomheder til at fastslå , om en
opfindelse , en proces eller en ide kan udføres , således at de kan forbedre
deres stilling, når det gælder om at finde en partner i forbindelse med en
senere indkaldelse af forslag til anvendt industri forskning . Disse til ¬
skud skal afhjælpe de små og mellemstore virksomheders særlige vanskelig¬
heder . Kommissionen vil afholde op til 75% af forskningsomkostningerne ,
dog højst 25 000 ECU, i indtil 6 måneder . Denne aktivitet skal medfinan¬
sieres af arbejdsgruppen for små og mellemstore virksomheder .
En lille del af det samlede programbudget skal gå til koordinerede aktivi ¬
teter .
Der skal desuden gives støtte til demonstrationsprojekter i forbindelse med
anvendt industriforskning . De nærmere betingelser herfor vil blive fastsat ,
efterhånden som projekterne inden for det første BRITE og EURAM-program
nærmer sig deres afslutning .
Tidsplanen for de årlige forslags indkaldelser vil blive meddelt i den
første informationsbrochure . De prioriterede emner vil blive revideret
hvert år , så de kommer til at afspejle industriens skiftende behov . De
problemer og den usikkerhed, de eventuelle deltagere oplevede på grund af
for lange intervaller i det tidligere program , søges overvundet ved hjælp
af regelmæssige indkaldelser .
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 3 -
INTRODUCTION
_    .    .       .                 .           ._1
In its Communication of 28 September 1987                the Commission presented its
initial ijomments on the programme to follow on from the first BRITE
Programme .
The new programme integrates the cost-shared actions foreseen in lines 3.1 and
3.2 of the Framework Programme for Community Activities in the Field of
Research and Technological Development             ( 1987-1991 Jcovering manufacturing
technologies and advanced materials, ^o building on the achievements already
emerging in the first BRITE and EURAlv programmes . Experience with managing
these two programmes together with the strong encouragement revealed in
consultations with industrialists and, in particular , the Industrial Research
and Development Advisory Committee ( IRDAC ) and the panels evaluating the first
BRITE and EURAM programmes underlines the inseparable links between materials
development , product design and manufacturing technology . A single programme
will best serve the R&D needs of European industry .
The objectives and strategic goals set out below are in keeping with the
thrust of the Framework Programme towards improving industrial performance
particularly in relation to         the 'modernisation of industrial sectors' and
also 'towards a large market and an information and communication society' .
While the development of information technology will be excluded from the new
programme the application of IT will of course be encouraged . By strengthening
the scientific and technological basis of European industry and encouraging it
to  become more competitive^ at
in the Single European Act are
                                            international      level the aims expressed
                                      reflected . The Programme does not replace the
responsibility of industry to conduct adequate R&D in support of its needs but
it has a catalytic role in providing the incentive to encourage the best use
of the resources available in the Community . This applies particularly to the
established sectors of industry where the R&D base has to be seen as a more
important element of company strategy .
OBJECTIVES
The principal objective of the Programme is to help enhance the competitive
position of the Community 's manufacturing industries in world markets through
the support of a programme of research and development to provide the
industrial and materials technology base required for strategic , innovative
product and process development .
There are two subsidiary objectives .            First ,    to encourage transfrontier
collaboration within the Community in strategic industrial research between
industrial companies and complementary centres of expertise in industry ,
research organisations , and universities .         Second , to encourage transfer of
   C0f'(87)307 F I MAL / 2
2 OJ N° L 83,25.3.1985, p. 8
3 OJ N° L 302 , 24 . 10 . 1987,p. 1
4 OJ N° L 159, 14.6.1986, p. 36
5 OJ N° L 169,29.6.1987, p. 1
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 4 -
technology between sectors and particularly to those sectors , often with a
high predominance of SMEs , which are slow in exploiting new technologies to
improve their performance .
Strategie Goals
The   main   instrument   for meeting   the objectives will     be   collaborative ,
transfrontier R & D able to provide the technological            tools for better
products and processes . These will include the development and application of
new materials and engineering technologies and encouraging the wider
application of IT developed elsewhere . The tools will be aimed at meeting
strategic goats for improving the performance of manufacturing industries by :
-   Developing     advanced materials and their processing for applications
   requiring improved physical and environmental behaviour , better performance
   repeatability and reliability , and cost effectiveness .
- Incorporation of best practice into design ( i.e. materials selection and
   design rules for manufacturing , assembly , reliability and maintenance ).
- Reduction        of design to product     lead time ,   including   reducing the
   manufacturing lead time .
- Improving management of the manufacturing operation ,          including process
   control , product quality assurance and condition monitoring .
- Improving the cost effectiveness of manufacturing .
PROGRAMME JUSTIFICATION
The case for the programme is based , first , on the need for a positive
response to the pressure of world competition in the market place for
manufactured goods and in the supporting technology development of products
and processes .    Second , R & D collaboration , bridging national and sectoral
boundaries is an effective way of exploiting available resources and a
valuable route towards the internal market .
The challenge in the world market place
Manufacturing industry is and will remain an essential part of the Community 's
economy . It provides around 30% of GNP and accounts for 75% of the industrial
workforce of some 41,000,000 people .     In spite of a strongly positive balance
of trade in manufactured goods of 130% in 1985 , structural weaknesses have
developed over the years , in particular the capacity to respond to growing
demand in the more developed markets .
Within manufacturing industry there are sectors with a fast growing demand
( e.g. instruments , chemicals ) and sectors with a stagnating demand ( e.g.
clothing , textiles , motor vehicles ).         The common element is that the
performance of the European industries and those of the most developed
industrial countries will be less concentrated on maintaining or increasing
market share of the total market .     Instead they will seek to capture the top
end of the market by new or improved products often with a high technology
content in the product itself or its means of manufacture .              This trend
establishes technology as one of the crucial factors for the competitiveness
of manufacturing industry . Its effective use in both production equipment and
new products is a potential source of spectacular improvements in industrial
performance .      Technology can increase equipment availability ,        introduce
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 5 -
flexibility into the production process and so improve market adaptability .
It also makes possible smaller production runs and allows for reduction in
time for manufacture .     Here the appropriate application of IT systems is of
relevance to all manufacturing industries . More detailed examples showing
where technology could be exploited to enhance the economic performance are
included in the technical areas for the new programme in Annex A.
Increasingly the distinction between leading edge and mature industries will
disappear .    The potential for increasing productivity and flexibility is
greater in mature industries as is the incentive to employ new technology .
For the future the dividing line will be between those who make full use of
the available technology and those who do not , even within the same sector .
Already this 'denaturing' process is evident in established sectors such as
motor vehicles or clothing .
The development     and adoption of new technologies is         therefore crucial .
However , the challenge of new technology goes far beyond sectoral definitions ;
it concerns the competitiveness of European industry as a whole ~ its very
ability to exploit new opportunities .
To assess the state of Community industry and the means of improving the
Community 's technological competitiveness ,      the innovation process can be
broken down into
- the création of new technologies .
- their use in the production process and
- their implementation in products .
The création of new technologies
Trends in the funding of research give rise to concern underpinning the need
for an increased level and synergy of R & D activity in Europe .          The funds
devoted to R & D activities for the     EEC ( 70 billion ECU ) were , in 1986 , only
about 60 % of that of the US .      As the annual increase was about 4 Z in both
cases this difference is unlikely to change rapidly .          In contrast , while
Japanese R 8 D expenditure is 30 % below that of Europe its growth rate , 9 % ,
is twice as high .     Looking at research expenditure as a percentage of gross
domestic product , this rate reached 2,8 % in Japan and US in 1985 .        Only FRG
approached this level , which together with France and UK at 2,3 Z exceeded the
Community average of about 2 Z. A further impediment to European industry
benefitting from applied research and technology          transfer comes from the
lower industrial contribution in the distribution of R 8 D between industry
and the public sector within Europe .
A quantitative comparison identifies an overall weakness in the R & 0
potential of the entire Community .       It , of course , neglects the effect of
twelve components between which there is little synergy .       The European effort
tends to cover the whole range of R 8 0 activity from basic to industrial
prototypes .    Japan and the US concentrate much more on R 8 D with a view to
later industrial use .     This difference in strategies means that the Community
 lags behind in crucial enabling areas such as new materials and production
technologies , in addition to the microelectronics based technologies .
Technology in the production process .
 In production technology the Community is beginning to catch up with the use
of advanced computer aided techniques and equipment after a slow start and
here the advanced IT developed in the ESPRIT programme is of major importance .
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 6 -
But improvements are needed concerning the reliability and predictability of
machine behaviour as enterprises become more dependent on expensive machinery .
Recognising the characteristics of Community industry consisting of few large
and many medium sized and small enterprises , there is a particular need to
reduce the complexity and cost of new production technologies and systems .
However , the evidence from the first BRITE and EURAM programmes confirms that
in the Community industry there is a greater confidence that it is capable ,
particularly when assisted by universities and research institutes , of
mounting a realistic challenge to the market performance of the major
industrial competitors .
Technology in products .
Exploiting new technology in products is essential whether directly as in the
use of new materials or indirectly through improved design , reliability ,
servicing or marketing .     Here the Community industry has generally been less
successful than its competitors , particularly from the Far East .         In fast
moving advanced technology markets the Community industry has often retreated
into established production of engineered commodities such as colour
televisions without an equivalent activity in R&D - so leading to losses in
industrial employment . Because of the government support in the US and Japan ,
the Community lags behind in the engineering aspects - performance and methods
of component manufacture of new materials .      Failure to exploit new materials
to improve product performance , durability and reliability bars the Community
from competing in rapidly expanding and traditional markets .
The programme aims to reduce the constraints and limitations at each of these
levels and help to provide European industry with the necessary enabling
technologies which demand an intersectorial and interdisciplinary approach .
Collaboration across frontiers and sectors
The importance of collaboration can also be demonstrated through the structure
of European industry . Individual sectors of industry are not islands but are
dependent on others .    For example , to be competitive established sectors must
incorporate the products of the high technology sectors ,                including
microelectronics and information processing ,        for which they are a very
important market , into their products , processes and business systems .        A
similar dependence extends to the service sector as much of its activity is
geared to manufacturing .
Unfortunately , the supply chain in Europe is often fragmented compared to that
of its major industrial competitors .      Japan has a relatively small number of
giant financial holding companies while the US has economy of scale .           In
Europe a very varied market is met by a large number of suppliers who in turn
are customers for many suppliers of components , processes and services .      Too
often there is poor communication between functions - design , engineering ,
manufacturing , purchasing , marketing - both within and between companies .
This   situation   slows   down  the   rate   of  innovation   and   its effective
implementation .     It  is desirable for both customers and suppliers to be
working together to ensure that resources are directed to RSD which wilt bring
the maximum benefits . Almost always supply chains involve firms of all sizes ,
so that attention has to be given to ensure that technology based SMEs can
also benefit ,   recognising their particular problems , such as a lack of human
and financial resources to plan and implement change .      Indeed , in almost all
sectors industrial success will often be largely influenced by performance of
SMEs in the role of suppliers of materials , components or services .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 7 -
The commercial development of tools - the products and processes - is the
primary responsibility of those companies able to exploit the commercial
benefits they bring . This development process is more likely to be successful
if companies have access to preparatory or pre-competitive research and
development at the leading edge . There are considerable resources available
in the Community which should be used to best effect . The catalytic role of
Community programmes can provide the incentive for this collaboration to take
place .
Pre-competitive R&D - applied research not leading directly to commercially
exploitable results - is an essential enabling instrument for competitiveness
but may be too wide in application , of too long a time scale , or too risky to
make it acceptable for funding by single companies , particularly SMEs . It is
exactly in this field where existing resources in Europe are not exploited to
a sufficient level .
Additional and external funding will make it possible to provide , at the
European level , the linkages which enable the complementary expertise of those
in industry and research organisations to work together and so specify , manage
and implement the work required .      The Commission support will enable those
able to make a worthwhile contribution to the task in hand to participate
towards the internal market .
Towards the internal market
The challenges within the programme fall squarely within the scope of the
Framework Programme .   Only by working together across national boundaries can
Europe  look to a future where the strength of         the Far   East and  the US
manufacturing base can be challenged on a broad front .       Working together in
RSD will lead to companies seeing mutual benefits for their future in
continuing collaboration in R&D and possibly extending this to marketing ,
manufacturing and training .      Collaboration also provides opportunities for
bringing application expertise to new sectors through demonstrations of
technology or transfer of human expertise . In a more direct response to the
challenge of the single integrated market foreseen for 1992 , the involvement
of partners from several countries will be a valuable step in the
harmonisation of manufacturing practices .     This convergence of practices will
encourage the quest for standards .      One of the outcomes of the BRITE / EURAM
programme will hopefully be an enriched range of European standards produced
under the aegis of CEN and CENELEC .          Standardisation at European level
contributes , on one side , to break down the technical barriers to trade within
the -Community and , on the other side , it enhances the competitiveness of
European industry in its home market . The inclusion of work in support of the
standards making activity should not be a definitive selection criteria for
the programme .   However , encouragement will be given to projects which aim to
exploit a potential market opportunity arising from advancing the development
of new standards or other codes of practice , including those which might be
associated with environmental or safety considerations . The European dimension
realised through the transfrontier collaboration ensures complementarity with
nationally supported initiatives .
An integrated Community is also better served when its technical expertise is
available to reach out across national boundaries . Community support can also
result , because of the structure of the market place or high cost of R&D , in
work which is unlikely to be funded by one company or one country , thereby
making more efficient use of resources for research , more efficient use of
capital equipment or the generation of a critical mass of expertise .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 8 -
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FIRST BRITE AND EURAM PROGRAMMES
The programme builds on the encouraging signs which have already emerged
within BRITE and EURAM and recognised by their evaluation panels .    Though the
first research work funded under the BRITE programme did not start until early
1986 and , in the case of EURAM, not until late 1987 , encouraging progress has
already been made with most of the projects underway in the process of
fulfilling their objectives .    The BRITE Evaluation Panel judged that a very
satisfactory 80% of projects were progressing well .        BRITE had helped to
consolidate industrial transborder alliances and to create new ones .        The
Panel considered that BRITE had benefitted SMEs , both by being involved in
research and from the resulting commercial opportunities .       The smaller and
less developed Member States had participated fully . Important results are
appearing which could not have happened without an enabling instrument for
transboundary collaborative research .    Examples are given at the end of this
section .
In the first BRITE and EURAM programmes more than 1200 proposals were received
involving almost 5000 individual partners .        130 experts from different
industrial sectors , universities and research institutes from all Member
States were involved in the technical and economical evaluation , and assessing
the potential    industrial impact of the proposals .      These experts worked
together in groups in Brussels under the chairmanship of Commission officials
not belonging to the staff of the programmes .
About 300 projects are now being supported .     Within BRITE , of the projects
being supported 60% of partners are from industry ,           21% from research
institutions and 19% from universities .           There was significant SME
participation amounting to about 35% of the industrial partners .      The major
difference in EURAM was that somewhat less , 44% of partners , are from
industry , the major part being from universities and research institutes . In
both cases there was an encouraging level of collaboration between
universities and industry .     Both programmes included projects with a high
materials element integrating problems of design and production .    Recognising
that in many cases no clear distinction can or ■ should be made between a
programme with objectives relating to materials applications and production
technology , underlines the need for a single programme to follow on from the
first BRITE and EURAM .
A characteristic of the previous BRITE and EURAM programmes was the large
number of very good projects which were not supported because of budget
limitations .   In fact only about 1 in 4 of good projects was supported .   The
scale of the opportunities lost among those whose projects were rejected in
the earlier programmes makes a strong case for the substantially larger budget
for the new programme , an argument endorsed by the BRITE Evaluation Panel .
The programmes have helped to remove the bias against technical collabbration
in Europe and so will help in the realisation of the single market . The level
of interest will increase and this was underlined by the BRITE Technological
Days held in December 1987 which attracted more than 1000 delegates .
To achieve a better balance between the available funds and the number of good
projects submitted , the information pack will seek to give a more precise
definition of the projects which will be supported .      This will put greater
emphasis on the evaluation criteria and more closely define the priority
themes .    The introduction of an annual call for proposals should also help .
As before , the project selection will be undertaken by independent experts
familiar with the needs of industry , drawn from industry itself , but also
including experts from universities and research institutes . The fairness and
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 9 -
efficiency of this process was seen as a particular feature of the programme .
Careful consideration will be given to the improvements recommended by the
BRITE Evaluation Panel .
An important feature of the first BRITE programme was the 'expression of
interest * mechanism operated by the Commission which allowed those interested
in forming partnerships to be put into touch with one another .       Even when a
project did not emerge productive introductions often resulted . This process
was supported by the contact points in each Member State who provided a source
of information close to intending partners . With EURAM advanced materials
networks organised with the European Materials Research Society ( EMRS ) and in
conjunction with industries and universities has provided a valuable
co-ordination for work in 11 different specialised fields of materials
research .    The new integrated programme will build on the successful features
of the first BRITE and EURAM programmes , taking account of the comments from
their Programme Evaluation Panels .
Results from the first BRITE and EURAM programmes .
The following examples illustrate early achievements and targets from the
earlier programmes .
European mould makers are often SMEs and face a challenge not only from their
major customers , such as the car industry , which requires its suppliers to be
equipped with CADCAM but also from the strong competition arising outside the
Community .    The objective is to shorten the whole process of mould design and
manufacture , which now is typically six months .      Success would increase the
competitiveness of the mould maker through shorter delivery times , and by
allowing smaller batch sizes or more complex parts to be produced from the
moulds .    The aim is to produce moulds with little or no reworking while
currently moulds may have to be modified 5 to 10 times .        In the consortium
seven enterprises , ranging from very small to very large , and two research
organisations are involved .     The first part of the project investigating the
weaknesses of existing approaches has already led to useful developments in
mould design .
The man-made fibre industry is anticipating even fiercer competition from
competitors outside Europe where developments in higher speed meltspinning
have been identified . For this reason major man-made fibre producers in three
Community countries , a specialised equipment maker together with two research
institutes , have come together to improve the technology for the melt spinning
of continuous synthetic yarn . This project aims at improving the productivity
and reducing the manufacturing costs of melt spinning of nylon and polyester
by increasing the collection speeds from typically 6 km per minute up to 10 km
per minute . Key requirements are to ensure zero defect operation and delivery
of yarns of the required quality . This project could lead to a cost reduction
of up to 10% in the final product . Preliminary results indicate that this aim
is feasible .
The most expensive part in the clothing production process is the assembly of
cut parts .     It accounts for roughly 50% of the production costs , of which
about 80% is the handling of the parts and only 20% the actual sewing process .
A clothing manufacturer ,   a machine manufacturer and a robot producer from two
Community countries have come together to develop a flexible system which is
capable of receiving stacks of cut parts , typically of between 50 and 200
pieces , removing a single component from each stack and then carrying out
several stages of sequential assembly automatically . The system is limited to
operations that start and finish flat .       Final assembly will continue to be
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 10 -
manual .   As most of the handling is 2-dimensional , there is scope for cost
reductions in the production process of up to 25% , while maintaining and even
increasing the flexibility and the quality .         Considerable progress has been
made towards the objective of a full-scale laboratory prototype assembly
system .     This laboratory prototype could be the basis for the first fully
automated flexible clothing assembly cell in Europe .
Dyeing of fabrics is one of the most important steps in the manufacturing
process of textiles .      About 80% of the fabrics are dyed in continuous line .
Currently about 5% of material is waste because of variations in shade and
colour . Two textile producers , an equipment company and a research laboratory
from three Community countries are collaborating in a project to study the
parameters of continuous dyeing and to develop on-line sensors and real time
control mechanisms that will give consistency and shade repeatability . A
feasibility study has shown that it could be possible to control the key
process parameters to give consistent shade and colour across the width and
along the length of the fabric .        A successful outcome could lead to price
reductions of up to 20% , which would place the European textile industry in a
stronger position in an increasingly competitive world market .
Welding takes up 20 - 30% of production time in European shipyards .            While
about 80% of welds are made in Japanese yards with automatic or semi-automatic
devices , about 80% of welds in Europe are still made manually . To improve the
European technological capability a shipyard , a supplier of welding equipment ,
a paint producer , two welding research organisations and a shipbuilding
research organisation , sponsored by shipyards , have joined together to achieve
a large-scale shift to mechanised welding processes .           The aim is a simple
automation of the welding of sub-components and the application of welding
robots , within the context of the shipbuilding industry . The welding problems
posed by the primer of the steel are also being studied in order to reduce the
influence of the prefabrication primer on mechanized , automated and robotic
welding . First results have led to data which could serve to define normalized
fume boxes .     Considerable progress towards automated welding has already been
made .
Laser technology will be used as a tool to cut and to identify defects in
natural materials .         This project ,    involving industries and research
organisations from two Community countries , aims at the reduction of material
waste and an increase in productivity rates for industries based on the use
and transformation of indigenous materials such as cork , leather , wood and
marble . The major objectives of research are to define the laser cutting
process and parameters for each material , especially for cork and marble where
laser cutting is a promising technique , and to develop methods for defect
identification by size , shope and colour .       Cutting speed should be increased
by up to 35% for leather and 50% for cork using laser , compared to manual
cutting .     it is estimated that such developments could lead to the waste of
material being reduced by 40% .      These important economic benefits explain the
high interest from industries which are generally SMEs .
In the field of materials research ,          a variety of projects address the
substitution of strategic materials with more available and versatile
materials leading to products with enhanced physical or mechanical properties .
The degree of dependency of important European industries on metals such as
chromium , cobalt , tungsten or some rare earth metals , supplied mainly from
outside the Community , can be reduced by substitution . For example , bringing
tonether partners with expertise in metallurgy , process engineering , design
and magnetic theory has enabled a new and more efficient production process
for nagnetic powder material of the new alloy iron ,       neoriymyum and boron to be
 ---pagebreak---                                        11
developed for the manufacture of high energy permanent magnets . In another
example , hard particles and ceramic whiskers introduced into white cast iron
powder produced a new hard metal powder replacing more expensive and alloyed
steels .     Similarly , in electrical contact and switching materials , a new
silver alloy with a drastically reduced silver content was found and is now
patented and in commercial production .
The stimulation of cooperation in European manufacturing industry is , in many
sectors , breaking new ground and providing mutual help which ultimately must
result in a stronger position in the market place .
THE TECHNICAL CONTENT OF THE PROGRAMME
With a limited budget , less than   4 % of industrial R & D spending by Community
Governments , the programme must    focus on the R&D most likely to be effective
in meeting those goals which are    most critical to securing the competitiveness
of the Community 's manufacturing    industry , in the medium term, that is 5-10
years hence .
The technical areas for the programme have been selected after an extended
process of consultation .     In addition to a postal enquiry sent to some 1,000
companies across the Community, this involved inputs from many individuals ,
professional and trade associations from a wide range of manufacturing sectors
together with the industrial technologies and advanced materials working
groups of the Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee ( IRDAC ).
The Member     States were consulted through the appropriate Management and
Co-ordination Advisory Committees ( CGC ).
The technical areas shown in greater detail in Annex A cover :
- Advanced Materials Technologies - the development of advanced materials and
   their processing for industrial use .
- Design Methodology and Assurance of Products and Processes - engineering
   technologies       for product design , means of manufacture and assurance ,
   together with          design and assurance of manufacturing processes .
- Application of Manufacturing Technologies - identification and addressing
   the needs of manufacturing industry and particularly the less advanced
   sectors , many of which have a major part made up of SMEs .
- Technologies for Manufacturing Processes - new and improved manufacturing
   techniques for more effective production .
In these areas there is a strong need for collaborative research , bringing
together partners drawn from suppliers of materials or components , users
( including where appropriate the end user ), the suppliers of expertise and
equipment for use in design , control , testing and systems integration ,
together with the research organisations and          universities .   There are
opportunities for firms of all sizes .
BRITE / EURAM in a Global Industriai R&D Context
Consultations with industry have confirmed the requirement for a better
awareness of emerging technological development as an important element of the
technology strategy of industrial companies both large and small and , at the
same time , for reinforcing the market pull of the BRITE / EURAM Programme as
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 12 -
recommended by the BRITE Evaluation Panel .     The Commission will take further
initiatives , such as workshops , in consultation with IRDAC and the CGC . The
aim will be to bring together the global science and technological trends with
the planning needs of individual companies recognising this cannot be limited
to a single sector but must also involve related sectors which are major
customers and existing or potential suppliers of materials , equipment and
expertise .
PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
In line with its overall objectives ,         the programme will be open to
enterprises from all sectors of industry and research organisations , including
universities , within the Community and EFTA countries .       Projects involving
partners from EFTA countries will be welcomed where their participation can
contribute to the competitiveness of manufacturing industry as a whole .      The
projects must fulfill the normal eligibility criteria with the EFTA partner
being additional to the required type and number of partners from the
Community .     There will not be any financial contribution from Community
towards the participation costs of partners from EFTA countries who will be
required to contribute to the programme overheads .
Within the Programme there will be four separate forms of support .           The
Industrial Applied Research will be the principal action with more than 90Z of
the budget .    There will also be Focussed Fundamental Research with up to 7 %
of the budget - that is one fifth of the budget for the work on materials ,
together with Feasibility Awards for SMEs         and support for Co-ordinated
Activities with approximately 0.5% and 1.5% ,      respectively of the programme
budget .
To ensure the objectivity of the selection procedure and the selection
criteria , the details will be established in advance taking the advice of the
CGC .
Budget and Staff
The   indicative  allocation of  funds between the different     technical themes
given below reflects the experience of the first BRITE and EURAM programmes ,
together with a grouping of the sub themes in such a way that the main themes
for the manufacturing elements of the programme are evenly balanced . The size
of allocation to the materials theme also reflects the balance of funding
foreseen in the Framework Programme for this subject .      The actual allocation
will be determined in conjunction with the CGC taking account of the response
to the calls for proposals .
                                                   %
Advanced materials applications                    30
Design and assurance of products                   21
Manufacturing systems                              21
Technologies for manufacturing processes           21
Administration                                       2.5
Personnel                                            4.5
                                                  100.0
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 13 -
The total budget for the execution of the programme will amount to 439.5 mio
ECU including expenditure on staff whose costs will not exceed 4.5% of the
Community contribution .
In managing the programme ,    the Commission will increasingly seek the help of
external experts in the technical monitoring of projects in order to ensure
the necessary technical expertise .      The BRITE evaluation panel has also made a
similar recommendation .
Industrial Applied Research
The principal form of support for industrial applied                  research of a
pre-competitive character will be through cost shared action .         The conditions
for participation will be that in each project there will be at least 50%
financing from industrial partners and at least two independent industrial
enterprises from different Member States per project .         To be classified as an
independent enterprise , research organisations should normally receive the
industrial 50% in direct payments from nominated companies involved in
steering the project . Recognising the important role of SMEs in developing the
manufacturing base of the Community and the merits of their participation in
the programme , the Commission is considering , in conjunction with IRDAC , how
best research organisations can act within the programme as a focus for
meeting the RSD needs of SMEs . Projects should include at least 10 man years
of activity , the realistic minimum for an effective collaborative project , and
the total project costs should fall in the range 1-3 mio ECU . Subsidiaries of
multinational companies based outside the Community may participate if the R&D
and exploitation takes place within the Community .
Focussed Fundamental Research
In some areas of materials development industrial progress is hindered by
weaknesses    in  basic  science .       These  areas  will   be  identified  in  the
Information Pack for each call for proposals . Transfrontier co-operation would
be reguired but there will not be a requirement for partners to include an
independent industrial enterprise .       However , to ensure the industrial focus ,
there will be a requirement for industrial endorsement by nominated
individuals from at least two independent industrial enterprises .               Each
individual will be required to commit at least two days per year in steering
the project .    Projects should include at least 10 man years of activity and
fall in the range of 0.4 to 1 mio ECU total project costs .
Feasibility Awards for SMEs
The Commission will introduce a pilot scheme of Feasibility Awards aimed at
assisting SMEs establish the feasibility of a device , process or concept as a
neans of enhancing their stature in finding a partner in a subsequent call for
proposals under the shared cost action . The Commission will support up to 75%
( maximum 25000 ECU ) of the cost of research lasting up to six months .         High
standards of evaluation will ensure that the awards are highly competitive and
recognised as prestigous .         This scheme will be co-financed by the Task
Force SHE .
Co-ordinated Activities
In cases where work , supported by national funds or entirely privately funded
 is already going on , the Commission 's role may be limited to simply organising
the co-ordination of the work and the Community funding confined to covering
the cost of such co-ordination activities .       However , in certain cases where it
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 14 -
is clear that strategically important work requires more than simple
co-ordination, the Commission could, in consultation with the CGC , consider a
higher Community funding .
Demonstration Projects
It is to be expected that demonstrations of project results will be required
as the wide range of projects supported within the first BRITE and EURAM
programmes near completion .       The type of support needed will be included
within the Industrial Applied Research and will be defined with the advice of
the CGC and reported on during the mid-term review of the programme .
Calls for Proposais
The closing date for the first of the annual calls for proposals is expected
to be in March 1989 .    This is subject to the adoption of a Common Position by
the Council before the end of 1988 .      By early autumn of 1988 an advance call
for proposals , giving early warning of the programme , will be published in the
Official Journal for those intending to participate .
There will be a separate call for proposals for the Feasibility Awards . This
will take place at about the same time , in order that the winners can be
selected and   have  undertaken   the work   in advance  of  the second  call for
prooosals for the Industrial Applied Research .
As a basis for calls for proposals the Commission will , in consultation with
the CGC ,    establish and update annually information packages specifying
detailed topics and priorities within the scope set out in the Technical Annex
to the Council Decision .     For this purpose the Commission will encourage an
exchange of views between related sectors about their future technology needs .
A similar but simplified information package will be adopted for the
Feasibility Awards to SMEs .
To assist in the process of finding partners , potential participants would be
invited to submit an 'expression of interest' so that they can be put in
contact with those having similar interests .    The network of 'national contact
points' within the Member States will continue to be encouraged to provide an
initial form of introduction to the programme .             The arrangements for
expressions of interest and the national contact points are of particular
benefit to SMEs and will be developed in consultation with the CGC .
PROJECT SELECTION
Experts , from industry , research organisations and universities , familiar with
the research needs of industry will assist the Commission in the selection of
projects for funding .      Those projects satisfying the eligibility criteria
related to conformance with the technical themes , composition of partnerships ,
and project size will be judged on the basis of the relevance of the project
to advancing industrial performance and to the technical quality and degree of
innovation .    Project partners should include those who are able to follow
through the results into industrial exploitation .
A particular welcome will be given to projects which :
- encourage the wirier use of more advanced techniques , processes and materials
  associated with CADCAM , modelling , expert systems , etc .; including those
  developed in other Community supported Programmes such as ESPRIT .
 ---pagebreak---                                            - 15 -
- establish links between enterprises from different horizontal or vertical
  sectors , particularly bridging the customer-supplier interface ;
- exploit the capacity of SMEs to provide innovative solutions to technical
  problems and also open up advanced technology for more effective use by
  SMEs ;
- aim to exploit a potential market opportunity which will                 arise from
  advancing the development of new standards or other codes of practice
  including those which might be associated with environmental or safety
  considerations ;
- aim to develop a level of human interaction with the manufacturing system or
  process which best serves and extends man 's creative and intellectual
  abilities and capacity , while taking away the tedium and drudgery of
  repetitive or undesirable tasks .
RELATED EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES
Links with complementary EC programmes are aimed at avoiding gaps and avoiding
unnecessary overlaps .           For example , some of the technical areas         are
complementary to parts of the work programme for the second phase of the
ESPRIT programme .          However , the primary objectives and scope of the
programmes are very different .            Links between the programme managers will
encourage the wider use of appropriate deliverables from ESPRIT, such as
advanced manufacturing systems approaches , within projects .               Of course ,
proposals which fall clearly within ESPRIT will not be considered within the
new programme . In the reverse direction it is anticipated that the wide
sectorial coverage within the new programme would provide a valuable input
into the periodic redefinition of the ESPRIT Work Programme .            There will be
similar exchanges of information with the BCR , ECSC Steel Research , and SPRINT
Programmes and with appropriate COST actions .           Links will also be maintained
with appropriate JRC activities .           Care will also be taken to ensure that the
envisaged Aeronautical , ENERGY and TELEMAN Programmes take into account the
scope of BRITE / EURAM .
In the important area of high critical temperature superconductivity ,             the
programme   will , together with other Community programmes igcluding ESPRIT and
SCIENCE form part of the Community Superconductivity Action0
Recognising that successful innovation and its implementation depends on
appropriately trained and experienced people , links with the SCIENCE Plan and
the COMETT programme and related actions will aim to develop the scope for
increasing the human transfer of technology within the new programme and this
will include grants for students undertaking work related to the themes of the
programme .
In addition to exchanging information at the stage of programme definition and
setting of priority themes , unnecessary overlaps between programmes will also
be avoided by involving teams from other programmes in the selection process
itself .
There will also be a continuing exchange with the EUREKA Programme and this
will include initiatives such as joint workshops .              This will be aimed at
accelerating the path of innovative RSD into the market place . Projects within
the new programme         could be     regarded as   establishing the ore-competitive
7
  OJ No . C 1 24 , 11 . A. 1988 , p. 6
 ---pagebreak---                                     16 -
deliverables which might be taken to the market place within EUREKA . Contacts
would continue to be encouraged between participants in similar technical
areas .
PROGRAMME EVALUATION
In the third year the programme will be evaluated by an independent group of
experts . The cost of this evaluation will be approximately 400,000 ECU .
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 17 -
                                                                              ANNEX A
                        TECHNICAL AREAS FOR THE NEW PROGRAMME
                          1 . ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
The   work   in  this   area wilt     focus  on   the development ,   processing and
application of improved or new materials and material processing . In addition
to materials and composites based on metals , polymers and non-metatlic
materials , the work will cover materials for a range of specialised
applications . Among the wide range of possible applications of these new
materials , some are directly related to IT and are therefore excluded from
this programme .     Developments of materials already covered by ESPRIT are , for
instance , dealing with magnetic , magneto-optical , optical thin films for
sensors , recording media and heads , optical layers and specific materials for
opto-electronics ,     ceramics and polymers for IC packaging and specific
substrates , superconducting thin films for low current applications and
devices .
1.1 . METALLIC MATERIALS AND METALLIC MATRIX COMPOSITES
For metallic materials , including metallic based composites , advances in
processing and alloying technologies have considerably widened the design
scope . For example , castings can now be made to high accuracy and are used in
critical fatigue loaded applications in ways that were not considered possible
10 years ago . The potential of metal matrix composites is in the early stages
of realisation and they are already demonstrated as ceramic reinforced light
alloy pistons .      A   major challenge is to establish confidence in the new
materials and improve processing techniques of these and more established
materials so as to bring production costs to competitive levels .
A particular focus of this class of materials is in those industries where
improved materials can be exploited by designers to secure the reduction in
operating and maintenance costs ,       including savings in energy ,   necessary for
success in the market place .
Up to now most      structural materials have been homogeneous metallics and
alloys .     Increasingly , anisotropic materials using various strengthening
techniques such as particles or fibre reinforcement will be required to meet
the exacting requirements of the designer .           The optimised approach demands
that the material is designed alongside the specific component and matched to
the appropriate manufacturing process .
Goals
- Extended working life of components
- Higher operating temperatures for increased thermal efficiency
- Getter and more effective material processing techniques
1.2    MATERIALS   FOR   MAGNETIC ,     OPTICAL ,   ELECTRICAL   AND  SUPERCONDUCTING
      APPLICATIONS
These materials     are crucial     to advances    in a   wide range of   industries .
Magnetic materials , for example , play an indispensable part in the electrical
and computer industries .        The value of their annual production worldwide is
annroximately 5 billion ECU .         There is considerable scope for developments
which permit effective and economical exploitation as ,                 for example ,
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 18 -
polymer-bonded anisotropic permanent magnets or massive segments of metallic
glass for applications such as electric motors , security systems , ore
separation , medical equipment and magnetic levitation for transport .
Optical    materials     are of   major    importance   particularly    for   optical
communication in a wide range of applications such as laser beam delivery
systems .     New materials are emerging which have the prospect of reducing
signal attenuation .
Among materials for electrical applications are those for electrochemical
devices .     Improved materials based on solid state ionics are needed as the
basis for a new generation of batteries and fuel cells .
The discovery of high temperature superconductor materials aroused worldwide
interest and is expected to have a great impact in the medium and longer term
on most of the high technology industry sectors , particularly in component
design for reduced energy consumption .       However , many basic problems remain
unsolved .      The industrial breakthroughs will not be achieved without a
systematic investigation of the operating mechanism and engineering problems .
Goal
-   Improved materials and materials processing           for  optical ,    magnetic ,
   electrical and superconducting applications
1.3   HIGH TEMPERATURE NON-METALLIC MATERIALS
There are estimates that the v/orld market for engineering ceramics , including
special glasses and amorphous materials , will be some 12 billion ECU within a
few years .      It is expected that the demand will be evenly divided between
electro-ceramics and structural ceramics . The demand is increasing for high
temperature materials that can also take structural loads needed to contain
the processes now being used in the materials and chemical processing
industries .     They are also needed in the power generation , energy conversion
and motive power industries instead of metals so that the energy losses due to
cooling are minimized, more efficient high temperature combustion can be used
and combustion products produce as little pollution as possible . In contrast
to the US and Japan , the European share of today 's activity is very low .        The
large potential of this class of materials depends on solving some difficult
problems .      In speciality powders , such as whiskers , there are supply
difficulties within Europe .      If this technology is to meet the user 's needs ,
there will be a requirement for closer links with powder producers .
There are still many basic problems . There is a very limited understanding of
the most appropriate structure , such as the optimum spectrum of grain, size ,
for a particular application .       Large scale manufacture of advanced ceramics
can introduce pollution issues , considering that there may be some 40% of
organic additive to be burnt off in some processing steps .          Not only is it
difficult    to   control the process to     achieve desired   levels of    porosity ,
particularly in products designed with variable porosity , but there are also
problems in quality assurance , both            in establishing that the desired
structure is achieved and also that it is       defect free .
The potential application goes a long way in defining a ceramic and so there
must always he close user involvement .        Similarly , there is a need for the
manufacturing process to reflect properly the characteristics of ceramics .
Too often the equipment used is a modified version of what is used in other
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 19 -
applications , for example ,      in traditional ceramics ( slip casting ) or even
plastics injection moulding .       New equipment specially designed for processing
advanced ceramics will be required .
Finish machining of ceramics is not easy but even with near-net shape forming
it is often necessary .       Though an important aspect of ceramics technology ,
Europe is currently behind its major competitors .
Goals
- Design methodologies for products based on ceramics ,       glasses and amorphous
   materials
- Improved monolithic and ceramic composites and metal / ceramic interfaces for
   industrial applications
- Better processing techniques and quality control strategies .
1.4    POLYMERS AND ORGANIC MATRIX COMPOSITES
The world polymer market is of the order of 120 billion ECU, of which
engineering polymers , including polymer matrix composites , amount to 5 billion
ECU .     Europe is a net importer of engineering polymers .      The US with 70% of
the world production and Japan with 10% are increasing market share at the
expense of Europe with 10-15% .       Europe has been slow to respond to the trends
of general purpose materials replaced by functional materials .            There are
major opportunities for Europe to respond in specific applications .
Set in the context of 815000 tons as          the  US market  for   fibre reinforced
thermosets in 1986 ,    the US market for high performance composites is expected
to be 10,000 tons within 5 years .         Currently the market for these advanced
materials is limited and mostly in the US because of the aerospace dependance .
Growth will come from cheaper applications .        For example , in automobiles or
construction where materials have to be , typically, an order of magnitude less
expensive per kilogram than for aerospace .
The polymer industry is characterised by large suppliers of raw materials ,
equipment manufacturers ( tending towards medium sized units of larger groups
supplying injection moulding machinery or extruders ),              specialist SNEs
manufacturing moulds , or handling equipment or polymer finishing , and SMEs as
component suppliers .       There is however a tendency for the machinery
manufacturers to restructure into larger groups and also for the major users
to process more of the polymers themselves .
The availability of new polymers components with specific properties is a
serious consideration in the lead time of new products . Modelling should help
and is already being used in mould design and extrusion dies for simpler
components but it is not yet capable of dealing with the moulding process for
complex parts ,      and anisotropic shrinkage in injection moulding without
excessive computing costs .
The major problems limiting the applications of polymer composites to motor
vehicles - springs , suspension , drive shafts - include the need for more
economic process techniques for composites made from long fibre thermosets
and / or thermoplastics and joining composites to other components .
Moving to greater use of polymers in consumer products puts more emphasis on
environmental considerat ion , particularly when there are some 7000 types of
polymer in circulation .       The scope for recycling should be included in the
r.oeci f icatinn for new polymers .
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 20 -
Goals
- Development of polymers for specific applications
- "ore cost effective process techniques for parts made from          polymer and
  polymer matrix composites
- Design rules for the specification and manufacture of engineering polymers
  and composites
- New polymers with improved recycling attributes
- Improved product assurance techniques
1.5   MATERIALS FOR SPECIALISED APPLICATIONS
There are classes of materials whose development is dominated by a single area
of application .      These will relate to either established or emerging
opportunities .
New and improved materials are essential to the packaging industry which is of
major economic and technical significance and had an annual turnover in the
Community of about 30 billion ECU in 1984 employing about 1 million people .
Packaging 'systems' are vital elements of preservation and product security
'systems' in a range of market sectors such as the food , pharmaceutical and
paint industries .     Innovation in this fragmented industry is essential to
respond to rapidly changing market requirements focussed on the competitive
edge of a customers' products .      The material and its processing route must
meet a novel combination of properties - strength , heat resistance , barriers
to gases , liquids and micro-organisms - for the product and short lead times
for the process .
For the time being biomaterials for which there is a growing world market have
emerged as being of special interest for the Community .        For example , the
world market for joint prostheses in 1985 was 700 mio ECU and is expected to
be more than double at 1500 mio ECU by 1989 . In contrast to the US and Japan ,
biomaterial products emerge from a large number of small companies in Europe .
They cannot afford the research investment to secure European competitiveness
in this field .    Nevertheless , the European market is sufficiently large to
provide a good demand base .    Its development requires effective collaboration
between industry , the clinics and research expertise in universities and
research organisations . Areas of potential application include bone and joint
replacement , osteosyrvthesis materials , dental implants , drug delivery systems
and catheters and materials in direct blood contact ,            non thrombogenic
materials , and organ replacement materials .
Other   materials  which  will  be  considered will  include   the  more  advanced
materials for the building and civil engineering industry .
Goâ L
- Improved materials and their processing for specialised applications
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 21
           2 . DESIGN KETHODOLOGY AND ASSURANCE OF PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES
The development of techniques to improve product quality and the reliability
and maintainability of structures , and manufacturing systems by clarification
of the design aims for both product and process , and by refinement of the
criteria against which the attributes are measured .              The exploitation of
materials for sensors , and the reduction in the whole life costs of sensors
are also included in this section .       This will complement work in Community IT
programmes v/here on-line control is treated, including monitoring and
diagnostics , prédictive maintenance and quality assurance .
2.1 QUALITY, RELIABILITY AND MAINTAINABILITY IN INDUSTRY
The costs relating to total quality have been estimated in one of the Member
States to be some 10% of GNP and can typically range from 5 - 25% of company
turnover .      These costs are often unmeasured and hence uncontrolled , but it is
estimated that it would not be difficult to make a reduction by 70% of their
present level through better management and control .
The costs of quality are related to the imperfections and also costs of
process and product assurance .        A major task is to reduce the imperfection
rate while reducing the assurance costs .              BRITE / EURAM will contribute
improvements in product quality and in the reliability and maintainability of
manufacturing systems by clarification of the design aims for both , and by
refinement of the criteria against which these attributes are measured .           It
will thus complement work in ESPRIT, where on-line control is treated ,
including monitoring and diagnostics , predictive maintenance and quality
assurance .
However , in a world moving to low inventory or Just In Time ( JIT ) manufacture ,
the requirements for reliability and maintainability are growing more
stringent .      Work is needed to ensure that all elements of the process perform
reliably , because their availability has become more critical with more high
capital based integrated manufacturing systems .               However , due to the
irregularity or short cycle nature operations in these sectors , there are
problems in determining the physical characterisitics of the process which can
be the basis of condition monitoring systems , such as those being developed in
ESPRIT .
Goals
- Improved performance measurement for manufacturing operations in a wide
  variety of industries
-  Improved and more predictable physical and environmental behaviour of
  products
- Improved quality control strategies
- Design rules for reliability and maintainability of components , structures
  and systems including machinery operating under varying conditions
2.2 PROCESS AND PRODUCT ASSURANCE
In many sectors there has been a concern expressed over limitations of
available process control and the means by which the product specified is
assured .      The control of processes may be limited by the understanding of the
nrocess itself as in powder atomisation , or the availability of sensors to
measure and enable real time corrections to be made as in metal cutting or
meat processing .       In product assurance - non destructive evaluation - there
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 22 -
are many problems in establishing the presence of significant defects such as
might affect safe use as in ceramics for aero engine components , or customer
satisfaction as in textiles .
Sensors are key elements in controlling any process and their importance
increases with scale and flexibility of the systems they are operating within .
The exploitation of materials for application in sensors , and the reduction in
the whole life costs of sensors are key objectives towards better
competiti viness .   However , the development of small area and large area
sensors , with built-in or chip signal .processing , based on microelectronic
related technologies , is covered by ESPRIT .
A promising area appears to be fibre optics sensors .       Potentially they are
cheap ,  attractive and capable of detecting many variables within hostile
environments   including  electromagnetic    fields .   There  can be problems ,
particularly when more than one variable changes .      This is a new technology
which is expected to be particularly suitable for measuring distance and
liquid levels , and for fire detection .
The areas of testing , detection and inspection are well illustrated by the
developing technology of optical engineering . This has a number of very
attractive and industrially significant applications .     However , in almost all
cases applied R&D , and even some more fundamental work , is required before
wide cost-effective operation is achieved .
As a technology holography is capable of meeting the motor industry 's needs
for tyre examination where current tests are inadequate . However , the process
is currently too slow and too expensive . There would be many applications for
structural and vibration testing if a breakthrough allowed the process to be
easily operated by a technician .
An outstanding technical problem for manufacturing industry is that many
precision manufacturing machines can work to a greater accuracy and rate than
the measurement capability which is typically manual .     Contactless in-situ 3D
measurement and vision systems , such as those developed in other Community
programmes , are attractive tools to overcome the problems to solve most of the
weaknesses in tracking technology .       Therefore the use of those innovative
systems for testing and monitoring of products and processes based , for
example , on ultrasonic measurement techniques must be a target of the
programme .
A further important aspect of control technology concerns power control
engineering , that is the ability to control the energy flow in industrial
processes and machines for speed or position as in electric motores used in
metal cutting machinery .     It is at the base of advances in automation in all
kinds of industry . Though there were strengths in the past , European and US
manufacturers are now losing market share against Japan .     It is essential for
the European manufacturers of process and production machinery to have access
to the most suitable technology .       Advancing this technology in Europe will
depend on close co-operation between producers and users exploiting advanced
materials and IT techniques .
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 23 -
Goals
- Reduction of whole life costs of sensor systems for process control
- Exploitation of materials properties for applications in sensors
- Use of advanced measurement techniques for more cost effective examination
  of topology
- Improved energy control for industrial applications
- Improved non destructive testing methods for product assurance
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 24 -
                   3 . APPLICATION OF MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES
In this area the task is to identify and address the needs of manufacturing
industry and particularly the less advanced sectors , many of which have a
major part made up of SMEs .     It is to be expected that modelling of physical
processes will be a valuable instrument for progress .       Also addressed is the
challenge to the industries based on the use of flexible materials . . Overall
the work will mainly focus on product and process development transferring
and adapting technology already used in other sectors . This should complement
work in ESPRIT where IT systems for advanced manufacturing and CIM are being
developed .
3.1 ADVANCING MANUFACTURING PRACTICES
There is a need to apply the principles of the best manufacturing practices
already established in the leading sectors to others which have been slow to
exploit the benefits that can be obtained in terms of business performance .
Those sectors most likely to gain will include a high proportion of SMEs and
have    limited  research  and  development   capabilities  themselves   and so be
dependent on the expertise and experience of other sectors .
The challenge is to identify common opportunities relevant to a significant
number of companies in the Community and then , in conjunction with those
having relevant expertise and experience ,          to develop the manufacturing
processes which will enable them to improve the services they give their
customers .
Modelling is essential in many areas of interest to estabished industries ,
such as the filling of complex injection moulds , particle formation in
atomisers , positioning of sensors in condition monitoring systems , noise
generation in machinery or the design of composite materials . However ,
modelling projects can only be justified in applied RRD when their application
would be used as an effective industrial tool .
Goals
- Identifying means for improving manufacturing practices in specific sectors
- Transfer and adaptation of technology already used in other sectors
3.2 MANUFACTURING PROCESSES FOR FLEXIBLE MATERIALS
This activity addresses the challenge to the industries based on the
processing and use of flexible materials including textiles , leather , non
woven products , composites and packaging materials . Their importance is well
illustrated by the Community 's textile and leather related industries where
some 3.5 million people are employed .
The clothing industry illustrates the problems of these industries .            Its
manufacturing processes deliver very large batches of similar products , hut
often at a price not competitive with the rest of the world .        The long runs ,
high stocks and long lead times are no longer applicable to today 's markets
where the competition is worldwide .        Clothing retailers have to be able to
carry the right amount of the latest style .        Mo longer is it acceptable to
have the lead tines of 6 months or even longer characteristic of many of
today 's clothing manufacturers , to go from design through selection of fabric ,
cut t in'-, assembly and batch oreparation .    Uncertainties associated with long
lead times result in considerable waste at all stages of the process ,         from
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 25 -
ordering of too much raw material , through high work in progress to unsold
 stocks of finished goods .    The challenge for the textile suppliers is to
provide short delivery of small batches having reproducible dyes , finishes and
properties .
 In the clothing industry about 80% of production comes from SMEs ,     many of
which have limited technical capabilities .        The transfer and further
development of technology already used in other sectors is seen as an
important means of meeting their needs .       Where appropriate ,    prototype
developments might be demonstrated to potential users to keep them informed of
emerging technologies .
Though the clothing industry has been used to illustrate the R&D
opportunities , there is much in common with other , but quite different ,
applications in the physical processes involving flexible materials used in
the     packaging ,  meat processing and composite material manufacturing
industries .
Goals
- Increased process flexibility
- Reduce waste of material
- To improve process and product quality
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 26 -
                    4 . TECHNOLOGIES FOR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
Improved techniques for shaping , joining and assembly, surface treatment ,
chemical processes and particle technology are fundamental needs for industry .
Advancement of these processes is essential for securing manufacturing
competitiveness .
4.1 SURFACE TECHNIQUES
Surface treatments vary considerably in nature and are applied across industry
to a very wide range of materials for a wide variety of reasons , including
improving resistance to wear , corrosion and high temperatures . In the case of
corrosion it has been estimated that the costs of its prevention and effects
amount to about 4% of Gross National Product in industrial countries .       Similar
figures can be given for wear .       Such information indicates the scale of the
problem ,    although the scope for cost-effective amelioration may be
considerably less .
In almost all surface treatment systems ,          quality assurance , condition
monitoring in service and control of the treatment process are very weak
areas .    For example , there are no satisfactory tests for the adhesion of
coatings or coating quality in general .             Because of the variety of
applications , materials and environments , research work on a surface system
has to be applications driven and recognise that there can be major problems
in scaling up laboratory scale techniques .
The selection of the best system should be assisted by the increasing emphasis
on the understanding of the degradation of materials . This requires the
synergistic appreciation of environmental , stress and ageing issues . With a
better understanding of the way in which surface systems behave , it should be
possible to model systems to optimise selection .       With some exceptions , such
as in parts of the process industry , it is unlikely that existing knowledge is
sufficiently complete to support the use of expert systems which would bring
enough benefit to others to justify their development costs .         Development of
such a knowledge here , but not the mere collection of data , should be a
further topic for development .
Overall this is an area where collaboration is needed to bring complementary
expertise together and to ensure that equipment suppliers and users , which
include many SMEs , are able to integrate the different technologies into
cost-effective applications making use , as appropriate , of the advanced
information handling technologies developed elsewhere .
Goals
- Cost-effective surface treatments for industrial applications
- Techniques    for quality assurance and control    of   the treatment process
4.2 SHAPING , ASSEMBLY AND JOINING
Technologies for shaping ,         assembly and joining are fundamental to
manufacturing industry .       Many of these technologies are regarded as mature
with scope for development being limited to changes necessary for their
incorporation into computer integrated manufacturing systems .        However , ever
increasing demands for inproved performance including high precision and
faster operation ,     and the availability of more advanced materials both to be
treated and also for use in the treatment process ,          challenge conventional
practice .
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 27 -
As the programme progresses the need to improve methodologies for shaping
processes and assembly will be developed .     For this purpose shaping is taken
to mean component processing techniques including forging , moulding and
cutting and particularly those approaching near net shape .
In the area of joining , besides meeting more stringent technical requirements ,
an overriding priority is to reduce fabrication costs in all the major
industrial areas , e.g. power generation , process plant , petro chemical ,
offshore hydrocarbon extraction ,         transportation,    civil engineering ,
automobiles and construction plant .     For example , manual metal arc welding ,
whilst offering considerable flexibility and tolerance in use , has low
productivity and is being progressively replaced in many applications by
alternative and particularly more automated processes such as those being
developed in ESPRIT which include seam tracking , adaptive control and sensing
when geometrical changes occur in the joint . These technologies are equally
applicable to adhesive bonding .
Adhesive bonding , in addition to providing an alternative to welding, has
opened up new approaches to joining , particularly suited to the assembly stage
and the joining of dissimilar materials .        Improvements in the speed and
control of curing , together with wider operating temperature ranges would be
welcome .
An associated problem to joining is the limited reliability of the non
destructive inspection methods used to evaluate the weld soundness and its
behaviour in service , an area where physical principles require development to
allow better reliability of results and service predictability .
In certain manufacturing industries , where there is a large throughput of
repetitive fabrication , the use of friction welding or the power beam
processes such as electron beam and laser may be practicable and economic but
their inflexibility ,     high capital costs and often poor stability and
reliability outweigh their general use .
In the case of laser systems for materials processing , the laser itself is of
low efficiency and often there is poor conversion efficiency at the workpiece
where there is little understanding of the interaction of the beam with the
target .
Lasers are suited to a limited range of applications and it is important that
research reflects their needs .    This will pull together the eventual users -
to ensure that a cost-effective solution can emerge - with potential
manufacturers and the reservoirs of expertise in research organisations .
Goals
- Imoroved methoriolooies for shaping processes and assembly
- Improved joining techniques to improve reliability and reduce defect levels
- i'-'.ethods for testing welded and bonded joints to improve reliability of
  results and service predictabi lity
- Resign methodology for joining
- Retter understanding of beam / workpiece interactions for industrial power
  beam processes
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 28 -
A. 3 CHEMICAL PROCESSES
There are many aspects underpinning the effectiveness and usefulness of
chemical manufacture which will only result if there is collaboration between
chemical manufacturers , users and suppliers of new technology or expertise .
Improved predictability of chemical reactions           will help in optimising
specificity, safety and energy conservation . This      is a vital area where tools
can be of wide applicabi lity but where , as in          the case of chemical and
electrochemical sensors , the European industry is      under considerable pressure
from Japan and the USA .
The effectiveness of many chemical reactions depends on the use of catalysts .
The supply is generally local and Europe is generally strong but needs to
maintain and improve its position . Most catalysts are of high specificity and
so their development is generally inappropriate for collaborative research .
There are , however , basic problems related to the performance of catalysts
such as poisoning which , if solved , would underpin the competitive edge of the
European catalyst manufacturers and users .
Separation technologies are vital elements of many industrial processes .        In
addition to opportunities to develop operating efficiency , the incentive for
new technology in this area may come from a cost effective response to
environmental pressures such as those associated with effluent control . Though
many separation processes are of importance , membrane technology is currently
identified as having a particular potential for development .
In the face of strong competition , Europe has been slipping behind in membrane
innovation .    In terms of installed capacity , desalination is by far the
largest application area .        The size of the world market for membranes is
estimated to be about 400 mio ECU / year .     This is likely to grow significantly
in the future as new applications for membranes are identified , such as gas
filtration .
Mew membranes are very expensive to develop and , for some types , can typically
take up to 10 years . Few users are willing to make such an investment ,         so
development is left to the membrane makers .        Many of these are unwilling to
make such long term and high risk investments . Development tends to be highly
experimental reflecting the poorly categorised media to be processed and the
very limited understanding of membrane separation processes .
Membrane processes often have to trade off separation efficiency against flux
rate .    Rarely does a membrane behave in the anticipated way and fouling
problems can severely limit life .       There is considerable scope for optimising
the design of the membrane systems , such as to enhancing turbulence at the
membrane surface and also techniques to inhibit fouling .
Goals
- Improved predi ctabi l i ty and yield in chemical processes
- Membrane materials with improved characteristics
- Improved performance of membrane nrocesses
- Mew systems for separation in hostile environments
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 29 -
4.4 PARTICLE AND POWDER PROCESSES
Particles , whether in the form of powders , dusts , gaseous or suspensions , or
porous media , are found in almost every area of manufacturing industry .
Problems with their production , separation , stability and categorisation limit
their application in both quality and quantity , such that alternative and much
more expensive solutions have to be employed .
In general , the Japanese are in the lead on the novel approaches to particle
production and application .    Europe , like the US , has its strengths but has
not been so good at bringing together complementary expertise to tackle common
problems .    There is a need to bring together the complementary expertise from
the different interests - the material suppliers , the users , the instrument
makers ( often small specialists ), the process plant manufacturers and the
innovators from universities and research organisations .
There is a series of common problems which are found in many very different
narticle systems and these include the inability to fully categorise particles
- not only in-process but also for batch sampling .           There is also poor
efficiency and size control within many conventional processes - such as
milling and classification .    There are also many problems in maintaining even
flow and distribution     in the  flow of powders     and suspensions .     Serious
difficulties also arise when separating suspensions , particularly at high
temperatures or when the medium is of high viscosity .          In contrast , the
improved stability of colloids ,          including micro-emulsions ,     would be
advantageous in many sectors .
The scale of the powder technology industry is illustrated by the level of
production in the US - about 270,000 tonnes ( of which 200,000 tonnes is
stainless steel ) per year valued , in parts and products , at about 2 billion
ECU .    Japan and Europe produce about 1 billion ECU each . The value is
illustrated by the value of steel semi-finished powder and metallurgical
components being between 20-50 ECU / kilo , while ceramic powder parts can cost
2000 ECU / kilo .
Overall it is an area where international competition is very strong , driven
in part by the requirements and spin-offs , such as vacuum technology , from the
space programmes .     Though not in the lead overall , Europe has strengths in
some   process areas .
There are a number of areas ,    such as aero and    automative engines ,  magnets ,
tools steels and electronic materials ,     where advanced powder materials could
meet industrial requirements ,    though in each the technology is limiting the
achievement of potential benefits .
E'etter products will come from improvements in     powders and their processing .
There is sufficient understanding of the powder    categorisation and the physics
and chemistry of the processes involved but , to   date , there has been a limited
amplication of modelling techniques to address       the problems .   It is likely
that modelling techniques could assist in improving the performance of powder
production ( for example , the yield of atomisers is typically around 60% ),
pressure transmission in compaction , and sintering . The high capital cost of
nowder production and processing equipment makes the need for an improved
understandino of the processes necessary .
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 30 -
For the future ,     the competitive edge will reflect advances in process
techniques to supply and compact smaller quantities of high quality powder .
Movement   in  this direction  would  allow   smaller  companies  to exploit  the
potential of powder technology .
Goals
-  Improved techniques for particle production to optimise product shape ,
  structure and stability
- Cost-ef fecti ve  techniques   for    particle   catégorisation   and   process
  performance
- Better approaches to handling and separation
- Cost effective routes for small lots of high quality powder
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 31
                                                                          ANNEX B
          OPINION OF THE MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
                               ON INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
After having examined and discussed in depth the draft communication from the
Commission     to the   Council   and   to Parliament  concerning a Research and
Technological Development Programme of the EEC in the fields of industrial
manufacturing technologies and advanced materials application ( BRITE / EURAM )
( 1989-1992 ) / dated 3 May 1988 ( CGC-IT/88/ 20) ;
After having been informed of the preliminary conclusions and recommendations
expressed by the panel of external experts in charge of the evaluation of the
on-noing BRITE programme ( 1985-1988 );
The Management and Coordination Advisory Committee on Industrial Technology
delivered the following opinions and suggestions at its meeting on 30 May
1988 .
The Committee having had a joint meeting with the CGC - Raw Materials and
Other Materials :
- subscribes to the general approach proposed for the new programme and
   recognises the relevance of the objectives set out in it , in particular
   subscribes to the importance of the possibility of inclusion of Focussed
   Fundamental Research in all areas of the programme ;
- approves the scientific and technical content of the new programme , which
   comprises four technical areas : advanced materials technologies , design and
   assurance of products and processes , manufacturing systems and technologies
   for manufacturing processes ;
    recommends that the draft programme be approved and adopted by the
   Commission in good time for the Council decision to be taken within the
   deadline needed for its implementation from 1 January 1989 ;
- recommends that 500 mio ECU should be made available for the implementation
   of the programme .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 32 -
                                                                                  ANNEX C
                 OPINION OF C6C RAW MATERIALS AND OTHER MATERIALS
After having examined and discussed in depth the draft communication from the
Commission to the Council and to the Parliament concerning a Resarch and
Technological Development Programme of the EEC in the fields of industrial
manufacturing technologies and advanced materials application ( BRITE / EURAM )
( 1989-1992 ), dated 3 flay 1938 ( CGC-IT / 88 / 20 ) ;
After having been informed of the preliminary conclusions and recommendations
expressed by the panel of external experts in charge of the evaluation of the
on-going BRITE ( 1985-1988 ) and EURAM ( 1986-1989 ) Programmes ;
The Management and Coordination Advisory Committee on Raw Materials and Other
Materials delivered the following opinion and suggestions at its meeting on 30
May 1988 .
The Committee , having had a joint meeting with the CGC-Industrial Technology :
- subscribes to the general approach proposed for the new programme and
   recognises the relevance of the objectives set out in it ;
- approves in general the scientific and technical content of the new
   programme , which comprises four technical areas : advanced materials , design
   and assurance of products and processes ,                 manufacturing systems and
   technologies for manufacturing processes ;
- recommends that the Commission , after consultation with the CGC , should take
   into  account  the  conclusions   of   the     above mentioned evaluations      in the
   implementation of the programme ;
- recommends that the amount set aside for focussed fundamental research could
   be increased to as much as 20% of the total budget in each research area
   when it appears necessary , for progress to be made ;
- recommends tht the Commission be flexible in its approach to modalities so
   that the programme will be seen as dynamic and capable of adapting to meet
   the changing needs of the Community .                It further recommends that the
   CGC-Materials be consulted at regular intervals in this regard ;
- recommends that the BRITE / EURAM Programme should not overlap with other
   Community programmes and , in particular , with ESPRIT and SCIENCE in the area
   of superconductivity ;
- recommends that a minimum of 500 mio ECU should be made available for the
   implementation of the programme ;
    recommends that the draft programme              be   approved  and adopted   by  the
Commission in good time for the Council decision to be taken within the
   deadlines needed for its implementation from 1 January 1989 .
A majority of the delegations of the CGC recommended that the participation of
universities and    similar organisations         in any     project of the BRITE / EURAM
Programme should be financed up to 100% of their marginal costs .
The CGC welcomes the technical balance of the programme .               It notes that the
Commission proposes to strengthen the proposal by reference to the technical
comments of the CGC .
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 33
                                    Forslag til
                                RÅDETS BESLUTNING
          om et særprogram for forskning og teknologisk udvikling
               i Det Europæiske Økonomiske Fællesskab inden for
                    industrielle produktionsteknologier og
              anvendelse af avancerede materialer ( BRITE / EURAM )
                                  < 1989 - 1992 )
RÅDET FOR DE EUROPÆISKE FÆLLESSKABER HAR -
under henvisning til Traktaten om Oprettelse af Det Europæiske Økonomiske
Fællesskab, særlig artikel 130 Q, stk . 2,
under henvisning til forslag fra Kommissionen ( 1 ),
i samarbejde med Europa-Parlamentet ( 2),
under henvisning til udtalelse fra Det Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalg ( 3 ), og
ud fra følgende betragtninger :
Ifølge Traktatens artikel 130 K skal rammeprogrammet iværksættes ved hjælp af
særprogrammer , der udarbejdes i forbindelse med hver enkelt foranstaltning;
ved afgørelse 87 / 516/ EURATOM, EØF ( 4 ) vedtog Ridet rammeprogrammet for Fælles¬
skabets aktioner inden for forskning og teknologisk udvikling ( 1987-1991 ),
hvori der er fastsat videnskabelige og teknologiske aktiviteter i forbindelse
med fabriksindustri og avancerede materialer ; ifølge nævnte afgørelse om ram¬
meprogrammet for Fællesskabets aktioner inden for forskning og teknologisk
udvikling skal et af de særlige mil for Fællesskabets forskning være at styrke
den europæiske industris videnskabelige og teknologiske grundlag og fremme
dens konkurrenceevne pi internationalt plan, slledes at en fællesskabsaktion
er berettiget , nir forskningen bl.a . bidrager til at styrke Fællesskabets øko¬
nomiske og sociale samhørighed og fremmer dets harmoniske udvikling i alminde¬
lighed, samtidig med at kravet om videnskabelig og teknisk kvalitet overholdes ;
BRITE / EURAM-programmet skal bidrage til disse miisætningers opfyldelse;
ved afgørelse 85 / 196/ EØF ( 5 ) vedtog Ridet det første flerlrige forsknings- og
udviklingsprogram for Det Europæiske Økonomiske Fællesskab vedrørende teknisk
grundforskning og anvendelse af nye teknologier ( BRITE, 1985-1988);
(1 ) EFT nr .
( 2) EFT nr .
( 3) EFT nr .
(4)  EFT nr .  L 302 af 24.10.1987, s . 1 .
( 5) EFT nr .  L 83 af 25.3.1985 , s . 8 .
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 34 -
ved afgørelse 86/ 235 / EØF ( 6 ) vedtog Rådet et forskningsprogram vedrørende
materialer ( råstoffer og avancerede materialer ) ( 1986-1989);
den interesse for tværnationalt samarbejde , som industrien har vist , kræver
en passende reaktion ;
de små og mellemstore virksomheder må i videst muligt omfang inddrages i den
industriteknologiske udvikling, ved at der tages hensyn til deres særlige
behov , samtidig med at programmets målsætninger med hensyn til videnskabelig
og teknisk kvalitet fastholdes ;
programmets industrielle og tværnationale karakter må understreges ved et
krav om , at projekter vedrørende anvendt forskning skal omfatte mindst to
industrielle partnere fra to forskellige medlemsstater ;
programmets industrielle karakter må sikres ved et krav om, at projekter ved¬
rørende koncentreret grundforskning gennemføres med industriel støtte fra
mindst to uafhængige virksomheder ;
hvis foretagender fra EFTA-landene på passende betingelser deltager i de in¬
dustrielt orienterede forsknings- og udviklingsprojekter , kan det bidrage til
fabriksindustriens konkurrencedygtighed i almindelighed ;
det er i Fællesskabets interesse at konsolidere den europæiske forsknings vi ¬
denskabelige og teknologiske grundlag ved i højere grad at inddrage EFTA-lan¬
dene i visse fællesskabsprogrammer , navnlig programmer , der indebærer samar¬
bejde om forskning i og udvikling af grundlæggende industriteknologier , her¬
under avancerede materialer ;
iværksættelse af samordnede aktioner inden for rammerne af COST er et nødven¬
digt supplement til de industrielt orienterede forsknings- og udviklingspro¬
jekter ;
Udvalget for Videnskabelig og Teknisk Forskning ( CREST ) er blevet hørt om
disse foranstaltninger -
VEDTAGET FØLGENDE BESLUTNING :
                                    Artikel 1
Et særprogram for forskning og teknologisk udvikling i Det Europæiske Økono¬
miske Fællesskab inden for industrielle produktionsteknologier og anvendelse
af avancerede materialer som angivet i bilag I vedtages for en fireårig pe¬
riode fra den 1 . januar 1989 .
                                    Artikel 2
Midlerne til programmets gennemførelse anslås til 439,5 mio ECU, iberegnet
personaleudgifter , der ikke må overstige 4,5% af Fællesskabets bidrag .
                                    Artikel 3
De nærmere regler for programmets gennemførelse samt satsen for Fællesskabets
finansielle deltagelse er anført i bilag II .
( 6 ) EFT nr . L 159 af 14.6.1986, s . 36 .
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 35 -
                                  Artikel 4
1 . I programmets tredje løbeir foretager Kommissionen en gennemgang af pro¬
     grammet og aflægger rapport om resultater heraf til Ridet og Europa-Par-
     lamentet ledsaget af eventuelle ændrings- eller forlængelsesforslag .
2 . Kommissionen foretager inden programmets udløb en vurdering af de opnåede
     resultater og aflægger rapport herom til Ridet og Europa-Parlamentet .
3 . Nævnte rapporter udarbejdes under hensyntagen til de i bilag III til denne
     beslutning anførte mil og skal være i overensstemmelse med rammeprogram¬
     mets artikel 2, stk . 2 .
                                  Artikel 5
1 . Kommissionen er ansvarlig for programmets gennemførelse og bistås ved dets
     iværksættelse af det ved Rådets afgørelse 84 / 338 / Euratom / EKSF / EØF ( 7) op¬
     rettede rådgivende udvalg for forvaltning og koordinering ( C6C ) af indu¬
     strielle teknologier .
2 . De af Kommissionen indgåede kontrakter skal angive parternes rettigheder
     og forpligtelser , herunder de nærmere bestemmelser for udbredelse , beskyt ¬
     telse og udnyttelse af forskningsresultaterne .
                                  Artikel 6
1 . Er der indgået rammeaftaler om videnskabelig og teknisk samarbejde mellem
     europæiske tredjelande og De Europæiske Fællesskaber , kan organisationer
     og virksomheder , der er etableret i disse lande, deltage som partnere i
     programmets projekter på betingelser , som fastsættes af Kommissionen . Det
     i artikel 5 nævnte udvalg bistår Kommissionen ved fastsættelsen af betin¬
     gelserne for de enkelte projekter .
2 . Kontrahenter , der er etableret uden for Fællesskabet , og som deltager som
     partnere i et af programmets projekter , kan ikke få del i de til program¬
     met afsatte fællesskabsmidler . Disse kontrahenter bidrager til de alminde¬
     lige administrationsudgifter .
                                  Artikel 7
Kommissionen sikrer , at der udvikles procedurer for samarbejde med COST-akti -
viteter, som berører de forskningsområder, programmet omfatter, gennem regel¬
mæssig udveksling af oplysninger mellem det i artikel 5 nævnte udvalg og det
pågældende COST-forvaltningsudvalg .
                                  Artikel 8
Denne beslutning er rettet til medlemsstaterne .
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles , den                          På Rådets vegne
                                                            Formand
( 7 ) EFT nr . L 177 af 4.7.1984, s . 25 .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 36 -
                                                                      BILAG I
                                 TEKNISK BILAG
1 . AVANCEREDE MATERIALETEKNOLOGIER
    Arbejdet på dette omride skal koncentrere sig om udvikling af forbedrede
    eller nye materialer og ny eller forbedret materialeforarbejdning i for¬
    bindelse med en lang række forskellige anvendelser , undtagen anvendelser
    med direkte tilknytning til informationsteknologi , som omfattes af ESPRIT ( 1 ).
    Det drejer sig nærmere betegnet om :
    1.1 . Metalliske materialer og kompositmaterialer med matellisk matrix
          Mål
          - udvidelse af komponenters brugstid
          - højere driftstemperaturer med henblik pi øget varmeef fekti vitet
          - bedre og mere effektive materialeforarbejdningsteknikker
    1.2 . Materialer til magnetiske , optiske , elektriske og superledende an¬
          vendelser
          Mil
          - forbedrede metarialer og forbedret materialeforarbejdning med henblik
            pi optiske , magnetiske , elektriske og superledende anvendelser
    1.3 . Ikke-metalliske højtemperaturmaterialer
          Mil
          - konstruktionsmetodologier for produkter , som er baseret pi keramik ,
            glas og amorfe materialer
          - forbedrede monolitiske og keramiske kompositmaterialer og metalliske /
            keramiske grænseflader til industrielle anvendelser
          - bedre procesteknikker og kvalitetskontrolstrategier
    1.4 . Polymerer og kompositmaterialer med organisk matrix
          Mil
          - udvikling af polymerer til særlige anvendelser
          - mere rentable procesteknikker til fremstilling af dele af polymerer
            og kompositmaterialer med polymer matrix
          - konstruktionsregler med henblik pi specifikation og fremstilling
            af tekniske polymerer og kompositmaterialer
          - nye polymerer med forbedrede genbrugsegenskaber
          - forbedrede produktsikkerhedsteknikker
    1 ) De materialeudviklinger , som allerede omfattes af ESPRIT , drejer sig
        f.eks . om magnetisk , magneto-optisk og optisk tyndfilm til sensorer ,
        optagemedier og tonehoveder , optiske lag og særlige materialer til
        opto-elektronik , keramik og polymerer til indfatning og særlige substrater
        til integrerede kredsløb og superledende tyndfilm til lavspændings ¬
        anvendelser og lavspændingsanordninger .
 ---pagebreak---                                - 37 -
1.5 . Materialer til særlige anvendelser
       Mil
      - Forbedrede materialer og forbedret forarbejdning af dem med henblik
         pi særlige anvendelser
2 . KONSTRUKTIONSMETODOLOGI SAMT PRODUKT- OG PROCESSIKKERHED
    Udvikling af teknikker , hvormed produkternes kvalitet samt struktu¬
    rernes og produktionssystemernes pilidelighed og holdbarhed kan forbedres,
    idet milene for konstruktion af produkter og processer klarlægges , og
    de kriterier , hvorefter deres egenskaber bedømmes gøres bedre . Dette
    afsnit omfatter ogsi udnyttelse af materialer til anvendelse af sensorer
    og nedsættelse af sensorernes levetidsomkostninger . Dette supplerer det
    arbejde , som udføres i forbindelse med Fællesskabets informationsteknolo¬
    giprogrammer , hvor man beskæftiger sig med on-line kontrol , herunder over-
    vigning og diagnostik , forudsigelig vedligeholdelse og kvalitetssikkerhed .
    Det drejer sig nærmere betegnet om :
    2.1 . Kvalitet , pilidelighed og vedligeholdelsesmulighed i industrien
           Mil
           - Forbedrede ydelsesmilinger af produktionsoperationer i en lang
             række forskellige industrier
           - Forbedrede og mere forudsigelige fysiske og miljømæssige produkt ¬
             egenskaber
           - Forbedrede kvalitetskontrolstrategier
           - Konstruktionsregler med henblik pi at gøre komponenter, strukturer
             og systemer, herunder maskindrift under forskellige forhold, pilide¬
             lige og holdbare .
    2.2 . Proces- og produktsikkerhed
           Mil
           - Nedsættelse af levetidsomkostnignerne i forbindelse med sensor¬
             systemer til processtyring
           - Udnyttelse af materialeegneskaber til anvendelse i sensorer
           - Udnyttelse af avancerede mileteknikker til mere rentable topologi ¬
             undersøgelser
           - Forbedret energistyring i forbindelse med industrielle anvendelser
           - Forbedrede i kke-destruktive testmetoder i forbindelse med produkt ¬
             sikkerhed .
     3 . ANVENDELSE AF PRODUKTIONSTEKNOLOGIER
         Opgaven bestir her i at konstatere og behandle fabriksindustriens behov,
         navnlig i de mindre udviklede sektorer , hvor størstedelen af virksomhe¬
         derne er smi eller mellemstore . Et vigtigt redskab for udviklingen
         forventes at blive modellering af fysiske processer . Ogsi problemerne
         i de industrier, som er baseret pi udnyttelse af felksible materialer,
         vil blive behandlet . Arbejdet kommer især til at dreje sig om produkt -
         og procesudvikling samt overførsel og tilpasning af teknologi , som
         allerede benyttes i andre sektorer , dette skal supplere arbejdet i
         ESPRIT, hvor man er i færd med at udvikle informationsteknologisystemer
         med henblik pi avanceret produktion og CIM .
 ---pagebreak---                                - 38 -
    Det drejer sig nærmere betegnet om :
    3.1 . Avancerede produktionsmetoder
          Mål
          - Udarbejdelse af fremgangsmåder , hvormed produktionsmetoderne i
            i bestemte sektorer kan forbedres
          - Overførsel og tilpasning af teknologi , som allerede benyttes i
            andre sektorer
    3.2 . Produktionsprocesser for fleksible materialer
          Mål
          - Øget procesfleksibilitet
          - Reduktion af materialetab
          - Forbedret proces - og produktkvalitet
4 . PR0DUKTI0NSPR0CESTEKN0L0GIER
    Forbedrede teknikker til formning , sammenføjning , samling , overflade¬
    behandling , kemisk forarbejdning og partikelteknologi hører til industriens
    grundlæggende behov . Udvikling af disse processer er afgørende for at sikre
    produktionens konkurrencedygtighed .
    Det drejer sig nærmere betegnet om :
    4.1 . Overf ladetekni kker
          Mil
          - Rentable overfladebehandlinger i forbindelse med industrielle
            anvendelser
          - Teknikker til kvalitetssikring og styring af behandlingsprocesser
    4.2 . Formning , samling og sammenføjning
          Mål
          - Forbedrede metodologier for formningsprocesser og samling
          - Forbedrede sammenføjningsteknikker med henblik på at forbedre
            pålideligheden og sænke fejlniveauet
          - Metoder til afprøvning af svejsede og sammenklæbede sammenføjninger
            for at forbedre resultatets pålidelighed og anvendelsesevnens
            forudsigelighed
          - Konstruktionsmetodologi med henblik på sammenføjning
          - Bedre forståelse af de gensidige påvirkninger mellem beam og
            arbejdsemne ved industrielle power beam processer
 ---pagebreak---                         - 39 -
4.3 . Kemiske processer
      Mil
      - Forbedret forudsigelighed og ydelse i forbindelse med kemiske
        processer
      - Membranmaterialer med forbedrede egenskaber
      - Forbedring af membranprocessers ydelse
      - Nye systemer for udskillelse i agressive omgivelser
4.4 . Partikel - og pulverprocesser
      Mil
      - Forbedrede teknikker i forbindelse med partikelfremstilling
        med henblik pi at give produktet den bedst mulige form , struktur
        og stabilitet
      - Rentable teknikker med henblik pi partikelklassificering og
        procesydelse
      - Bedre fremgangsmider i forbindelse med behandling og udskillelse
      - Rentable ruter for sml partier pulver af høj kvalitet
 ---pagebreak---                             - 40 -
                                                              BILAG II
                    GENNEMF0RELSESBESTEMMELSER
 Deltagerne kan være industrivirksomheder, forskningsinstitutter og
 universiteter med hjemsted i Fællesskabet . Fællesskabets bidrag over¬
 stiger normalt ikke 50% af de samlede udgifter , og resten stilles i
 princippet til rådighed af industriens deltagere . Til industriens del ¬
 tagere hører også forskningsinstitutter, som finansieres helt eller
 delvis af industrivirksomheder .
 Anvendt industri forskning
 Den vigtigste støtte til anvendt industri forskning på det prækonkurrence-
 mæssige trin ydes gennem aktioner ved omkostningsdeling . Betingelserne
 for deltagelse bliver , at mindst 50% af hvert projekt skal finansieres
 af partnere fra industrien , og at hvert projekt skal omfatte mindst to
 selvstændige industrivirksomheder fra forskellige medlemsstater . For
 at kunne klassificeres som selvstændige virksomheder skal forsknings ¬
 institutter normalt modtage de 50% , der påhviler industrien , som
 direkte betalinger fra udpegede virksomheder , der deltager i projekt ¬
 styringen .
 Da små og mellemstore virksomheder spille så vigtig en rolle for udvikling
 af Fællesskabets produktionsgrundlag , og da der er så mange fordele for¬
 bundet med deres deltagelse i programmet , overvejer Kommissionen sammen
 med IRDAC , hvorledes forskningsinstitutterne bedst kan opfylde de små
 og mellemstore virksomheders forsknings - og udviklingsbehov inden for
 programmet . Projekterne bør omfatte aktiviteter svarende til mindst
 10 mandår , der er det realistiske minimum for et effektivt samarbejds ¬
 projekt , og de samlede projektomkostninger bør ligge mellem 1 og 3 mio
 ECU . Multinationale selskabers   datterselskaber uden for Fællesskabet
 kan deltage , hvis forskning , udvikling og udnyttelse sker inden for
 Fællesskabet .
 Koncentreret grundforskning
Forskningsprojekter , der drejer sig om koncentreret grundforskning ,
skal omfatte mindst to partnere med hjemsted i forskellige medlems ¬
stater . Hvis partnerne er universiteter eller forskningsinstitutter ,
skal projektet godkendes af mindst to juridisk uafhængige industri ¬
virksomheder , og Fællesskabet kan afholde disse partneres grænseom¬
kostninger med indtil 100% .      Projekterne skal omfatte aktiviteter sva¬
rende til mindst 10 mandår, og de samlede projektomkostninger skal ligge
mellem 0,4 og 1 mio ECU .
Gennemførlighedstilskud til små og mellemstore virksomheder
Kommissionen har i sinde at indføre en forsøgsordning med gennemførligheds ¬
tilskud for at hjælpe de små og mellemstore virksomheder med at konstatere ,
om en opfindelse , proces eller idé kan udføres , og derved øge deres mulig¬
heder for at finde en partner ved en senere indkaldelse af forslag til en
aktion med omkostningsdeling . Kommissionen vil bidrage med indtil 75% ( dog
højst 25 000 ECU ) af forskningsomkostningerne i indtil 6 måneder . Høje be¬
dømmelsesstandarder skal sikre , at tilskuddenes uddeling er stærkt konkur¬
rencepræget , og at de anerkendes som præstigegivende . Arbejdsgruppen vedrø¬
rende små og mellemstore virksomheder vil deltage i finansieringen af denne
ordning .
 ---pagebreak---                        - 41
Koordinerede aktiviteter
I de tilfælde, hvor der allerede er aktiviteter i gang, som støttes med
nationale midler eller finansieres helt privat , kan Kommissionens rolle
blive begrænset til blot at koordinere dette arbejde, og Fællesskabets
finansiering indskrænker sig derfor fil blot at dække koordinationsens
omkostninger .                                                   v
I visse tilfælde, hvor det er klart , at strategisk betydningsfuldt arbejde
kræver mere end blot koordination , kan Kommissionen imidlertid i samrid
med CGC overveje et større fællesskabsbidrag .
 ---pagebreak---                             - 42
                                                             BILAG III
                     PROGRAMEVALUERINGSKRITERIER
De resultater , programmet skal bedømmes efter , skal afspejle bide pro¬
grammets egne og rammeprogrammets mere omfattende målsætninger .
1 . Da den vigtigste målsætning er at forbedre Fællesskabets fabriks ¬
     industris konkurrencemæssige stilling , skal evalueringen afgøre
     - i hvilken udstrækning projekterne er blevet udvalgt på grundlag
       af pålidelige og målelige industri kriterier
    - i hvilken udstrækning det støttede arbejde har medført betydelige
      produkt - eller procesudviklinger .
2 . En anden målsætning er at fremme samarbejdet om strategisk industri -
     forskning på tværs af grænserne . Evalueringen skal derfor afgøre
     - i hvilken udstrækning der før og efter projektets afslutning er
       tale om varige forbindelser mellem partnerne med henblik på forsk ¬
       ning , udvikling , produktion , markedsføring eller personaleuddannelse .
3 . Endnu en målsætning er at fremme teknologioverførslen på tværs af
     Fællesskabets grænser og mellem sektorerne , navnlig sektorer med
     et stort antal små og mellemstore virksomheder . Evalueringen skal
     derfor afgøre :
     - i hvilken udstrækning de små og mellemstore virksomheder har udnyttet
       teknologier og nye materialer , som er resultatet af heldigt gennem¬
       førte projekter
     - i hvilken udstrækning resultaterne patentbeskyttes eller viderefor ¬
       midles for at skabe opmærksomhed i europæiske forsknings - og teknologi ¬
       kredse .
  4 . I en større sammenhæng i forbindelse med rammeprogrammet skal evalue ¬
      ringen afgøre
      - i hvilken udstrækning projekterne har bidraget til harmoniseringen
        i Fællesskabet ved at formindske de tekniske handelshindringer .
      Evalueringen vil blive foretaget af uafhængige bedømmere .