CELEX: 51993PC0306
Language: en
Date: 1993-07-05
Title: Proposal for a Council Decision modifying Council Decision 89/286/EEC on the implementation at Community level of the main phase of the Strategic Programme for Innovation and Technology Transfer (1989 to 1993) (Sprint programme)

No C 200 / 7
24 . 7 . 93                              Official Journal of the European Communities
                                                                II
                                                         (Preparatory Acts)
                                                   COMMISSION
                   Proposal for « Council Decision amending Decision 89/286/EEC on the implementation at
                   Community level of the main phase of the Strategic Programme for Innovation and Technology
                                           Transfer (1989 to 1993) (Sprint programme)
                                                           (93/C 200/09)
                                                        COM(93) 306 final
                                           (Submitted by the Commission on 6 July 1993)
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                                  particular small and medium-sized enterprises ( ), the
                                                                           Council recommended that the Commission should
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European                     press ahead, having regard to the principle of subsi­
 Economic Community, and in particular Article 235                         diarity, with the action necessary to create an
                                                                           environment favourable to the competitiveness of
 thereof,                                                                  enterprises, in particular SMEs, and to back up their
                                                                           integration in the single market after 19,92 ;
 Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
 Having regard to the opinion of the European                          6. Whereas the evolution of the economic situation
                                                                            calls for an initiative to relaunch growth, to whose
 Parliament ,                                                               success measures to stimulate innovation and the
                                                                            transfer of technologies, in particular with regards to
  Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and                          SMEs, have an essential contribution to make ;
  Social Committee,
     1 . Whereas, pursuant to Article 3 of the Treaty, the             7. Whereas a panel of independent experts has carried
          activities of the Community include the strength­                 out, pursuant to Article 8 of Decision 89/286/EEC,
          ening of the competitiveness of Community industry                 an evaluation of the results acheived after 30 months
          and of economic and social cohesion, as well as the                of the programme's implementation; whereas the
          promotion of research and technological devel­                     Commission has submitted the report, together wit
          opment ;
                                                                             its comments, to Parliament, the Council and the
                                                                             Economic and Social Committee (J);
     2 . Whereas a favourable environment for innovation
          and the transfer of technologies in all regions and           8 . Whereas the report confirms the appositeness of the
          sectors of the Community is one of the conditions                  objectives and main characteristics of the
          for the competitiveness of its industry and the                    programme, calls for its extension and makes recom­
           strengthening of its scientific and technological                  mendations concerning the direction of certain
           bases ;                                                            measures ;
      3 . Whereas innovation policy is a horizontal policy
           which cuts across, contributes to and reinforces              9. Whereas the actions undertaken in the framework of
           other policies such as regional policies, industrial               the Sprint programme, whose effects can only be
           policy, enterprise policy or policy on training,                   perceived on the medium to long term, need to be
           whereas it requires continuity and coordination ,                  continued and reinforced in order to contribute to
                                                                              the initiative to relaunch growth, to ensure the
      4. Whereas on 17 April 1989 the Council adopted                         coherence with the other Community instruments to
            Decision 89/286/EEC on the implementation at                      promote innovation and technology diffusion, and to
            Community level of the main phase of the Strategic                prepare the integration of Sprint in the fourth
            programme for innovation and technology transfer                   framework programme for research and technology
            (1989 to 1993) (Sprint programme) (');                             development ;
       5 . Whereas in its resolution of 17 June 1992 on
            Community action to support enterprises, in
                                                                        (2) OJ No C 178, 15 . 7. 1992, p. 8 .
                                                                        (3) SEC(92) 2352 final.
     (') OJ No L 112, 25. 4. 1989, p. 12.
 ---pagebreak--- No C 200/8                                  Official Journal of the European Communities                                      24. 7. 93
10. Whereas these activities rely, for their implemen­                   HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :
     tation, on national and regional bodies and make use
     whenever feasible of decentralized management;                                                  Sole Article
     whereas they consist mainly in the creation of trans­               Decision 89/286/EEC is amended as follows :
     national networks of sectoral or regional actors, the
     identification and the diffusion of best practices                   1 . the heading shall be replaced by the following text :
     beyond national borders, the pooling of efforts at                       'on the implementation at Community level of the
     Community level to reduce the cost and risk of                           main phase of the strategic programme for innovation
     experimenting possible new schemes ; whereas                             and technology transfer ( 1989 to 1994) (Sprint
     therefore they complement and support the actions                        programme)';
     undertaken at national and regional level thus
                                                                         2 . Article 1 shall henceforth read :
     respecting the principle of subsidiarity;
                                                                              'Article 1
11 . Whereas it would therefore be expedient to extend                        The main phase of the strategic programme for inno­
     the programme to 31 December 1994 ;                                      vation and technology transfer, hereinafter referred to
                                                                              as the "Sprint programme", is hereby adopted for a
                                                                              period of six years from 1 January 1989.';
12. Whereas it would be expedient to modify Decision                     3 . Article 4 shall henceforth read :
     89/286/EEC in consequence ;
                                                                              'Article 4
13 . Whereas the Treaty does not provide, for the                             The amount of the appropriations allocated annually
     adoption of this Decision, powers other than those                       to the measures provided for by the Decision shall be
     of Article 235 ,                                                         determined under the annual budgetary procedure.'
                                                                  ANNEX I
                                   INDICATIVE INTERNAL BREAKDOWN OF APPROPRIATIONS
                                                          (Sprint programme 1994)
                                                                                                                (million ECU)
               A. European innovation services infrastructure
                  1 . Strengthening networks                                                                       6,5
                       (a) innovation and technology transfer consultants ; sectoral collective research
                           centres ; contract-research organizations/research or university-industry
                           interfaces/engineering consultants/science parks/financing bodies ; etc.
                       (b) linkage of innovation and technology transfer networks
                  2. Accompanying measures                                                                         5,5
                       (a) promotion of innovation management techniques (MINT), networks of experts
                           (design, quality, value analysis, technology management, etc.) and associated
                           promotional activities (conferences, European prizes, publications, exhibitions)
                       (b) instruments for the support of networks
                       (c) lauching innovations emerging from the networks (investment fora, technology
                           transfer days, technology performance financing)
                                                                                                                    7
               B. Specific projects for intra-Community innovation transfer
               C. Monitoring innovation and concertation between the Member States and the                          4
                   Commission
                   1 . European innovation monitoring initiative (EIMI)
                   2 . Concertation and exchanges ofexperience
                                                                                                    TOTAL         23
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24 . 7 . 93
                                                                     ANNEX II
                                                                  WORK PLAN
                                                           (Sprint programme 1994)
            A. European innovation services infrastructure
                1 . Strengthening networks
                    This implies supporting high quality transnational networks of public or private institutions providing
                    innovation support services to SMEs, in particular in their search for appropriate technologies and
                    international technological collaboration. The objectives of the networks will be adapted to the
                    mission, structure and local conditions of the participating intermediaries. They will range from tech­
                     nology information dissemination to pro-active technology diffusion, including managerial and
                     marketing assistance, technology sourcing and brokerage. A demand-led approach will be required
                     from the participants. Support will be based on the criteria of additionality, excellence, mutual
                     learning and economic and social cohesion. In so far as it is possible quantitative targets will be set
                     for the operation of the networks and the Community support will be degressive over time.
                     Three actions will be undertaken :
                     — the continuing support to the best performing existing networks (technology brokers and inno­
                          vation management consultants to promote cooperation between SMEs and external technology
                          sources ; local and regional development agencies, chambers of commerce and regional tech­
                          nology advisory centers to promote awareness of and disseminate information on innovation
                          management techniques, technological opportunities and technology transfer mechanisms to local
                          companies ; research and technology organizations to promote the diffusion of appropriate tech­
                          nologies, the implementation of technical standards and the use of management techniques such
                          as quality corresponding to the proven needs of their client industrial sectors ; research-industry
                          or university-industry interfaces to promote transnational licensing and technology exploitation ;
                          innovation financing institutions),
                     — the strengthening of networks of science and technology parks and similar organizations to
                          promote transnational and interregional cooperation between them, their tenants and companies
                          in their vicinity: this includes continuation of the Science park consultancy scheme, a possible
                          pilot experimentation of the SPNET project (telematics applications for science parks and their
                          tenants) and the promotion of harmonized self-evaluation and monitoring techniques for SP
                          managers and promoters,
                      — the exploration of the need to launch networks of organizatioris not yet involved in Sprint, such
                          as engineering consultants or technology demonstration centers, large firms-small firms tech­
                          nology interface organizations, etc.
                      In addition, this will imply the introduction of linkage mechanisms between the various networks
                      such as to promote their synergies and concrete cooperation with a view to foster innovation and
                      technology transfer. Whenever appropriate and in close relationship with the Phare programme an
                      opening of the networks to organizations from eastern and central European countries will be
                      encouraged.
                  2. Network support measures (l)
                      (a) specific instruments to enhance the effectiveness of networks
                           This involves in particular :
                           — measures to facilitate the formation of efficient networks, such as means to assist in the
                               identification and careful selection of future partners (visits and professional exchanges,
                               introductory seminars, etc.). Special attention will be paid to the needs and possibilities of
                               organizations from eastern and central European countries,
                           — measures to stimulate the identification, elaboration and dissemination of 'best practice' with
                               respect to technology diffusion and network management,
             (i) These measures could also support other network related actions within Community R&TD programmes to encourage
                  SMEs* participation (such as the Craft activity). They would be closely coordinated to ensure synergy and complemen­
                  tarity.
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                        — specific measures, in close collaboration and complementarity with the Structural Funds, to
                             ensure that those regions of the Community with a less-developed service infrastructure for
                             innovation and technology transfer can participate more fully in the various intra­
                             Community networks supported within the programme ;
                   (b) actions of information , awareness , promotion and the transfer of know-how in
                        innovation management and related measures
                        Two sets of measures are foreseen under this heading :
                        — the possible further extension further to its evaluation, of the recently launched experimental
                             MINT scheme ('Managing the integration of new technology': audits of the capacity of, and
                             conditions for adoption by medium-sized industrial companies of an integrated management
                             approach towards acquiring new technologies and using them effectively within the business
                             strategy), which is a coordinated attempt by the Member States and the Community,
                             through a decentralized, experimental scheme, to exchange good practice and share the
                             results of a common approach to create awareness and stimulate use of innovation and tech­
                             nology management techniques in SMEs,
                             the streamlined continuation of the transnational cooperative activities in the field of inno­
                             vation and technology management techniques (design, value analysis, quality, technology
                             watch, marketing of new products, protection of intellectual property, etc.). This includes
                              exchanges of experiences between the Member States and the regions on the support
                              measures they implement, the formation of networks of experts an promotion organizations
                              in the relevant disciplines, as well as joint promotional activities, whenever appropriate
                              (conference, exhibitions, European prizes, 'success stories', etc.);
                    (c) the launching of innovations emerging from networks by improving the dialogue
                         between sources of funding , technical experts and innovators
                         This implies the continued support to intra-Community investment fora and technology
                         brokerage meetings and the exploration of other necessary measures in that field. It implies also
                         the evaluation and possible pursuit of the technology performance financing experimental
                         scheme. Furthermore, the feasibility of a Community wide electronic register of technology
                         competences and services available to SMEs ('European technology yellow pages') will be
                         studied .
              B. Supporting specific projects for intra-Community innovation transfer
                 Within this line of action, support has been granted to a first of 'specific projects' of transnational
                 character, demonstrating good practice in intra-Community technology transfer, emphasizing industrial
                 cooperation and involving the exploitation of new technologies. Therefore two activities will be
                 pursued :
                 — exploiting the full potential of the current projects. This implies that, whenever possible, the
                     on-going projects are enlarged to include new partners, with special attention being paid to
                     end-users and to regions not yet represented in those projects. It also means that the dissemination
                     activities of the concerned projects may be strengthened,
                 — exploring the feasibility of reorientated projects, emphasizing their demand orientation and their
                     systemic, integrated approach. All efforts will be made to organize these projects into sectoral or
                     technological clusters in order to maximize their impact.
                 These projects because of their systemic, integrated nature, may include, on a case-by-case basis, partial
                 support for technology adaptation activities necessary for transferring these technologies to another
                 sector or region in the Community. Those technology adaptation activities are ancillary to the overall
                 aim of the action line, which is the wider diffusion throughout the Community of existing new appro­
                 priate technologies.
                 In any case these activities will be coordinated with relevant Community R & TD programmes, to
                 ensure synergy and complementarity.
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24 . 7 . 93
            C. Improving the innovation environment through a better understanding of the processes involved and
               increased concertation between the Member States and the Commission
                1 . Strengthening the European innovation monitoring initiative
                    The EIMI is now being solidly established. Its further development involves :
                        the continuing implementation, in close collaboration with Eurostat, of a permanent
                        Community-wide data collecting system form monitoring the innovation capabilities and
                        performances of industries and regions — the EIMI-observatory,
                        the systematic diffusion of the results of relevant studies and surveys — the EIMI clearing-house,
                    — the permanent linking of centres of excellence performing applied innovation research and
                        surveys at a European level — the EIMI network.
                    The work within EIMI will concentrate on the four following areas of studies :
                    — innovation and the firm : in this area a main priority will be the exploitation of the results of,
                         first, the coordinated innovation surveys launched in cooperation with Eurostat and carried out
                         by national statistical offices and research teams (the Community innovation survey), and,
                         second, further investigations into technology acquisition, innovation protection and diffusion
                         behaviour of companies,                                            ^
                    — innovation systems, infrastructure and support services with particular interest being paid to the
                         infrastructure at regional level, to the relations between smaller companies and these services and
                      ^ a closer analysis of the provision of certain types of services throughout the Community,
                    — innovation policy, with the systematic analysis of the rationale for and trends in innovation and
                         technology diffusion policies in the Member States and in the triade. The various levels of
                         government will be considered ; in particular and in close collaboration .with the Commission
                         services responsible for regional policies, support will be provided to regional actors wanting to
                         assess their innovation potential, infrastructure and policies,
                     — policy evaluation, in particular the evaluation of the appropriateness, efficiency and effectiveness
                         of major Sprint schemes, as well as thematic evaluations of Community support in the field of
                          innovation, technological diffusion and innovation infrastructures.
                 2. Strengthening concertation and the exchange of experience between the Member States and the
                     Commission to promote a favourable environment to innovation and technology transfer
                     This will involve the organization of a series of reviews and workshops in the field of public
                     measures and policies supporting innovation and technology transfer at regional, national or
                     Community level. It will provide a forum to exchange information and compare experiences in the
                     design, implementation and evaluation of policies and support programmes. In line with the objective
                     of economic and social cohesion, the Commission will act as a broker of good practices and
                     contribute to the efficiency, coherence and mutual adaptation of regional, national and Community
                     action, based on the principles of subsidiarity and complementarity and with the aim of establishing
                     a regulatory, legal, economic and fiscal environment favourable to innovation and technology
                     transfer.