CELEX: 51986PC0430
Language: en
Date: 1986-08-01
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION CONCERNING THE FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ( 1987 TO 1991 )

No C 275/4                                    Official Journal of the European Communities                                   31. 10.86
                                                       COMMISSION
                Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning the framework programme of Community
                          activities in the field of research and technological development (1987 to 1991)
                                                            COM(86) 430 final
                                    (Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 1 August 1986)
                                                              (86/C 275/03)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                                 Whereas it is appropriate to promote a balanced
                                                                         development of science and technology within the
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European                    Community in order to strengthen its economic and
Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43, 75                    social cohesion;
and 235 (l) thereof,
                                                                         Whereas it is necessary to associate the implementation
                                                                         of the Community strategy for science and technology
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European                    with the completion of the internal market;
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7
thereof,                                                                 Whereas the Community, in order to present as
                                                                         comprehensive an overall view as possible of its science
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,                       and technology strategy, including the nuclear field,
                                                                         intends to adopt multiannual framework programmes
                                                                         laying down the scientific and technical objectives of its
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par-                        activities, defining their respective priorities, setting out
liament,                                                                 the main lines of the activities envisaged, estimating the
                                                                         necessary amount and drawing up detailed rules for
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and                         financial participation by the Community in the
Social Committee,                                                        programme as a whole and the breakdown of this
                                                                         amount between the various activities envisaged; whereas
                                                                         nevertheless, the Commission is undertaking autonomous
Having regard to the opinion of the Scientific and                       activities in the coal and steel sector which are not
Technical Committee,                                                     financed by the Budget of the European Communities;
Whereas Article 2 of the Treaty establishing the                         Whereas on 25 July 1983 the Council adopted a first
European Economic Community assigns to the                               four-year framework programme 1984 to 1987 (2), to be
Community, inter alia, the task of promoting throughout                  reviewed during the course of its execution; whereas a
the Community a harmonious development of economic                       five-year period running from 1987 to 1991 appears, in
activities, a continuous and balanced expansion and an                   the light of experience, more appropriate for the second
accelerated raising of the standard of living;                           framework programme;
                                                                         Whereas      the     framework       programme     must    be
Whereas in order to encourage the development of the
                                                                         implemented through specific programmes developed
international competitiveness of European industry, it is
                                                                         within each line of activity, the methods, duration and
necessary       to    promote        scientific    research    and
                                                                         finance deemed necessary being open to a decision at the
technological development at Community level in order
                                                                         time of adoption of those programmes;
to strengthen the scientific and technological basis of its
industry;
                                                                         Whereas it may be appropriate to allow for some of
                                                                         these programmes to take the form of supplementary
Whereas it is necessary to encourage undertakings,                       programmes;
including small and medium-sized undertakings, research
centres and universities in their research and                           Whereas, in the same spirit, provision should be made to
technological development activities as well to support                  allow the specific and supplementary programmes to
their efforts to cooperate with one another, aiming, in                  include a Community contribution to research and
particular, at enabling undertakings to exploit the                      development programmes undertaken by several Member
internal market potential to the full;                                   States and cooperation on research and technological
                                                                         development with third countries or international organi-
                                                                         zations;
(') When the Single European Act enters into force, this legal
    basis 'Article 235' will have to be replaced by the new Article
    130 Q (1) of the EEC Treaty, introduced by the said Act.             (2) O J N o C 208, 4. 8. 1983, p. 1.
 ---pagebreak--- 31. 10.86                                Official Journal of the European Communities                                No C 275/5
Whereas the detailed rules for implementing the                     4.      The breakdown of the amount deemed necessary
framework programme provided for above should not                   between the various activities envisaged is set out in
rule out the possibility of Community cooperation with              Annex 1.
third countries or international organizations with a view
to pursuing the scientific and technical objectives                 5.      The main lines of the activities envisaged and their
established by the framework programme;                             scientific and technical objectives are set out in Annex 2.
Whereas the adoption of a five-year framework
                                                                                                Article 2
programme does not in any way preclude amendments
or additions to the programme on the basis of the                   The framework programme shall be implemented
continually-changing        scientific  and     technological       through specific programmes, falling within each of the
context; whereas in any event it would seem desirable               lines of activity adopted. It may also be implemented,
that the Commission should carry out an evaluation of               where necessary, by supplementary programmes. The
the execution of the programme and a general review                 specific and supplementary programmes may provide for
from the third year of execution;                                   Community participation in activities undertaken by
                                                                    certain Member States and Community cooperation with
Whereas the Scientific and Technical                 Research       certain third countries or international organizations.
Committee (CREST) has been consulted;
                                                                    Each specific programme shall define the detailed rules
Whereas the Treaty establishing the European Economic               for implementing it, fix its duration and provide for the
Community does not provide for the specific powers                  means deemed necessary.
necessary for the adoption of this Regulation at least as
far as fields other than agriculture and fisheries and.             Specific programmes relating to the Euratom Treaty
transport are concerned,                                            shall be adopted by the Council, acting by a qualified
                                                                    majority on a proposal from the Commission, after
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:                                        consulting the European Parliament.
                            Article 1                                                           Article 3
 1.    The framework programme for Community                        The detailed rules for financial participation by the
activities in the field of research and technological               Communities in the framework programme as a whole
development covers the period 1987 to 1991.                         shall be those provided for in Article 87 of the Financial
                                                                    Regulation applicable to the General Budget of the
2.     It provides for the following eight activities:              European Communities, without prejudice to the
(1) Quality of life,                                                charging to the Budget of any contributions from the
                                                                    Communities to national or multinational activities or
(2) Towards an information society,                                 projects.
 (3) The life blood of the large market,
                                                                                                Article 4
 (4) Application of the new technologies to the moderni-
      zation of industrial sectors,                                  During the third year of execution of the framework
                                                                    programme, the Commission shall assess its progress. It
 (5) Continuation and updating of activities in the energy
                                                                     shall examine, in particular, whether the objectives,
      sector,
                                                                    priorities, activities envisaged and financial resources are
 (6) Biotechnology: a new technological crossroads,                  still appropriate to the changing situation. In the light of
                                                                     this review it shall make proposals for the revision of the
 (7) Exploitation    of the seabed     and use of      marine
                                                                     framework programme.
      resources,
 (8) A Europe for research workers.                                                             Article 5
 3.    The total amount deemed necessary in terms of                 This Regulation shall enter into force of the third day
 appropriations to be entered in the General Budget of               following its publication in the Official Journal of the
 the European Communities for Community participation                European Communities.
 in the execution of the framework programme 1987 to
 1991 is fixed at seven thousand seven hundred and                   This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and
 thirty-five million ECU.                                            directly applicable in all Member States.
 ---pagebreak--- Nr. C 275/6                               Official J o u r n a l of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s                      3 1 . 1 0 . 86
                                                                   ANNEX       1
            FRAMEWORK P R O G R A M M E O F C O M M U N I T Y ACTIVITIES IN T H E FIELD O F RESEARCH
                                  A N D T E C H N O L O G I C A L DEVELOPMENT (1987 T O 1991)
                         Breakdown of the amount deemed necessary between the various activities envisaged
                                                                                                                   Million ECU
            1.    Quality of life                                                                                              575
            1.1. Health                                                                                            150
            1.2. Environment                                                                                       425
            2.    Towards an information society                                                                             2 050
            2.1. Information technologies                                                                        2 050
            3.    The life blood of the large market                                                                         1120
            3.1. Telecommunications                                                                                800
            3.2. Integration of telecommunications technologies with information                             and
                 broadcasting technologies into new services of common interest                                    300
            3.3. Transport                                                                                          20
            4.   Application of the new technologies to the modernization of industrial sectors                              1 110
            4.1. Technologies for manufacturing industry                                                           500
            4.2. Science and technology of materials and raw materials                                             370
            4.3. Technical standards, measurement methods and reference materials                                  240
            5.    Continuation and updating of activities in the energy sector                                               1 890
            5.1. Fission                                                                                           580
            5.2. Fusion                                                                                          1 100
            5.3. Non-nuclear energies and national use of energy                                                   210
            6.   Biotechnology: a new technological crossroads                                                                 450
            6.1. Biotechnology, management of agricultural respurces,                       agro-industrial
                 technologies, science and technology for development                                              450
            7.   Exploitation of the seabed and use of marine resources                                                         80
            7.1. Marine science and technology                                                                      80
            8.   A Europe for research workers                                                                                 460
            8.1. Implementation of a Europe for research workers                                                   460
                                                                                                                   Total:   7 735
 ---pagebreak--- 31. 10.86                               Official Journal of the European Communities                                         No C 257/7
                                                            ANNEX     2
          MAIN      LINES OF T H E        ACTIVITIES     ENVISAGED A N D           SCIENTIFIC      AND       TECHNICAL
                                                          OBJECTIVES
          1.   QUALITY OF LIFE
          1.1. Health
               The general objective will be to coordinate medical and health research in Europe, and develop
               predictive medicine and novel therapy by applying modern biotechnological tools in their most
               advanced aspects to the medical field and, in particular, to very early diagnosis and treatment of
               hitherto incurable diseases.
               Coordination of medical and public health research will focus on major health problems common to all
               Member States, by including as new targets cancer and AIDS and by continuing work on age-related
               (including disabilities) and environment- and life-style related health problems. Moreover, work will
               continue on the improvement and efficient use of health resources, encompassing both medical
               technology R & D and health services research (research on health care delivery and organization).
               Development of predictive medicine and novel therapy will mainly be oriented towards better
               knowledge of the human genoma, immunity technology (applicable to cancer, auto-immune diseases,
               infections), genetic engineering techniques for the repair of DNA defects (e.g. in congenital diseases
               of genetic origin), and development of diagnostic test kits (e.g. for AIDS).
               A special aspect of health is radiation protection. Work on radiation protection will concentrate on
               efficient and cost-effective measures to control radiation risks (of natural, medical or industrial
               origin), on research relevant to 'Basic Safety Standards' and their implementation, and on the
               radiological consequences and preparedness for possible accidents. Measurement methods will be
               calibrated on a Community scale, including compilation of relevant data.
               (ECSC work on occupational medicine is oriented towards health problems and occupational diseases
               associated with the specific environments of steelworks, coking plants, and coal and iron mines.)
          1.2. Environment
               The objectives of Community research in this activity are 1. to solve immediate problems for the
               preparation or implementation of Community environment policy, 2. to identify and study environ-
               mental issues which will emerge in the foreseeable future (e.g. the atmospheric 'greenhouse effect'); 3.
               to develop basic understanding of ecological processes and the climate system and 4. to create or
               preserve healthy living conditions in relation to certain industrial or individual activities. On this basis,
               research during the period 1987—1991 will be carried out in the fields of environmental protection,
               protection of the cultural heritage and climatology and natural hazards, and technological hazards.
               Research in the area of environmental protection will deal with detection, measurement, analysis and
               monitoring techniques (including remote sensing), effects of pollution on health and ecosystems,
               assessment of chemicals, effects of human activities on environmental quality, study of basic principles
               of environmental processes and the functioning of ecosystems, waste management, development of
               technologies for the reduction and prevention of pollution and restoration of damaged environments.
               Remote sensing from space is under rapid development and applications for environmental protection
               will receive increased attention.
               Research on the cultural heritage will focus on the investigation of the mechanisms of deterioration, on
               establishing methods for damage prevention, elimination of the man-made increment to natural decay
               and an investigation of methods for the restoration of irreplaceable cultural objects.
 ---pagebreak--- No C 275/8                                Official Journal of the European Communities                                       31.10.86
                Research on climatology and natural hazards will focus on efforts to understand the mechanisms which
                govern the phenomena concerned, e.g. by developing powerful models capable of forecasting such
                phenomena on time and space scales useful for planning and prevention, by refining our ability to
                assess impacts upon specified segments of EEC geography, society and economy, and by establishing a
                sound scientific basis for any preventive or corrective measure.
                Research on major technological hazards will be oriented towards understanding, preventing and
                mitigating the consequences of large chemical/petrochemical accidents.
                Work on fire safety in buildings of all types will be directed towards risk analysis, fire development and
                growth, and damage mitigation measures.
                The activity includes research on remote handling technology applicable in environments incompatible
                with or dangerous to man such as places contaminated by radioactive or biologically active materials,
                or subject to extremes of pressure and/or temperature.
                Research on reduction of risks in private life will emphasize protection of consumers against
                dangerous products, accidents due to introduction of new technologies and new types of domestic
                equipment, special products for the elderly, the disabled, children, etc.
                (ECSC work on occupational safety is oriented towards problems of ergonomics, safety and hygiene
                in the specific environment of steelworks, coking plants, and coal and iron mines).
           2.   TOWARDS AN INFORMATION SOCIETY
           2.1. Information technologies (IT)
                The objectives of the activity are:
                — to provide European IT industry with the basic technologies to meet the competitive requirements
                    of the 1990's;
                — to promote European industrial cooperation in precompetitive R & D in IT;
                — to contribute to the development of international standards.
                The activity comprises precompetitive R & D in microelectronics, peripheral technologies, information
                processing systems, the integration of IT into application systems and some fundamental research in
                IT.
                The major R & D topics include high-density ICs, high-speed ICs, multifunction ICs, peripherals,
                system design tools, knowledge engineering, system architecture, signal processing, office automation,
                integrated information systems and automation of manufacturing processes.
           3.   T H E LIFE BLOOD OF T H E LARGE MARKET
           3.1. Telecommunications
                The objective is to put Europe in a leading position in advanced communications services and
                technologies, by gradually introducing broadband communications services at Community level by
                1995.
                The activity will cover the following main areas:
                — IBC (Integrated Broadband Communications) development and implementation strategies: relating to
                    the development of functional specifications, systems and operations research towards the
                    definition of proposals for IBC standards, concepts and conventions conforming to an open
                    systems approach, and analytical work aimed at establishing interoperability for IBC equipment
                    and services;
                — IBC technologies: covering technological cooperation in R & D , addressing key requirements of
                    new technology for the low-cost realisation of IBC equipments and services;
                — Functional integration projects: relating to the realization of research prototypes to develop, test
                    and optimize open systems concepts for IBC equipments, operations and services in the systems
                    context, i.e. 'prestandardization' work.
                These activities will not be demonstration projects or field tests. Prototype installations or tests of this
                kind will be necessary before the operational implementation of a harmonized set of IBC services, but
                these are beyond the scope and scale of the proposed Community activity.
 ---pagebreak--- 31.10.86                                 Official Journal of the European Communities                                   No C 257/9
         3.2. Integration of telecommunications technologies with information and broadcasting technologies into
              new services of common interest.
              The objective is to gradually exploit the advantages of the advances made in information,
              telecommunications and broadcasting technologies, by combining these advanced technologies for the
              benefit of new applications meeting new common economic and social needs. This includes, for
              example, the combined use of these technologies in education and training, the improvement of road
              safety and medical services, and the introduction throughout the Community of new services of
              general interest.
              This work will include exploratory and pilot phases in the following areas:
              — development of reference models describing the technical and economic characteristics of each
                  system;
              — support of standardisation work related to each application;
              — system-integration of telecommunications, information and broadcasting technologies for new
                  applications and services;
              — additional technological work as required in each specific field.
         3.3. Transport
               General activity
              Community activity in this wide-ranging area must essentially aim to maintain and consolidate the
              competitiveness of European industry and help to lay down the common standards necessary for the
              completion of the internal market.
              This activity will cover the following priority areas:
              — track-guided transport: automation of traffic monitoring, signalling and track equipment, simulation
                  of train-driving; lightening, noise reduction and aerodynamics of vehicles; linear motors; effects on
                  passengers (e.g. travelling through tunnels) and on the environment (e.g. noise, unsightliness).
              — road traffic: analysis of road accidents; improvement of the safety of heavy goods and passenger
                  vehicles; optimization of the electric vehicle.
              — maritime transport: ship management, maintenance, functions, condition, economic routing;
                  configuration and performance of the ship, sturdiness of the hull, resistance to forward motion;
                  new types of ship and unconventional propulsion equipment to meet commercial requirements;
                  management of maritime traffic; man-ship system.
              — air transport: flammability and toxicity of materials used in the cabin; rationalization and moderni-
                   zation of air traffic control.
                   Aeronautical    technology
                   The content of this activity is still under study and only tentative indications can be given. The
                   main lines of action that are currently envisaged are the following:
               — development of an up-to-date common European aeronautical technology requirements plan for
                  precompetitive research required to sustain world level capability in key enabling technologies;
               — execution of cooperative research on key elements of the European technology requirements plan:
                   the fields to be addressed include aerodynamics, flight mechanics, structures and materials, systems
                   integration, computational techniques, electronic systems, propulsion systems, advanced construc-
                   tional and manufacturing techniques, reliability and safety;
               — development of scientific and engineering bases for standards applicable to procurement and
                   qualification of aeronautical equipment.
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 275/10                                Official J o u r n a l of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s                  31.10.86
            4.    APPLICATION O F T H E              NEW         TECHNOLOGIES               TO     THE          MODERNIZATION OF
                   INDUSTRIAL SECTORS
            4.1. Technologies for manufacturing industry
                  The development and application of advanced technologies in manufacturing industry is an essential
                   aspect of competitiveness. By cross-fertilization of existing skills in industry and research, the
                   Community will continue to support the development of a variety of multisectoral fields currently of
                   the highest priority such as:
                  — the reliability of engineering materials and components, deterioration of materials (corrosion,
                       wear, biodegradation), tribology of mechanical systems and specific applications of materials,
                  — advanced design and manufacturing techniques, laser technology, joining techniques, applications
                       of new technologies in manufacturing processes with special problems (e.g. production processes
                       involving the use of flexible materials), non destructive testing, on-line testing and computer-aided
                       testing,
                  — membrane science and technology, catalysis and particle technology.
                   On the basis of experience in these fields, the strategy will be to tackle in depth new areas, selected in
                  consultation with industry, including:
                  — the problem of adapting new technologies emanating from many sectors to the manufacture of a
                       wide range of new or technologically improved products including furniture, textiles, paper-based
                       products, machine-tools, etc.,
                  — the use and methods of use of new materials, including all aspects finally needed for economic
                       performance such as design, handling, manufacturing, inspection, standards and training.
                  The Community will also launch a number of projects to demonstrate at larger or at full-scale the
                  technological viability of the processes developed and thereby encourage their rapid adoption in
                  European industry, in particular in SMEs.
            4.2. Science and technology of materials and raw materials
                  Materials
                  By pooling skills and stepping up cooperation between industry and the universities, this activity will
                  help to consolidate the Community's scientific and technological base in an area that is essential to
                  industrial competitiveness.
                  The activity will cover fundamental research (investigation of properties and phenomena) as well as
                  technical processing aspects in the following areas: engineering ceramics, polymers, composite
                  materials, advanced metal alloys, amorphous and disordered materials, biomaterials, superconducting
                  and other materials with special electrical properties, and microgravity.
                  Special attention will be paid to materials for application under extreme performance conditions for
                  which data bases will be set up. Other aspects of materials could also be considered at Community
                  level, depending on resources available (e.g. advanced building materials). A Community pilot
                  laboratory integrating equipments for advanced materials synthesis and processing research will be set
                  up. This ion/laser/electron foundry will operate as a demonstrator project open to industrial parti-
                  cipation and research workers from all Member States.
                  Raw materials
                  The essential objective is to maintain or enhance the competitiveness of Community metal and wood
                  industries particularly by cutting down investment and operating costs. Research on primary raw
                  materials will focus on problems of common interest in exploration (preparing concepts and methods
                  in view of a future revival of exploration activities), mining technology (improving the economic
                . viability of existing mines and developing advanced technologies for future mines, e.g. robotics) and
                  ore processing (e.g. treating complex ores and ores which contain metals for advanced materials
                  technology).
 ---pagebreak--- 31.10.86                                 Official Journal of the European Communities                                     No C 257/11
                Recycling is another objective of research, with special emphasis on new materials such as special
                alloys and composites which will be used more and more in high technology sectors. The upgrading
                and use of reclaimed products recovered from urban waste is one of the other key sectors.
                Research on wood should be integrated for the whole "wood chain" from seed production to the final
                use of wood and other forestry products, including problems such as genetic improvements, tree
                physiology, protection against pests and pollution, use of wood as a structural material, source of fibre
                and chemical feedstock.
         4.3. Technical Standards, Measurement Methods and Reference Materials
               The drafting and early dissemination of uniform standards applicable throughout the Community is a
               key factor for industrial competitiveness.
               The activity will aim to provide the necessary scientific and technological base for the preparation of
               such standards.
               It will be based on three main lines:
               — promotion of cooperation between national laboratories to improve measurement methods (applied
                    metrology and chemical analyses) and develop suitable means of verification (reference materials),
                    recognized at Community level, in a variety of fields including environment, health, foodstuffs and
                    industrial products;
               — improvement of nuclear measurements (neutron-induced reactions, radionuclear decay, neutron flux
                    and doses, etc.) and provision of nuclear reference materials for fission and fusion;
               — prestandardisation research in structural reliability and materials. The emphasis will be on reliability
                    methodologies and models of behaviour of advanced materials and industrial structures with the
                    view of improving codes of practice.
         5.    C O N T I N U A T I O N AND UPDATING OF ACTIVITIES IN T H E ENERGY SECTOR
         5.1. Fission
              The objective is to strengthen the safety aspects of nuclear fission, taking into account the impact of
               the Chernobyl reactor accident, and to provide objective information that transcends the national
               dimension and thus helps to harmonize national approaches to safety.
               Research on reactor safety will cover both light water reactors and liquid metal fast breeder reactors,
              both to be linked with the observed behaviour of operating plants. Experimental work will consider
              the prevention and mitigation of major accidents. In addition, work will be devoted to nuclear safety
              harmonization and interaction between safety research and regulatory issues.
               Radioactive waste management will concentrate on waste treatment, conditioning and quality
              assurance, and on demonstration of safe long-term waste disposal options in geological formations
              such as salt, granite and clay. This will be accompanied by attempts to reach a European consensus
              and to harmonize policies on waste disposal.
              Work on decommissioning operations will involve demonstration of relevant technologies and harmo-
               nization of approaches and policies within the Community.
               Safeguarding methodologies and techniques and techniques for safeguards integration will be further
              developed.
              Finally, Community work could lend support — in areas related to safety — to Member States
              engaged in the development of advanced reactor systems including their fuel cycles.
         5.2. Fusion
              The ultimate objective is to build fusion reactors for energy generation. The path to be followed can
              be schematically divided into three stages: demonstration of scientific feasibility, technological
              feasibility, and eventually economic feasibility. At present, JET, the medium-size tokamaks and their
              foreign equivalents are still essentially at the scientific stage. The next European Torus (NET), now in
              the pre-design phase, is conceived at present as a device which should fully confirm the scientific
              feasibility of fusion in a first phase, and tackle the problem of technological feasibility in a subsequent
              phase.
 ---pagebreak--- No C 275/12                               Official Journal of the European Communities                                     31.10.86
                The main activities for the period 1987—1991 aim to:
                — establish the physics and technology basis necessary for the detailed design of N E T ; this implies
                      the enhancement and full exploitation of JET and of several medium-size specialized tokamaks in
                      existence or under construction, the extension of the duration of the JET Joint Undertaking up to
                      the end of 1992, and the strengthening of the technology programme;
                — embark, possibly in 1989—1990 if the necessary data base exists at that thime, on the detailed
                      design of NET;
                — explore the reactor potential of some alternative lines (Stellarator and reversed field pinch).
                — develop methods for the management and safe handling of the quantities of tritium involved in the
                      operation of fusion machines. Construction of a tritium handling laboratory.
           5.3. Non-nuclear (fossil, new and renewable) energies and rational use of energy
                The primary objective of this action is to contribute to the realization of the Commission's energy
                 strategy, the purpose of which is essentially to satisfy the medium- and long-term Community needs
                 for energy under politically secure, cost competitive and environmentally clean conditions. In this way
                 the development of European society and the competitive development of industry internationally will
                 be improved.
                 In this context, the work will be focused on solar energy (in particular photovoltaics, passive solar
                 technology and equipment testing); biomass; hot dry rock (and related) technologies; clean use of
                 solid fuels; exploitation and use of hydrocarbons; new energy vectors; critical problems in wind
                 energy; energy storage (including fuel cells and batteries) and on energy systems analysis.
                 The work will develop to place more emphasis on the stimulation of Community technological
                 capability in a number of basic areas (combustion science, deep geology of energy resources, advanced
                 fuel-cell technology, etc); on target-oriented research projects derived from earlier foundation
                 research (e.g. magnetohydrodynamic generation); and on activities which demand the combination of
                 efforts from more and less industrialized parts of the Community (e.g. energy system modelling,
                 integrated biomass schemes).
            6.    BIOTECHNOLOGY: A NEW TECHNOLOGICAL CROSSROADS
            6.1. Biotechnology, management         of agricultural resources, agro-industrial technologies, science and
                  technology for development.
                  Rapid and continuous progress in the life sciences and their technological applications is creating new
                  types of relationships and opportunities in agriculture and industry, and at the interface between these
                  two areas.
                  These new possibilities cannot be effectively exploited unless an integrated approach is adopted to the
                  planning and implementation of research, which covers biotechnology, agriculture and agro-industrial
                  technologies.
                  Biotechnology
                  The objective of the activity is the improvement, through research, training and concertation, of
                  Member States' capacity to match world competition in the areas of biotechnology which are essential,
                  in the medium and long terms, for European industry and agriculture. This is a crucial challenge, and
                  R & T D must help to meet it, especially since a promising development now indicates that it will be
                  possible to use agricultural products as a source of organic chemicals for industrial raw materials.
                  The activity should also help to devise new methods for the assessment of biological activity and
                  potential risks, thus contributing to the uniform and harmonious development of policies and regu-
                  lations governing the promotion of modern biotechnology in the Community.
                  These objectives will be pursued by:
                  — The setting up of Community R & D networks specifically designed to bring a transnational
                       dimension to the efforts of Member States and to facilitate the transfer of technology towards
                       industry and agriculture in the following areas:
                      — contextual measures for the improvement of R & D infrastructure               (bio-informatics and
                          collections),
                      — basic biotechnology to overcome the scientific and technical obstacles to the exploitation of the
                          methods and materials deriving from fundamental research.
 ---pagebreak--- 31. 10.86                            Official Journal of the European Communities                                  No C 275/13
              The training of research workers, making use of skills and installations on a transnational scale, is
              an integral and essential part of these research activities.
          — Proper scientific and technological development of biotechnology through concertation; this
              implies a continuous assessment of the strategic significance of new developments in biotechnology
              and promotion of consistency which is essential between the various areas of Community policy
              which concern or are influenced by biotechnology.
          Management of agricultural resources
          The aim of this activity is to improve the management of agricultural resources in the light of new
          market conditions. The agricultural research policy must be strengthened so as to encourage the
          development of a scientific community in European agriculture and direct research efforts towards the
          needs of the common agricultural policy.
          Community R & T D activities will focus on the following themes:
          — effectiveness of human and financial resources,
          — diversification, higher quality and lower costs of production,
          — development of new applications and markets,
          — utilisation of soil and water,
          — promotion of forestry,
          — effective protection of the rural environment,
          — regional balance and integrated rural development.
          The techniques used for this purpose include remote sensing.
          Angro-industrial     technologies
          Complementing R & T D activities in biotechnology and the management of agricultural resources,
          Community activities will also include:
          — research on the quality and competitiveness of foodstuffs;
          — research on human and industrial consumption;
          — development to demonstrate innovative possibilities resulting from research undertaken in
              biotechnology and agriculture (industrial inputs to agriculture and new production or processing
              possibilities offered by agro-industrial technologies).
          Science and technology for       development
          Biotechnology is essential to progress in two priority areas for developing countries: agriculture, and
          medicine, health and nutrition.
          — Agriculture
              The research projects planned in this field will fall under the following four priority headings:
              — Improvement of agricultural production, whether of plant or animal origin, through its various
                  constituents, (improvement of species or breeds, their protection — notably by the use of
                  biotechnological techniques, improved yields, improvement in growing techniques, etc.
              — Conservation and enhancement of the environment. This covers in particular the evaluation of
                  natural resources, the management of water, and soil management and protection — all
                  essential tools in the fight against desertification.
              — Agricultural engineering and post-harvest technologies. This heading covers research activities
                  concerning rural engineering, mechanization, conservation and processing of products.
              — Growing and production systems. These involve multidisciplinary research to analyse the
                  interaction between the factors which determine the development of plant and animal products
                  in a particular environment.
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                 — Medicine, health and nutrition
                      Research in this field falls mainly under three headings:
                     — Tropical Diseases, whether transmissible or not, including the development or improvement of
                         vaccines, diagnostic and treatment methods, and the control of vectors.
                     — Operational research relating to health care systems appropriate to the rural or urban
                          environments in developing countries.
                     — Nutrition research which lies at the interface between a number of disciplines: medicine,
                          agronomics, economics and the social sciences.
           7,    EXPLOITATION OF T H E SEABED A N D USE OF MARINE RESOURCES
           7.1. Marine science and technology
                 Community research on marine science and technology will consist of basic and applied sciences, of
                 technological development and of various supporting activities. The objectives of research on basic and
                 applied sciences are to improve the knowledge and understanding of the European coastal and
                 marginal seas in order to be able to predict changes in these seas and to expand the scientific basic for
                 their exploitation, management and protection. In particular, the action will involve the development
                 of mathematical models at various scales and their validation by means of measurement campaigns.
                 In marine technologies, the objectives are to develop, at the precompetitive level, new instruments and
                 equipment needed for the objectives described in the preceding paragraph: sensors, data recording and
                 transmission devices, buoys, floating structures, surface and underwater vehicles. In addition, the
                 Community will be involved in defining the specifications of major new research facilities, such as a
                 deep ocean drilling ship.
                 In addition, a number of supporting activities will be carried out, such as providing a forum for the
                 most effective use of research vessels and other important facilities operated by the Member States,
                 promoting intercalibration exercises and the provision of reference materials, the standardization of
                 data acquisition and handling, and helping with the dissemination of knowledge, exchange of
                 scientists, training, etc.
                As regards the specific area of living marine resources, Community research will focus on the
                 management of fishing resources, catching techniques, aquaculture and processing of produce.
           8.   A EUROPE FOR RESEARCH WORKERS
           8.1. Implementation of a Europe for research workers
                The gradual achievement of a Europe for research workers involves the maximization of existing
                scientific potential in terms of human resources and equipment.
                In order to help achieve this objective, all the actions planned aim to improve the training, career
                development and research conditions of European scientists and to improve the use of the major
                 installations which are available by exploiting the European dimension.
                The activity will comprise:
                for research workers:
                — research training, specialization, career development, improved mid-career training and retraining
                     of scientists by means of research grants and allowances,
                — building up intra-European scientific and technical cooperation and the mobility of research
                     workers by means of 'twinning' and 'operations' contracts,
                — measures intended to keep and support high-level research workers in Europe by setting up a
                     system of career awards giving material benefits to selected scientists over a period of several years
                     on condition that they work in the Community.
                (In addition to this series of activities, Community regulatory measures will be introduced to reduce
                administrative and social obstacles to the mobility of research workers).
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         for installations:
         — removal of obstacles to and assistance with the free movement of scientific and technical
              equipment by means of regulatory measures,
         — optimization of the exploitation of major scientific and technical installations by means of
              Community support to 'large installations' enabling them to be improved, adapted and specialized.
              In return, they would also be available at certain times for use by all Community research workers.
         A Europe for research workers cannot be truly achieved without a series of associated horizontal
          measures to preserve creativity in Europe and ensure that actions are effective.
          (a) Forecasting and assessment in science and technology,
               The objective is to analyse the long-term consequences of scientific and technological change in
               order to help identify guidelines and priority fields for the science and technology policy.
               In broad terms, the horizontal nature of these activities will be strengthened and the global
               evolution of science and technology will be addressed more than in the past. More specifically, the
               main orientations are:
              — investigation of new scientific and human frontiers, such as life sciences, man-machine
                   communication, cognitive science and artificial intelligence, by means of a multiannual
                   research programme;
              — identification of the main orientations for new activities in the context of Community policy
                   (i. e. constructive technological assessment);
              — development of a European tool, for (a) the acquisition and use of information on scientific
                   and technological indicators in Europe and the rest of.the world, (b) the compilation of states-
                   of-the-art in various fields of science and technology and (c) the establishment of information
                   and documentation files on the development of science and technology in the world, in
                   particular in the United States and Japan;
              — execution, at the request of Community institutions, of a number of ad-hoc studies to analyse
                   immediate or emerging needs in connection with new scientific and technological
                   developments.
         (b)    Evaluation
              As regards evaluation, the Commission will continue to develop new methods aimed, in particular,
              at analysing aspects affecting industrial innovation and the socio-economic impact of R & T D . It
              will also compare methods developed in the Member States in the context of a Community
              evaluation network.
         (c) Statistical tools
              The objective of this activity is to improve the production of statistical information by matching it
              more closely to users' needs. This will take the form of a fundamental study of the problems
              underlying the construction of expert systems in the field of statistics, proposals for standards to
              be applied in order to ensure compatibility of future work in this area and complete prototype
              systems designed to operate in selected areas. In addition to the specific results in the field of
              statistics, experience of more general application will be acquired which will be relevant to the
              wider field of research in the development of expert systems.
         (d) Utilization ofR & D results
              The objective is to facilitate the use of the results of R & T D by all economic operators concerned
              in the Community, especially small businesses, with a view to ensuring that R & T D work is fully
              effective for the economy. Activities will cover:
              — dissemination of all results of Community research, development and demonstration activities;
             — exploitation of results from the Joint Research Centre;
             — promotion of the exploitation of the results of all other Community research, development and
                  demonstration activities.
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             (e) Linguistic Problems
                 The long-term objective is to develop advanced technologies for fast, cheap, reliable translation
                 and interpretation services.
                 The main activities envisaged cover:
                 — completion by 1990 of a first multilingual prototype machine translation system capable of
                     dealing with the nine official Community languages and operating in a limited subject field;
                 — support to the industrial development of a machine translation system which can be used in a
                     multitude of subject fields and environments;
                 — development of methods and tools for the reusability of lexical resources in computerized
                     applications, and creation of standards for lexical and terminological data;
                 — long-term basic research for the next generation of high-quality machine translation systems
                     and other natural-language processing systems.
             (f) Communications and information networks and scientific data bases
                 The setting-up of communications and information networks is a key factor for the consolidation
                 of the European research infrastructure, improvement of the innovation process and stimulation of
                 the industrial exploitation of the results of research.
                 The objective of this activity is to provide an integrated computerized-communications infra-
                 structure and associated services, accessible to the various public and private research centres in
                 Europe.
                 This infrastructure will build on efforts already under way to develop and implement OSI
                 standards and provide the Community with high-speed and/or broadband communication
                 services, as well as building on the potential of the RARE association.