CORDIS Archive

FIFTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME for Research and Technological Development (1998-2002)

Commission Working Paper on the Specific Programmes:
Starting Points for Discussion

COM(97) 553

05-11-1997

Promoting competitive and sustainable growth (2)

(Part I : EC Treaty)

(i) Key Actions

Products, processes and organisation

Rationale

Production must be a central target of strategies to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the European economy. The increasing economic role of services and mounting competition from low cost competitors abroad mean that, far from abandoning its production industries, Europe must both modernise and adapt them to the new circumstances, whilst reinforcing its distinctive strengths through high quality technology and skills.

The opportunities opened by technology for increasing functionality, flexibility and "intelligence" in products and processes gives huge scope for strategies which boost competitiveness at the same time as dramatically reducing lifecycle environmental impacts. With the right approach, higher productivity, improved time-to-market and greater "service value" to consumers can be achieved with lower resource inputs and high levels of recovery and reuse of valuable materials. Making progress towards this objective, and at the same time enhancing the development of "eco-industries", however requires comprehensive and systematic treatment of the different dimensions of production. The critical factors include design and production for complex, high quality products, intelligent production, lifecycle resource optimisation and the organisation of production, not just within individual plants or industries but throughout the extended value chains which represent Europe's system of production, including, in particular, SMEs.

Objectives and RTD priorities

The overall goal of this key action would be to develop new methods of design, production and manufacture that improve the quality and cost of processes and products (aiming for a substantial improvement in the medium term); reduce overall lifecycle impacts (aiming at a 50% reduction); improve understanding of the "soft" aspects (organisation, management, logistics, etc.), needed to integrate them fully into relevant business processes; and ultimately contribute to employment growth (aiming at creating and maintaining in Europe a number of jobs comparable, in percentage terms, to those of our major competitors).

• New technologies for efficient design and production. The aim would be to improve competitiveness through quality and industrial added value and responsiveness to market, reduced material intensity in product/service combinations, improved responsiveness and reduced time-to-market, rather than through cost competition.
  RTD priorities: integrated product design, multi-technology integrated products and related manufacturing processes; advanced production techniques for higher process accuracy and reliability; advanced manufacturing technologies for optimal use of materials and miniaturisation of products; methods to overcome the barriers between designers and consumers and achieve full integration of "product/service combinations" within the whole industrial system.

• "Intelligent" production and manufacturing through integration of Information Society Technologies. The aim would be to optimise the level of performance of all elements of the industrial environment through the application of Information Society Technologies in production systems, in coordination with relevant activities in programme 2.
  RTD priorities: intelligent production systems; extended life and optimal use of production facilities; maintenance systems; flexible and interoperable "extended" supply/production/distribution systems.

• Technologies to minimise resource consumption, to promote waste recovery and to develop clean processes and products. The goal would be to minimise "full life-cycle" impacts on the environment, taking account of all essential elements of the industrial system ranging from extraction through production to waste management, with emphasis on resource intensive processes.
  RTD priorities: clean and eco-efficient processing technologies; research aimed at mastering basic phenomena such as synthesis, catalysis, separation and reaction mechanisms, on-line process control; impact monitoring and assessment of risks; in-situ and on-line recovery of waste; novel processes for treatment, re-utilisation and safe disposal of waste and for upgrading, re-use or dismantling products and production systems.

• New methods of organising production, work and management of human resources. The goal would be to move towards high performance work places, agile customer driven networked industrial enterprises, including SMEs, and multi-skilled highly motivated workforces, through research that would be coordinated with relevant activities in programme 2.
  RTD priorities: human, organisational and socio-economic determinants of a smooth transition of enterprises towards efficient and sustainable production and consumption; company level methods for measuring performance; integrative architectures for human oriented production; "learning" production systems to facilitate the management of change and the development of know-how and skills; new concepts for more sustainable product/service combinations at the level of industrial networks; impact and acceptance of new industrial production patterns, including those arising from the use of electronic commerce,compatible with sustainable consumption and production.

Sustainable mobility and intermodality

Rationale

Mobility is at the heart of modern society with major repercussions on spatial planning, urban development, organisation of economic and industrial activity, environment and use of energy. The European transport sector (7.5% of GDP) however faces a multitude of critical challenges. Traffic volumes are expected to double in the next 25 years, but already around 2% of Europe's GDP is annually lost because of traffic congestion, a figure which rises to 4% if all external costs - including those due to accidents and pollution - are taken into consideration. It is urgent to address these challenges and in doing so make a substantial input to the further development and implementation of the Common Transport Policy and other Community policies. The promotion of transport sustainability from an economic, social and environmental point of view goes hand in hand with enhanced efficiency and quality of transport systems and services, improved comfort, safety and security, and greater attention to human factors in transport.

Objectives and RTD priorities

The overall aim of this key action would be a better long-term balance between the growing demand for mobility and the need to respect environmental, social and economic constraints. It would contribute to decouple the direct link between economic growth and traffic volumes; reduce the negative impact of transport modes; and encourage their more sustainable use. Particular attention would be paid to intermodality and how best to integrate the respective strengths of the modes of transport in order to provide user-oriented door-to-door services for both passengers and freight.

• Modal and intermodal transport management systems. The aim would be to develop, validate and demonstrate and facilitate the deployment of advanced transport management and information systems for air, waterborne, rail, road and urban transport, both on a modal basis and for integrated intermodal transport, using inter alia the developments of Programme 2.
  RTD priorities: development, validation and demonstration of modal and intermodal traffic and transport management systems, including operational, regulatory, administrative and organisational solutions for their deployment and the analysis of pricing regimes integration of information and data exchange systems across modes including real time user information, electronic documentation and services with transport management; second generation satellite navigation(3) and positioning systems; satellite supported operations; integration of services such as traffic management, vehicle identification, location and guidance, pricing, freight planning, travel information and passenger services. within the transport system.

• Infrastructures and their interfaces with transport means and systems. The goal would be to enhance interconnectivity and interoperability and to promote intermodality in the transport system, through integration of all its components across the modes at the levels of infrastructure, transfer points, transport means, equipment, operations, services and the regulatory framework.
  RTD priorities: reduced operating, development and maintenance costs of existing infrastructure; effective interchanges; interconnection between trans-European, regional and local networks; innovative infrastructure concepts and operations; relationship between transport, land use, environment and health; reduced congestion, energy consumption, pollution nuisances and infrastructure degradation; use of new generation vehicles, collective transport and innovative concepts for sustainable mobility in urban and rural areas; safety of transport, including transport for dangerous of goods; accessibility, security and comfort of transport, including for people with special needs; human factors such as human/machine interface, user and operator acceptance of new intelligent systems, optimal training methods and use of simulators.

• Socio-economic scenarios for the mobility of people and goods. The aim would be to develop strategies and tools for managing the impact of social and economic developments, including deregulation and liberalisation of transport services and globalisation of economic and commercial activities, on mobility demand and transport policies.
  RTD priorities: scenarios on travel supply and demand and policy options for mobility demand, market organisation and accessibility; legal, institutional, organisational and financing aspects of transport systems and infrastructures; logistics; benchmarking tools; methods for enforcement of regulations; methodologies to measure costs and benefit, safety, performance and impacts of different transport systems, networks and their operations; assessment of new technologies and concepts, including their impact on employment, environment, work organisation, social conditions as well as on safety and security.

New perspectives for aeronautics

Rationale

Growth in air transport is expected to continue at a substantial rate, opening considerable opportunities for industry across the Union. However, competition is fierce. The US dominates global markets and annually spends some $15 billion directly on industrial R & D in aeronautics, much of which is directly funded by NASA for civil applications through its aeronautics programmes. There are also numerous examples of spillovers for US civil aeronautics producers from R & D defence programmes. If Europe is to continue its successes of the past - 30% of the world market in civil aeronautical products and ECU 13 billion in exports - the capabilities of its industry including the supply chain must be enhanced and the system of technology acquisition significantly improved, so as to complement and contribute to the restructuring taking place throughout the industry in favour of greater competitiveness. Furthermore, from the perspective of growth in aviation, it will be crucial to satisfy the public demand for economic, environment-friendly and safe air transport. Essential technology areas in both traditional aeronautical disciplines and new innovative concepts call for attention to technology integration for sub-sonic aircraft as well as the enabling technologies for a second generation supersonic aircraft. The scale of the required response is beyond the capacity of a single member state and can only be realised through a pan-European effort. Coordination of RTD would be essential, based on strategic planning in cooperation with the member states, research establishments and industry. The challenge is to build on the current strengths of Europe's industry and its research community and create a new integrated and competitive scientific and technological framework for the future, in conformity with international agreements.

Objectives and RTD priorities

The overall goal of this key action would be to facilitate the development of aircraft and their subsystems and components for the next century in order to foster the competitiveness of the European industry while assuring the sustainable growth of air transportation. The medium-term targets of the RTD effort, including large scale validation activities, are to contribute towards substantially reducing development time and costs of new aircraft ; improving efficiency (fuel consumption and maintenance costs) and reducing environmental impacts (pollutant emissionsand perceived external noise) and accident rates (by at least the same factor as the growth of traffic volume).

• Technology integration and validation. The aim would be to facilitate the introduction and combination of the newest technologies and to prove their economic and operational feasibility both for new products and for upgrading the existing ones over their long life time. It will represent a multi-disciplinary approach, including technology integrator platforms at the required scale, focusing on lower design, production and operational costs, aircraft performance, and environmental aspects.
  RTD priorities: advanced design tools and concurrent engineering for reconfigurable, flexible, distributed and multi-site production systems; advanced developments in propulsion, structural and aerodynamic efficiency and systems performance; airframe and engine technologies and operational procedures to reduce significantly engine emissions and noise and improve cabin environment.

• Acquisition of critical technologies. The aim would be to contribute to the long term competitiveness of the European aeronautics industry from a strategic perspective by advancing enabling technologies and the development of new generation aircraft concepts, including aircraft more respectful of the environment.
  RTD priorities: innovative approaches and evolutionary advances in aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, noise, equipment and systems and avionics; development of multi-disciplinary technologies, such as aeroelasticity, flight mechanics and airframe-propulsion integration; methods and processes for aeronautical design and manufacture.

• Operational capacity and safety. The aim would be to help alleviate congestion in airports, increase air traffic management system capacity, and improve the safety performance of aviation to accommodate the threefold increase in air traffic which is expected over the next 15 years. The focus would be both on the development of technologies and their operational implementation in the air vehicle.
  RTD priorities: on-board systems for improving the operational capabilities of aircraft and supporting their integration within the future ATM system; maintenance techniques and condition monitoring in support of improved aircraft reliability and dispatch availability; technologies and methodologies including human-factor aspects, for more effective accident prevention and improved aircraft design for passenger survivability.

Marine technologies

Rationale

The European Union has a coastline of over 90,000 km and a seabed area larger than its terrestrial landmass; 90% of the Union's foreign trade is transported by sea and the marine based industries and services generate 3-5% of European GDP. A conservative estimate indicates that more than two million direct jobs relate to the marine industry in the Union, most of them in coastal and peripheral regions. The challenges facing the EU cannot be met by a single Member state, since the marine industries (shipbuilding, maritime transport and services, exploration and exploitation of marine resources) are international by nature. The common EU challenges are concentrated in the complex exploration and production process; in the improvement of design for the optimisation of the overall ship efficiency and promotion of a safe and environment-friendly operating culture; and in delivering advanced vehicles, marine systems, transport and services as a response to the persistent growth in world trade and competitive pressure. The response must be coherent and systematic to prepare for the emergence of advanced services and integrate the marine industries into the fabric of European industrial and productions systems.

Objectives and RTD priorities

The overall goal of this key action would be to help develop and integrate knowledge and technologies specific to sea-based applications, to enable the Community to fully exploit the sea's potential while minimising the environmental impact of such activities reverse the present negative trends by improving the competitiveness of the marine industries and related sectors and provide the basis for a European maritime policy. A particular attention would be given to activities under the MARIS initiative. Indicative targets in the medium term would include: reduction of production costs and time to market by 25-30%; improvement of efficiency and reduction of operating costs by 20%; substantial enhancement of safety and environmental sustainability.

• Technologies for the development of advanced ships which are safe, environment-friendly and efficient. The aim is to systematically improve the design process, reduce production costs and enhance the operating efficiency and economy of ships, exploration and exploitation vessels and off-shore structures. The adoption of a "life cycle approach" for products, systems and components would reduce operational costs and environmental impact.
  RTD priorities: integration of technologies and concurrent engineering, in particular with advanced information technologies tools; standardisation/modularity of components and mock-up of product and processes for automated and flexible production; multidisciplinary cooperation on RTD for advanced structural materials, structures, and propulsion trains; support for safety and environment sustainability, based on comprehensive costs/benefit assessment of risks and mitigation measures.

• The use of the sea as an economic and environment-friendly means of transporting goods and passengers. The aim would be to improve the operability, reliability, economic performance and environmental compatibility of ports, marine and inland waterway infrastructures and equipment, in coordination with the Key Action on Sustainable Mobility and Intermobility, and with relevant activities in programme 2.
  RTD priorities: improved safety and environmental performance of ports and related marine operations, including data collection, analysis and forecasting tools; improved efficiency of ship operations in ports and ship-to-shore interfaces, including safety, risk and waste management, relating to maritime operations in ports; improved methods and tools for training.

• Rational and sustainable management of the sea. The aim would be to promote a coherent approach to the exploitation of the sea as source of energy and mineral resources, through the development of off-shore and subsea technologies, improved coastal zone management and sea space utilisation, and minimising the environmental impact of sea-based activities.
  RTD priorities: Innovative technologies to survey and exploit the sea floor and the deep sea, including remotely operated vehicles to improve accessibility to marine resources; tools to monitor and forecast the state of the sea and marine environment; marine biotechnologies including remediation techniques to fight pollution; environmental management, including coastal engineering, sampling strategies and techniques; new sensing and pilot systems for data management.

Advanced energy systems and services(4)

Rationale

Economic expansion has led to a continual increase in energy consumption since the dawn of the industrial age. But long established assumptions about the provision and use of energy can no longer be sustained.

Cleaner, more secure and improved life-cycle energy systems and services are vital for an enhanced quality of life and industrial competitiveness. The European energy markets are becoming more integrated and liberalised thus giving greater emphasis to customer needs, price competition and technological change. Moreover, the global perspective is one of rapidly increasing energy demand especially in emerging economies which depend largely on fossil fuels. There are both serious challenges and enormous opportunities for European industry in this sphere, in the development and application of clean, economic and effective technologies for energy production and use.

Objectives and RTD priorities

The overall goal of this key action would be to contribute to industrial competitiveness and sustainable growth by promoting clean, efficient, and competitive energy systems and services. For the short/medium term, the focus would be on technological bottlenecks in both large scale and decentralised energy systems and services; on improved efficiency (aiming at 10 % overall cost reduction), diversification and safe supply; on reduced emissions at local and global levels (-15 % of CO2 emissions in 2010 from 1990 levels); and on increasing the share of new and renewable energies (renewables beyond 10 % of energy supply in 2010, coupled with 20 % reduction of energy intensity by 2010). For the long term, the focus would be on advancing the technological base and exploring radical technological approaches.

• New and renewable sources of energy and their integration into, in particular, decentralised energy systems. The aim would be to improve efficiency and reduce costs and environmental impacts by developing and integrating new and renewable technologies to enhance production, storage and conversion efficiencies and optimise energy flows in all systems, in the short and long term.
  RTD priorities: Renewable and associated conversion technologies for increased utilisation of renewable energy sources, such as fuel cells; reduced manufacturing costs, improved efficiency and reliability of photovoltaics and wind energy systems; clean conversion and cost effective use of biomass both for transport fuels and high efficiency applications in the context of an integrated energy chain of production, conversion and end-use; development of potentially competitive new and renewable energy sources, including geothermal and mini-hydroelectricity demonstration; integration of new and renewable energies into decentralised and established energy systems and networks.

• Energy storage transmission and distribution; rational use of energy. The aim would be to improve flexibility, reliability and safety while decreasing costs, losses and environmental impact for new and renewable energy technologies and for transport, stationary and micro-machine applications; and to secure substantial energy economies in buildings, transport and industry by promoting the early adoption of new demand-side technologies.
  RTD priorities: advanced batteries, superconductivity, and promising energy vectors such as hydrogen; intelligent energy transmission and distribution systems, network management and control systems for centralised and decentralised production; optimal system efficiency for electricity, gas, and district heating and cooling energy grids.
  For rational use of energy: Improved space heating and cooling, combined heat and power, and energy-efficient industrial process technologies, with a focus on demonstration; integration of renewable energies and advanced and competitive energy technologies for efficient production and high quality user services.

• Competitive and clean production and use of fossil fuels. The aim would be to help transform present large scale energy systems into cleaner, more secure, flexible, efficient and competitive operations.
  RTD priorities: High efficiency, safe and clean coal technologies for retrofitting existing plant and for advanced coal fired stations, and for mining and transport; economic and clean oil and gas exploration and production in difficult areas, such as North Sea or the deep off-shore, and tools for the better characterisation, development and management of hydrocarbon reservoirs; improved natural gas transport, transport fuel quality and gas conversion; assessment of the potential for CO2 capture and storage.

• Economy/energy/environment interactions. The aim would be to develop strategies for the production and use of energy from fossil or new and renewable sources, for the introduction of new technologies and for policy development.
  RTD priorities: long and short term scenario analysis of supply and demand in the context of social, economic and market developments and environmental needs; modelling and policy impact analysis; assessment of energy, market and technology impacts on climate change, competitiveness and employment.

The City of Tomorrow

Rationale

Cities and urban agglomerations are the centre of social, cultural and economic life for 80% of Europe's citizens. But many urban areas today are facing critical challenges to their economic, social and environmental sustainability. Congestion, air pollution and noise for example are in some cases reaching unacceptable levels. The challenge is to improve quality of life, make better use of resources, and make cities more dynamic and innovative, while respecting their cultural identity. They will thus be able to attract new and established businesses, create and consolidate employment, and more effectively serve citizens' needs and aspirations. A framework for better city management is needed which integrates land use planning, efficient use of resources and provision of essential services, as well as technologies for improving the built environment, for preserving cultural heritage and for alleviating problems of congestion, air pollution, noise, waste, safety, and security. Energy, water, waste, transport and information infrastructures may be instruments for achieving sustainable development. Moreover, construction related activities, which represent more than 10% of EU GDP, bear the potential for considerable gains in macro-economic terms.

Objectives and RTD priorities

The overall goal of this key action would be to support economic development and competitiveness, improved urban management and integrated planning policy, and help safeguard and improve the working and living environment and cultural identity of citizens. It would focus on the provision of an integrated socio-economic knowledge-base, and products, services, tools and technologies for better city management.

• Integrated Approaches to "Human Centred" Urbanisation and Optimal Use, Safety and Security of Supply of Essential Resources. The aim would be to develop and demonstrate alternative approaches to urbanisation through integrated comparative assessments, in the light of indicators covering the range of economic, social, and environmental requirements, as well as demographic and structural changes, including the trend towards "digital cities".
  RTD priorities: urban development scenarios and integrated planning tools; impact of technologies, noise and air pollution from all sources on social development, resource utilisation, health and the environment; demand management, safety and security of the supply of essential resources (e.g. energy, land and water); integrated approaches to better use and conservation of resources and reduced pollution and waste.

• Sustainable Construction, Renovation and Recovery; Preservation and Enhancement of Europe's Cultural Heritage. The aim would be to renew, enhance and protect the built environment in a manner which responds to citizens and cultural needs, in a framework of long term sustainability and improved quality of life, using improved design, energy efficient and safe construction techniques.
  RTD priorities: techniques for economic, safe and environment-friendly design, maintenance, repair, upgrading, conversion and recovery of buildings and infrastructure; technologies for diagnosis, protection, conservation, restoration and sustainable exploitation of historic buildings, museums, libraries and artefacts (in coordination with relevant activities in programme 2); integration of cultural heritage into the urban setting and facilitation of accessibility and preservation; protection of the built environment, essential services and cultural heritage against hazards; integration of "smart" technologies for more efficient management of resources, indoor environmental management, maintenance, safety and security.

• Vehicle Technologies Compatible with Achieving Sustainable Mobility in the City. The aim would be to promote affordable and sustainable transport through the development, demonstration and comparative assessment of infrastructure and technologies for affordable, clean, energy efficient, safe and intelligent vehicles (e.g. zero emission vehicles).
  RTD priorities: propulsion technologies, embracing existing and alternative fuels and their infrastructure(in coordination with the key action on Advanced Energy Systems and Services); noise and vibration suppression; new concepts for energy-efficient, lower-emission vehicles including micro-cars, and for individual, collective and goods transport vehicles in cities; cost-effective implementation strategies for new and existing vehicle concepts and systems; validation and demonstration at prototype and fleet scale to ensure efficient and intelligent operation, within a framework of sustainable mobility.

(3) Space-related activities are subject to an overall coordination across the various programmes.
(4) The part relating to "Fusion" in this key action is addressed separately under part II (Euratom) of this programme.

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