CORDIS Archive

Commission outlines proposed scientific and technological objectives of Fifth Framework Programme

The European Commission adopted, on 12 February 1997, a second working document on the Fifth RTD Framework Programme, outlining its proposals for the scientific and technological content and objectives of the Programme. A formal proposal for a legislative Decision on the Fifth Framework Programme is scheduled to be adopted at the end of March 1997, with the aim of having the Programme operational at the beginning of 1999.

Sticking with three thematic and three horizontal programmes set out in its preliminary guidelines back in July 1996 ("Inventing Tomorrow") and expanded upon in the first working document in November 1996, this second working document fleshes out the scientific and technological objectives of the six programmes.

Living world and ecosystem:
The general objectives of the programme are to acquire knowledge and develop the necessary technologies to: maintain and improve the quality of life of the citizens of Europe and the quality of the environment in Europe; increase the competitiveness of European industry, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, health, agro-industry and the environment; understand and master the problems and trends affecting the environment on the European and world scale. Key actions cover:

• Health and food
• Control of viral and infectious diseases
• The "cell factory"
• Management and quality of water
• Environment and health
• New rural and coastal areas.

Information Society:
To help the goods, services and methods made possible by the technologies of the information society to contribute to the political goals of the Union in: creating new jobs and strengthening the competitiveness of companies; stimulating the development of new markets and services of general interest and strengthening the role of the general public in society; improving the attractiveness of Europe as a place for investment, research, and innovation, and strengthening the scientific and technological base of the Union, with the goal of reinforcing global competitiveness. Key actions cover:

• Services for the citizen
• Electronic trade and new methods of work
• Multimedia contents
• Essential technologies and infrastructures.

Competitive and sustainable growth:
To produce the knowledge and technologies which may help to increase growth and create new jobs in Europe, by helping to develop: "clean and "intelligent" industrial products and processes to boost European industrial competitiveness, which will give businesses the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to their activities; economic, safe and environmentally-friendly transport systems; energy systems and services guaranteeing security of supply and sustainable exploitation. Key actions cover:

• Products, processes, organization
• Sustainable mobility and intermodality
• New perspectives in aeronautics
• Marine technologies
• Advanced energy systems and services
• The city of tomorrow.

In addition to these key topics, each programme would also include a series of general activities for the development of generic technologies and basic research, in order to address the need to maintain and develop the EU's general scientific and technological capability. Support for research infrastructures in Europe would also be re-examined.

This approach is based on lessons learned under the Fourth Framework Programme, and in particular experiences gained from the task forces, as well as on observations from the five year evaluation of the Framework Programmes. By reducing the number of programmes, the coordination of research efforts will be significantly improved, and there will be much closer coordination between the three theme programmes and the horizontal programmes.

Confirming the international role of European research:
Operating in the context of the implementation of the Union's foreign policy, and with the accession of new Member States in mind, the general objectives of the programme would be:

• To promote scientific and technological cooperation between entities and researchers form third countries and from the Union, likely to produce significant and balanced benefits for both sides
• To facilitate access for European laboratories and firms to scientific skills and know-how available outside the Union, useful to the interests of the Union
• To strengthen the competitiveness of European industry and its presence in new markets and help those involved in European research obtain information on research capabilities, activities and priorities outside the Union.

More specifically, the paper sets out objectives for cooperation with different groups of third countries: associated countries of Central and eastern Europe; Mediterranean third countries; Non-associated countries of Central and eastern Europe; Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union; Industrialized countries; "Emerging economies"; Developing countries. It goes on to outline the instances in which participation of third country entities in the programmes are envisaged and the activities specific to the international cooperation programme. These include the training of researchers and coordination with the COST and Eureka initiative, and with other European science and technology cooperation organizations (e.g. CERN, ESA, EMBL, ESF).

Innovation and participation of SMEs

The general objectives of the programme would be:

• To improve the economic and social impact of the Union's research projects by reinforcing the mechanisms designed to ensure the best possible exploitation of their results, as well as the dissemination and transfer of the technologies produced
• To facilitate the access of participants, particularly SMEs, to the instruments which finance innovation and support the creation of innovative enterprises (financial engineering; venture capital);
• To stimulate the participation of SMEs in the Union's research programmes, both SMEs active in research and high technologies and those with little or no research capabilities but with substantial technological needs; to help SMEs, notably in the least favoured regions, to develop their technological capabilities.

Improving human potential

The general objectives of this programme would be:

• To help maintain and develop human resources of quality in Europe, particularly by supporting training and by promoting researcher mobility (including towards industry), as well as innovation (methods and technologies) in education and training with a view to creating new jobs
• To help Europe to attract researchers and investment in research, and to promote the identity of European research in the international arena
• To develop the knowledge needed for a better understanding of developments in European society, particularly those aspects connected with the process of European integration and with the implementation of science and technology policy and the other Union policies.

The programme would be structured on five main lines:

• Reinforcement of the European human research capital
• Optimized utilization of major research infrastructures
• Promoting scientific and technological excellence in Europe
• Harnessing socio-economic research to the needs of European society
• Support for the development of scientific and technological policies in Europe.

The paper provides a brief overview of some of the implementation and legal aspects, notably the emphasis which will be placed on coordination (between programmes, between the RTD programmes and other EU activities, and between national and European activities) and flexibility (regular adaptation of the programmes, and creation of a "free space" within each programme in order to meet urgent needs).

These issues, together with aspects relating to the management of the programmes, will be set out in the Commission's formal proposal.