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Content archived on 2023-03-27

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Specific programme of research and technological development, including demonstration, to be carried out for the European Community by the JRC (direct actions) - Industrial technologies and materials technologies -, 1995-1998

 
Under the Fourth Framework Programme, the JRC carries out institutional research activities in support of the specific programme of RTD in the area of industrial technologies and materials technologies (BRITE/EURAM). The JRC activities build and expand on the work it carried out in this area under previous Framework Programmes.

Institutional research activities, which constitute one element of JRC direct action, are defined as those activities for which the JRC has expertise and special, if not unique, facilities in the Community which contribute to the implementation of the Community's RTD policy. The other element of JRC direct action is institutional scientific and technical support activities, which are described as those activities necessary for the formulation and implementation of Community policies and other tasks carried out by the Commission. The JRC does not carry out institutional scientific and technical support activities for the specific programme on industrial technologies and materials technologies.

JRC institutional activities under the 1994-98 phase of the BRITE/EURAM programme are directed mainly at the following sectors:

- Ceramics, metals and composite materials: process development, study of interfaces and joints, improvement of technological properties, characterization and demonstration;
- Surface modification and characterization technology: ion implantation and laser beam, protective coating, non-destructive evaluation methods;
- Prenormative research leading to standards on recyclable materials (ecological characteristics and estimation of useful life).

These areas have been selected because of their prenormative dimension and potential as enabling technologies. An emphasis is to be placed on clean technologies.

Research is aimed at acquiring, in close cooperation with the national laboratories concerned, the scientific knowledge necessary for these materials to be used industrially, and to provide standards' bodies with knowledge which is essential for standardization in this field. In addition, the development of non-destructive evaluation techniques to study the reliability and useful life of mechanical constructions will continue with a view to the development of component inspection techniques and the harmonization of qualification procedures. During the period 1995-98, this research will continue to be conducted in the framework of the laboratory networks which have existed for a number of years. These laboratory networks will be gradually enlarged in line with needs.
Institutional research activities aimed at contributing to the implementation of the specific programme on industrial and materials technologies, particularly in those sectors which have a prenormative dimension and potential as enabling technologies, with an emphasis on clean technologies.
Institutional research activities:

Four areas:

- Advanced materials, standards for application:
Consists of strategic prenormative research for industrial applications and standardization with the objectives of:
. Developing measurement test techniques and evaluating the properties of materials operating at high temperatures in complex environments. Networks are also to be initiated in order to feed the agreed prenormative output into advanced CEN standards;
. Exploiting the measurement techniques and data in conjunction with new modelling techniques in order to predict and extend the useful life cycles of industrial components in collaboration with national partners;

- Surface engineering for improved properties:
Activities under this sector are aimed at:
. Stimulating the industrial acceptance of rapidly evolving surface engineering technologies;
. Facilitating the introduction of surface engineering in industrial applications by the development of qualification techniques and procedures;
. Exploiting the nucleus of advanced surface engineering facilities, to foster research cooperation on surface engineered down-market products, extending the model of the JRC-led Eureka project CEFIR (which covers high temperature fibres and composites) to other relevant Eureka projects;

- Recycling and materials eco-technology:
Strategic prenormative research aimed at the development of a European Materials Eco-Technology Network involving:
. Quantitative evaluation of the impact on the environment of engineering materials, including recycling and reuse potential;
. Design and engineering of eco-friendly materials;
. Development of standards, including eco-relevant parameters;
. Development of a dedicated Materials database for information provision and management;

- Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) testing and inspection of structural components:
Work under this heading is aimed at:
. Developing, by means of the European Network for Inspection and Validation (ENIQ), effective NDE-based inspection techniques for structural components control, in-service inspection and damage monitoring, and fabrication control;
. Refining the effectiveness of the inspection techniques and support to their harmonization in Europe through the development of standardized qualification procedures, such as performance demonstration.
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) contributes to the activities of the specific RTD programme in the field of industrial technologies and materials technologies (1994-1998) through the implementation of institutional research activities (See definition in the "General Information" section of this record). These activities are carried out at the JRC Institute for Advanced Materials which has laboratories at Petten and Ispra.

The Commission, assisted by the Board of Governors of the JRC, is responsible for the implementation of these activities in accordance with the Decision adopting the specific programme of JRC direct actions to be carried out in support of certain programmes under the Fourth Framework Programme and the activities to be carried out within the framework of a competitive approach and intended for scientific and technical support to Community policies.

In the implementation of the institutional activities, the JRC is required, when appropriate and feasible, to participate in, or organize networks of, public and private laboratories in the Member States or European research consortia. Particular attention must also be paid to cooperation with industry, especially with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

On the basis of the criterion of mutual benefit, the JRC may, at the request of the Commission, execute projects with legal entities established in third countries, provided this is deemed to make an effective contribution to the implementation of JRC activities. Legal entities from third countries may not, however, benefit from Community financing under this programme. Particular attention is paid to cooperation with research laboratories and institutes in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and in the independent states of the former Soviet Union.

Under the programme, provision is made for a number of accompanying measures, which include:

- The organization of visits to JRC institutes of grant holders, visiting scientists and seconded experts;
- Organization of the secondment of JRC staff to national laboratories, industrial laboratories and universities;
- Systematic exchange of information, through the organization of scientific seminars, workshops, colloquia, scientific publications, etc.;
- Specialized training with an emphasis on multidisciplinarity;
- The independent scientific and strategic evaluation of the performance of the projects and programmes.

The total funds estimated as necessary for the execution of JRC direct actions under the Fourth Framework Programme is ECU 600 million, of which a sum of ECU 90 million is reserved for the implementation of direct actions in support of the specific programme in the field of industrial technologies and materials technologies. The global JRC budget includes provisions for exploratory research (approximately 6% of the total) and the JRC's budget contribution necessary for its participation in shared-cost actions.

The Commission will continuously and systematically monitor progress in the implementation of actions under the programme, paying particular attention to assessing whether the objectives, priorities and financial resources of the various actions are still appropriate.

Before 15 April each year, the Commission is required to submit an annual report, on the implementation of the JRC actions under the specific programme of research, technological development and demonstration to be implemented by the JRC under the Fourth Framework Programme. In addition, the Commission is required to organize an external assessment conducted by independent experts of the specific activities covered by the JRC programme and their management during the five years preceding this assessment. The results of this assessment, together with the annual reports, will be communicated to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee.