Cooperation in science and technology with Central and Eastern European countries: Response to call
A 1992 initiative of the European Parliament provides the financial basis for the COPERNICUS project (Cooperation in Science and Technology with Central and Eastern European Countries). The scheme is structured to aid the rehabilitation of industry and to improve the quality of life in the countries concerned. In addition to the Member States of the European Communities, the countries involved are Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and the Slovak Republic. The scope of cooperation is broad, covering: - Environment; - Biomedicine and Health; - Social Science; - Information and Communication Technologies; - Materials; - Agro and Food Industries; - Fundamental Science and Other Areas. An initial open call for proposals for pilot and preparatory actions (published in Official Journal No C 111 of 30.4.1992) covered six action lines. These included scientific and technical mobility, pan-European scientific networks, conferences and seminars, joint research projects, participation in the Community's specific research programmes, and participation in COST actions. In response to the call, a total of 1,1750 proposals were received. These covered all action lines and involved a requested funding of ECU 1,500 million (ie, some 27 times in excess of the overall appropriation of ECU 55 million which had been set aside for the action). After examination by evaluators drawn from the EC Member States and from Central and Eastern Europe, funding was recommended for an initial selection of over 3000 projects.
Countries
Albania, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania