A road to European cooperation

During the Fourth RTD Framework Programme (which ran from 1994 to 1998), the European Commission launched a 'Thematic Networks Initiative' as part of its Industrial and Materials Technologies programme (Brite-Euram III). This programme aimed to promote cooperation between rese...

During the Fourth RTD Framework Programme (which ran from 1994 to 1998), the European Commission launched a 'Thematic Networks Initiative' as part of its Industrial and Materials Technologies programme (Brite-Euram III). This programme aimed to promote cooperation between researchers working separately on similar industrially relevant research or technological development.

The publication 'A road to European cooperation' highlights the general trends seen during the Brite-Euram III programme in the build up of cooperation and collaboration on initiatives in the industrial sector.

It is now accessible from DG XII's website at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg12/brite-eu/thematic/index.html

The data it presents reflect the coordination between industry, universities, and research institutes from both EU Member States and Third Countries. Individual synopses are presented of all the 100 thematic networks that are currently operational or in the final stages of contract preparation. The Commission hopes that the dissemination of this information will help potential participants in its Fifth RTD Framework Programme, which was launched this year.