Advice on 'Land transport and marine technologies'

The External Advisory Group (EAG) for the Key Action for 'Land transport and marine technologies' under the Growth programme is the last of the programme to be covered by CORDIS. The group, which was set up in October 1998, has met five times and produced one opinion, although...

The External Advisory Group (EAG) for the Key Action for 'Land transport and marine technologies' under the Growth programme is the last of the programme to be covered by CORDIS. The group, which was set up in October 1998, has met five times and produced one opinion, although Chairman Gian Carlo Michellone says much work is done through 'informal contact by telephone'.

The EAG has an advisory role and members are initially nominated for two years. Their opinions are sought on the work programmes, calls for proposals, evaluation criteria, and quantified and verifiable deliverables. The results of proposals received during the course of the Fifth Framework Programme will also be assessed with a view to possible changes to the work programme.

Group chairman Gian Carlo Michellone, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fiat, said the EAG members had been generally satisfied with the aims, direction and execution of the Framework Programme, although they felt some groupings of proposals were somewhat 'artificial', forcing them to search for matching technologies.

'We have developed a strategy stating what is important for industry', he said. 'The Commission has listened attentively to what we have said, and I think this is reflected in the revised work programme.'

The first opinion of the group concerning the work programme prior to the first round of calls was published in February 1999, and is available at: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg12/fp5/eag-land1.html .

In this report, the group agreed that the formulation of the work programme regarding the acquisition of critical technologies (CT) and technology integration and validation through thematic priorities (TP) is 'appropriate and coherent with the "problem-oriented" character of the Fifth Framework Programme'. The suggested number of TPs to be included in the work programme was considered 'adequate', and it was suggested that there might be opportunity for introducing more in the future.

The group went on to comment that there are major areas of common critical technologies, and probably technology platforms which could be more efficiently researched and reinforced through trans-sectoral efforts. These included noise and vibration, diesel engines, emissions, and telematics and control.

The budget allocation for the first call and its distribution between land transport, marine technologies and trans-sectoral activities was considered by the group to be 'optimal' in order to reach the perceived objectives.

All fifteen evaluation criteria were considered relevant, although the group recommended that more emphasis should be given to 'economic development and S&T objectives'.

Finally the group highlighted the importance of the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Framework Programme.

At the most recent meeting on 14 December 1999, the group was told that all 45 retained proposals have been successfully negotiated with total EU funding of 80.56 million euros. Twenty-five of these are expected to begin in January 2000. The participation of SMEs was said to be 'encouraging', and reached 14.5 per cent of participation.

The latest work programme coverage for priorities 3.1.1 and 3.2.1 was considered 'appropriate', but other objectives could be enlarged upon to 'increase awareness and stimulate adequate participation'. In particular the group noted that steps need to be taken to improve understanding of the types of activities appropriate for funding under the action line dedicated to 'innovative technologies for the monitoring, exploration and sustainable exploitation of the sea'. None of the seven proposals submitted in this area were successful as they did not conform to the objectives of Key Action 3, while poor quality in the technical description counted against off-shore proposals.

At the meeting, EAG representatives of automotive and maritime transport presented the main challenges facing their sectors. To address the problems of noise and pollution in the automotive industry, it was suggested to the Commission that they take a strategic approach for research and a focused approach at the operational level. It was noted that the shipbuilding industry, which is facing stronger short-term challenges, requires the development of critical technologies as are currently highlighted in the programme.

The EAG was also asked to reflect on the future directions and trends for research and to respond to the Commission's launching of the idea of a Common European Research Area. The group will prepare a formal response, which will be finalised in June 2000.

The Commission official responsible for the group said the collective experience and knowledge of the EAG was useful in keeping the Framework Programme on track.

'It is necessary to be reassured that what we are doing is approved by the people who have an overall view of the industry,' he said. 'Although that does not mean we are always going to follow what they say,' he added.