Advance notice of the call for proposals for the specific programme for biotechnology
The European Commission, DG XII, has published an advance notice for the first call for proposals for the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration in the field of biotechnology (1994-1998) (Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and horizontal activities): 1. On 1 December 1994, the Council of the European Union reached agreement on a specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration in the field of biotechnology (1994-1998). The programme text is currently undergoing final language checking, prior to its formal adoption and publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This advance notice is being published in order to speed up the implementation of the programme and to give researchers adequate time to prepare their proposals. Once the programme has been formally adopted, the Commission of the European Communities will issue the formal call for proposals, expected to be published in the Official Journal of 16 January 1995. Researchers intending to submit proposals should note that the Commission intends to confirm the deadline for proposal submission indicated below when the formal call is published. The research areas and topics will be addressed, in general, in shared-cost RTD projects, in conformity with the rules for implementation set out in Annex III of the Decision on the specific programme. 2. The Community's contribution to shared-cost RTD projects will normally not exceed 50% of the total costs, with progressively lower participation the nearer the project is to the market place. Those universities and other institutions which do not have analytical budget accountancy will be reimbursed on the basis of 100% of the additional costs. As a general rule, projects should involve at least two independent participants from different Member States or from one Member State and one Associated State. 3. Information given to the Commission relating to proposal application or the contract will be treated in confidence. 4. Detailed information about procedures for the submission of proposals (information package) and the contract that will be established with successful proposers are available on request from the Commission's services. Descriptions of work undertaken in earlier and related programmes are also available on request. 5. The outline work programme for this call for proposals is as follows: Area 1: Cell factories: 1.1. Biological components of cell factories; 1.2. Biochemical engineering components of cell factories; Area 2: Genome analysis: 2.2. Function search; 2.3. In silico (computer-based) comparative analysis; Area 3: Plant and animal biotechnology: 3.2.1. Genome mapping and improvement of farm animal selection; 3.2.3. Somatic gene therapy; Area 5: Immunology and transdisease vaccinology: 5.1. Immunology and immunotechnology; Area 8: Infrastructures: 8.1.1. Information resources on molecular sequences and structures; 8.1.2. Taxonomic information and storage databases; 8.1.4. Horizontal information resources: literature, directories databases; 8.2. Genetic archives and stock centres; 8.3. Assessment of infrastructures. Horizontal activities: - Demonstration activities related to the abovementioned subjects; - Public perception (concerted actions). For the areas and subjects which follow, the present call only allows for the submission of proposals for preparatory awards (in view of demonstration projects or to help SME participation): Area 2: Genome analysis: 2.1. Sequencing; Area 3: Plant and animal biotechnology: 3.1. Plant molecular and cellular biology; 3.2.2. Animal models; Area 4: Cell communication in neurosciences: 4.1. Development of the nervous system; 4.2. Regeneration of the nervous system; 4.3. Degeneration and apoptosis in the nervous cells; 4.4. Management of information by the nervous cells; 4.5. Cell to cell communication in the nervous system; Area 5: Immunology and transdisease vaccinology: 5.2. Transdisease vaccinology; Area 6: Structural biology: 6.1. Structure-function relationships; 6.2. Interface of structural biology with electronics; Area 7: Pre-normative research, biodiversity and social acceptance: 7.1. Pre-normative research: In vitro alternatives to animal experiments in pharmaco-toxicology; 7.2. Prenormative research: Biosafety; 7.3. Prenormative research: Biotechnology for the environment; 7.4. Biodiversity; Area 8: Infrastructures: 8.1.3. A European network of bioinformatic nodes. All correspondence concerning this call should be sent to: European Commission DG XII/E-1 Biotechnology 75 rue Montoyer B-1040 Brussels Tel. +32-2-2962229; Fax +32-2-2955365; Telex COMEU B 21877