BRITE/EURAM Exploratory Awards
The European Commission has recently selected 100 proposals for Exploratory Awards for research projects under the specific RTD programme in the field of Industrial Materials and Technologies (BRITE/EURAM). The Exploratory Awards, which are part of the Technology Stimulation Measures for SMEs, provide funding for two SMEs to prepare a full proposal for a Community-funded research project or a CRAFT cooperative research project. Proposals for Exploratory Awards may be submitted throughout the life of the programme, and are evaluated in batches. Between 1 February 1996 and 12 June 1996, 171 applications for Exploratory Awards were received for projects in the BRITE/EURAM programme, bringing the total since the call for proposals was launched in December 1994 to 768. Of the 171 proposals received in the above-mentioned period of 1996, 100 were selected, and will receive total funding of ECU 3.7 million. The 100 proposals selected are in the following areas of the programme: - Area 1: Production technologies: 63 proposals; - Area 2: Materials and technologies for product innovation: 33 proposals; - Area 3A: Aeronautics technologies: 1 proposal; - Area 3B: Technologies for surface transport means: 3 proposals. Proposals for Exploratory Awards may be submitted at any time up to 11 June 1997. The deadline for the next evaluation will be 29 January 1997.