Evaluation of Industrial and Materials Technologies research
The European Commission, DG XII, has published the evaluation report of the specific RTD programmes in the fields of Industrial and Materials Technologies (1991-1994) and Raw Materials and Recycling (1990-1992). The report contains the evaluation of Areas 1 and 2 (materials, raw materials, design and manufacturing) of the Industrial and Materials Technologies RTD programme (BRITE/EURAM II) which ran from 1991 to 1994, and Action Lines A and B (primary raw materials and recycling of non-ferrous and strategic metals) of the Raw Materials and Recycling RTD programme which ran from 1990 to 1992, although it was effectively merged with BRITE/EURAM II. The report finds that the principal objectives of BRITE/EURAM II have been met, but calls for improvements in the administration and selection processes. As regards the exploitation of results, the evaluators concluded that the objectives were broadly achieved, but noted that there was little data available to establish the commercial success of results two or three years after completion. Regarding SME participation, the evaluation panel note the value of the CRAFT (cooperative research) scheme and welcome its expansion in the Fourth Framework Programme. However, they note that most SMEs' technical capabilities are more suited to participation in CRAFT than in the full BRITE/EURAM programme, and that a clear differentiation must be maintained.