Second opinion of aeronautics EAG

The second opinion of the External Advisory Group for the Growth programme's key action on 'new perspectives for aeronautics' has now been published on the Research Directorate-General's website. The group, which was set up by the Commission in November 1998 to advise on the ...

The second opinion of the External Advisory Group for the Growth programme's key action on 'new perspectives for aeronautics' has now been published on the Research Directorate-General's website.

The group, which was set up by the Commission in November 1998 to advise on the content and direction of the Fifth Framework Programme, has examined the results of the first round of calls for proposals, and advised on the second round of calls issued on 15 December 1999.

In particular the EAG commented on the revision of the technical content of the key action four Work Programme, priorities for the call for critical technologies (CTs) and technology platforms (TPs) within the Work Programme, the budgetary allocation to the call and the criteria for the evaluation of proposals.

Regarding the Work Programme revision, the group agreed that the technical part dealing with CTs continues to be valid for the second call, and that the revisions with respect to TPs are also appropriate.

The group recommended that the second call be open to CTs Work Programme in its entirety, and particularly encourage proposals on reducing aircraft development costs and time to market, operational maintenance and configurational and interdisciplinary aspects. The EAG also recommended stakeholders, notably industry, be consulted on why areas of the Work Programme raised a lower interest in the first call.

Four technology platforms should be opened in the second call, according to the report. These are TP3-novel rotary-wing aircraft configuration, TP5-Power optimised aircraft, TP6-low external noise aircraft, and TP9-Integrated and modular aircraft electronic systems. These correspond to the three that were not open in the first call and to one where proposals submitted were not retained for funding. The TPs for low noise aircraft cabin and novel fixed-wing aircraft configuration were recommended for consideration for a further call in 2000.

The EAG advised that the remaining budget should be allocated in only two further calls in 1999 and 2000, which should take place on the same date in the two years in order to facilitate awareness and proposal preparation by stakeholders.

Bearing in mind the number of TPs identified as a priority in the second call, the group proposed that a higher proportion of the budget be allocated to TP projects in the 1999 call, with a higher proportion dedicated to CTs in the 2000 call. This would be distributed with 120 million euro for TPs and 80 million euro for CTs in the December 1999 call.

Finally the group advised that the evaluation criteria and thresholds remain the same.