Specific R&D programme (EC) to be carried out on the one hand by means of direct action (JRC) and, on the other, within the framework of a competitive approach and intended for S&T support to Community policies, 1995-1998

The present document sets out the direct actions to be conducted by the JRC in support of the following specific programmes of the Fourth Frame work Programme of Community RTD (1994-98):

- Information technologies (line 3);
- Industrial and materials technologies (line 4);
- Measurements and testing (line 5);
- Environment and climate (line 6);
- Agriculture and fisheries (line 10);
- Non-nuclear energy (line 11);
- Targeted socio-economic research (line 13);

A separate section of the Decision details the scientific and technical activities in support of Community policies to be conducted within the new competitive approach framework, and the scientific support to be given to Commission services under the Third Activity.

The direct actions to be conducted by the JRC in support of the specific nuclear programmes under the Framework Programme of Community RTD research and training activities for Euratom, are the subject of a separate Decision.
To provide independent scientific and technical expertise to Community institutions and support for the implementation of Community policies and activities; to make JRC capabilities and scientific and technical installations available to public and private bodies; and to contribute to the improvement of public safety aspects of new technologies, the environmental impact assessment and environmental protection, and the reduction of scientific and technological differences between Member States.
Two categories of research activities and activities to be carried out within a competitive framework:

- Institutional research activities:
. Industrial technologies (Industrial and materials technologies; Measurements and testing);
. Environment and climate;
. Non-nuclear energy;
. Targeted socio-economic research;

- Institutional scientific and support activities:
. Information and Communications technologies (Information technologies);
. Environment and climate;
. Life Sciences and technologies (Agriculture and fisheries, including agro-industry, food technologies, forestry, fish farming and rural development);
. Targeted socio-economic research.

- Activities to be carried out within the framework of a competitive approach and intended for scientific and technical support to Community policies:
. Information and Communications technologies (Information technologies);
. Industrial technologies (Measurements and testing);
. Environment (Environment and climate);
. Energy (Non-nuclear energy);
. Third Activity (provision of support to Commission services to meet specific scientific requirements which may arise during the implementation of various Community policies).
The programme is divided into two sections covering direct actions in support of certain specific programmes under the Fourth Framework Programme and activities to be carried out within the framework of a competitive approach and intended for scientific and technical support for other Community policies.

The Commission, assisted by the Board of Governors of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), is responsible for the implementation of the of the direct actions covered by the programme. It shall ensure, in cooperation with the Board of Governors, that there is regular consultation with the programme committees concerned to ensure close coordination between Community shared-cost actions and the institutional research activities of the JRC in the same fields, in order to guarantee a coherent approach.

JRC direct actions in support of the Fourth Framework Programme are divided into two categories: institutional research consisting of research, technological development and training activities for which the JRC has special, if not unique, expertise and installations; and institutional, scientific and technical support activities necessary for the formulation and implementation of Community policies and the tasks assigned to the Commission under the Treaties. The JRC also contributes to the realization of the Fourth Framework Programme's objectives through its participation in the indirect actions of the specific programmes.

The direct actions to be carried out by the JRC are implemented through research and technological development projects and various accompanying measures.

The RTD projects are to be carried out in the relevant institutes of the JRC. The institutes shall endeavour to carry out the research in cooperation, preferably on the basis of networks, with the national research bodies in the Member States. Particular attention must also be paid to cooperation with industry, especially with small and medium-sized enterprises. The JRC is to participate in the relevant EUREKA projects.

Accompanying measures include:

- The organization of visits to JRC institutes of grant holders, visiting scientists and seconded experts;
- Organization of the secondment of JRC staff to national laboratories, industrial laboratories and universities;
- The organization of scientific seminars, workshops and colloquiums;
- Specialized training with an emphasis on multidisciplinarity;
- An information exchange system;
- Promotion of the exploitation of the research results;
- An independent scientific and strategic evaluation of the performance of the projects and programmes.

A budget of ECU 600 million is allocated for the implementation of the direct actions, of which 6% may be used for exploratory research and an amount of ECU 199 million which is estimated as necessary for institutional support activities. The budget is broken down between the various areas as follows: Information and communications technologies ECU 11 million; Industrial technologies ECU 195 million (of which ECU 90 million is earmarked for Industrial and materials technologies and ECU 105 million for Measurements and testing); Environment ECU 294 million; Life sciences and technologies ECU 47 million; Energy ECU 20 million; Targeted socio-economic research ECU 33 million.

In principle, the direct research activities carried out by the JRC are 100% funded from the Community's own resources. If agreement is reached by the EEA Joint Committee, those EFTA states participating in the EEA will provide additional funding in proportion to the Community contributions.

The Commission is authorized to negotiate international agreements with third countries, particularly those European countries not covered by the EEA Agreement, and with international organizations located in Europe, with a view to associating them with JRC activities.

Provisions are also made to enable the JRC to execute projects with undertakings and bodies established in third countries, in the context of the specific programmes carried out by the JRC. Such research projects may consist of cooperation with research laboratories and the exchange of scientists. It is envisaged that supplementary measures will be included to facilitate cooperation with research laboratories and institutes in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

The knowledge gained from the implementation of the projects will be disseminated under the programmes themselves and under the centralized action set out under the Third Activity of the Fourth Framework Programme.

Scientific research in support of other Community policies, which are conducted within the Framework of a competitive approach, may be assigned to research bodies and centres, including the JRC, universities or undertakings following the completion of a competitive tendering process. The rules governing the competitive approach may also apply to those EFTA states which are party to the EEA Agreement.

Activities covered by the competitive approach are financed from a budget of ECU 128 million, of which a sum of ECU 91 million is earmarked for scientific and technical research under the First Activity of the framework programme (Industrial technologies ECU 10 million, Information and communications technologies ECU 10 million, Environment ECU 26 million, Life sciences and technologies ECU 30 million, and Energy ECU 15 million) and a sum of ECU 37 million for actions under the Third Activity of the Framework Programme in support of other Community policies.

The Commission, assisted by the Board of Governors of the JRC, will continuously monitor the progress in implementing both sections of the programme in relation to the requirements of Community policies to ensure, in particular, that the priorities, objectives and financial resources remain appropriate. On the basis of these monitoring processes it shall, where necessary, submit proposals to adopt or supplement the programme.

In addition, the Commission is required to submit annual reports on the implementation of both sections of the programme to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee before 15 April each year.

Regular assessments of the activities covered by the first section of the programme (direct actions) will be conducted by independent experts who, upon completion of the programme, will carry out a final evaluation of the results achieved compared to initial objectives. A report of this final evaluation will be communicated to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee.