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Dissemination and exploitation of knowledge resulting from the specific programmes of research and technological development of the Community, 1992-1994

 
By its Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, of 23 April 1990 (Official Journal No L 117 of 8.5.1990) the Council adopted a third Framework programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1990-1994). Article 4 of the Decision stipulated that measures to disseminate the knowledge gained from, and to exploit the results of, the specific R&D programmes under the Framework programme should be implemented, on the one hand, through the programmes themselves and, on the other, by means of a centralized action. The Decision included for this action an amount of ECU 57 million, drawn proportionally from each specific programme and representing 1% of the amount deemed necessary for the whole Framework programme. The Decision 93/167/Euratom, EEC, of 15 March 1993 (Official Journal No L 69 of 20.3.1993) revised the amount for this action to ECU 66 million.

The centralized action, details of which are set forth in Council Decision 92/272/EEC of 29 April 1992, provides the necessary continuity for some of the measures carried out under the 1989-1993 VALUE programme. It also introduces new topics concerned particularly with the repercussions of RTD activities and their results on society as a whole.

Under the action a network of relay centres will be set up to promote the dissemination and exploitation of Community R&D results. Taking into account and building on the existing structures in Member States designed for the same purpose, these will have special access to Community information, under the control of the Commission, and will have as their main task the tailoring and interpretation of this information to local needs.

Another aim of the centralized action will be to update and expand the CORDIS computerized information service. It is foreseen that the service may provide new functions, use new sources of information, harmonize and/or integrate databases, use electronic storage devices (CD-ROM and video discs) and develop user-friendly systems for electronic data exchange in cooperation with related Community programmes. The development of computerized methods does not exclude the use of more traditional methods (e.g. publication of bulletins and bibliographies) to provide wider access to information services.

The centralized action is to be conducted in accordance with the following guiding principles:
- Horizontality:
Measures to publish and utilize research results must apply to the whole range of Community R&D activities covered by the Framework programme. This criterion will be implemented through coordination and liaison between RTD specific programmes and the centralized action;
- Internal complementarity:
The centralized action will coordinate and supplement the measures taken under the specific RTD programmes and will also concentrate on activities requiring special infrastructure and skills or special capabilities for transferring know-how to fields of activity in other disciplines;
- Subsidiarity:
The centralized action will build on the synergies between decentralized (public and private) and Community R&D activities and is designed to establish a coherent mechanism for the utilization and transfer of the technologies and the know-how obtained from these activities, using wherever possible the existing structures in Member States.
To give specific added value to the whole range of Community R&D activities which are the subject of the third Framework programme(1990-1994), coordinating and supplementing the measures taken under the specific RTD programmes.
Three interfaces:

- Research-Industry interface:
To help improve the international competitiveness of Europe's industry in accordance with the provisions of the EEC Treaty by means of specific projects designed to maximize the impact of Community R&D activities on industry as a whole. Measures:
. New channels of information (network of relay centres; the CORDIS computerized information service);
. Utilization of results (identifying, controlling and appraising research results; finding licensees , including for the JRC, and parties interested in utilizing results; providing financing support for studies or test and experimental developments);
. Protection of results (protection of Community-owned results and management of the Community's patents portfolio; patenting expertise for universities, research centres and SMEs; public awareness campaigns on the importance of protecting results for research scientists participating in Community R&D programmes);
. Promotional activities (financial support for organizations promoting Community results and access to Community programmes; organization of seminars and conferences; attendance at trade fairs);

- Interface between research and the scientific community:
To contribute to interdisciplinary reflection in relation to research, its methods, problems and impact. Four areas:
. General context of research (to study the constraints and/or opportunities for the dissemination and exploitation of R&D activities applying the disciplines of law, political sciences, and social and human sciences);
. Communication of research (to improve the communication of research towards its various users, by obtaining a better understanding of communication patterns);
. Economics of research (use of macroeconomic instruments and business sciences to determine the optimum use of resources for research as part of general economic development objectives and company objectives);
. Management of research (to promote knowledge of best practice in the management of R&D in order to contribute to better exploitation of results);

- Interface between research and society:
Measures designed to identify and study the impact on society of the new scientific and technological knowledge acquired as a result of Community activities. Three parts:
. Contribution to assessment of the social impact of science and technology (development of general "technology assessment" schemes, in conjunction with the more specific activities provided for in individual programmes and with the activities of the MONITOR programme);
. Communication with the public (to provide information to the public, particularly through the mass media, building on existing structures in Member States);
. Analyzing public demand and new requirements (to provide, in conjunction with the other programmes concerned, including MONITOR, studies and surveys designed to identify the latest social needs).
The Commission is responsible for the implementation of the centralized action, assisted by a committee composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission. It will apply the accumulated experience and best practice of both European and international experts.

The action comprises projects, concerted actions and accompanying measures.

Projects are the subject of shared-cost contracts, with Community financial participation not normally exceeding 50%. Universities and other research centres have the option of requesting, for each project, either 50% funding of total expenditure or 100% funding of the additional marginal costs. Contracts relating to shared-cost projects must, as a general rule, be concluded following a selection procedure based on calls for proposals published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Projects must, as a general rule, be carried out by participants established in the Community.

Concerted actions consist of action by the Community to coordinate the individual activities carried out in the Member States. They may benefit from funding of up to 100% of coordinating expenditure.

The accompanying measures will be implemented through:
- The organization of seminars, workshops and scientific conferences;
- Internal coordination through the creation of integrating groups;
- Independent scientific and strategic evaluation of the operation of the projects and the action;
- Contributions to studies and enquiries.

In the course of the second year of implementation the Commission shall review the action and forward a report to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee. At the end of the action, an evaluation of the results shall be conducted by a group of independent experts and submitted to these same bodies, together with the Commission's comments.