Programme (Euratom, EEC) in the field of special scientific and technical training, implemented by means of advanced training courses and grants, 1981-1984

Executed in accordance with the Council Resolution of 14 January 1974 (Official Journal No C 7 of 29.1.1974) on the coordination of national policies and the definition of projects of interest to the Community in the field of science and technology, this third scientific and technical training programme since 1973 was intended to supplement the Community's research programmes. Previous Community action on scientific and technical training was limited to the nuclear field and involved only the awarding of grants. The scope of this programme was widened to cover all areas of Community R&D and to include advanced training courses.

Other Community bodies took action in parallel. For instance, the Ispra establishment of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) ran training courses. A stimulation programme was also established in 1983 providing for exchanges of scientists (STIMULATION 0C), while a research and training programme in the field of biomolecular engineering (BEP) was started in 1982.
To help secure the objectives of the Community's research and development policy by increasing the mobility of scientists and technical staff within the Community, by training specialists in the fields covered by the Community's research programmes and by creating links between universities and research institutions in the different Member States through exchanges of scientists.
Two measures:

- Multidisciplinary programme of bursaries:
Restricted to the establishments of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and to laboratories participating in Community action programmes in the field of the environment, non-nuclear energies and fusion, it consisted of granting bursaries and financing courses for scientific training;

- Specialist programme of advanced courses in informatics and molecular biology.
The Commission, assisted by the Advisory Committee on Programme Management (ACPM) for Scientific and Technical Training, was responsible for implementing the programme.

The grants were awarded for research work to be carried out in a Community country other than the applicant's country of origin or the country where he normally worked - an exception being made for the establishments of the Joint Research Centre (JRC). Member States' science students, holders of higher education qualifications or doctorates in science, and engineers were eligible for these grants.

Advanced further training courses were financed in areas of particular importance to the Community's R&D policy, such as information technologies and molecular biology.