title: Proposta de DECISÃO DO CONSELHO que adopta um programa específico de investigação e desenvolvimento da Comunidade europeia nos domínios das tecnologias de produção industrial e das aplicações de materiais avançados (BRITE/EURAM) (1989 - 1992) (Apresentada pela Comissão)

text:
ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (88) 385
Vol. 1988/0139
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 concernant
l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique européenne et de
la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, p. 1) modifié en dernier
lieu par le règlement (UE) 2015/496 du Conseil du 17 mars 2015 (JO L79 du 25. 3.2015, p. 1), ce
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Commission du 13 mars 2015 concernant les règles de sécurité aux fins de la protection des
informations classifiées de l'Union européenne.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning
the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the
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In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1. Februar
1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und
der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983, S. 1), zuletzt geändert durch die
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 ---pagebreak---     COMISSÃO DAS COMUNIDADES EUROPEIAS
                                               COM(88 ) 385 final - SYN 142
                                               Bruxelas , 25 de Julho de 1988
                                Proposta de
                        DECISÃO DO CONSELHO
      que adopta um programa específico de investigação
         e desenvolvimento da Comunidade europeia nos
      domínios das tecnologias de produção industrial e
     das aplicações de materiais avançados ( BRITE / EURAM)
                              ( 1989 - 1992 )
                  ( Apresentada pela Comissão)
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 ---pagebreak---                                          1
 RESUMO
 A indústria transformadora , que representa cerca de 30% do PIB e emprega cerca
 de 41 milhões de trabalhadores , é e continuará a ser uma componente essencial
 da economia da Comunidade . fJo entanto , existem indicios de fragilidade estru ¬
 tural nd que se refere à capacidade de resposta dos produtores europeus às exi ¬
 gências crescentes e cada vez mais competitivas dos mercados mais desenvolvidos .
 A fundamentação deste programa tem por base , em primeiro lugar , a necessidade
 de dar uma resposta positiva à pressão da concorrência mundial nos mercados no
,que se refere a produtos transformados e ao desenvolvimento da tecrtologia de
 apoio de produtos e processos . Em segundo lugar , a I&D , ao estabelecer liga ¬
 ções entre fronteiras nacionais e sectoriais , constitui uma forma eficaz de ex ¬
 plorar recursos disponíveis e uma via importante para realizar o mercado inter¬
 no . 0 novo programa BRITE / EURAM integra as acções previstas nos pontos 3.1 e
 3.2 do Programa-quadro de Acções Comunitárias no domínio da Investigação e De¬
 senvolvimento Tecnológico ( 1987-1991 ). Está incluído no capitulo da moderniza ¬
 ção de sectores industriais e abrange as tecnologias de produção e materiais
 avançados . 0 programa desenvolve-se a partir da experiência e dos resultados
 que estão já a surgir nos programas BRITE e EURAM .
 Os indicios animadores provenientes dos primeiros programas BRITE e EURAM, con¬
 firmados pelos Grupos de Avaliação ae BRITE e EURAM, mostraram que os programas
 ocuparam uma posição importante na política comunitária de ciência e tecnologia .
 Não só 80% dos projectos se revelaram muito satisfatórios , demonstrando estarem
 a efectuar progressos importantes , mas foi também acrescentada uma nova dimensão
 importante através da criação e da consolidação de alianças industriais transfron
 teiras para I&D e através de ligações transf rontei ras entre indústrias e univer¬
 sidades . Verificou -se igualmente que os programas haviam auxiliado as PMEs a
'estabelecer ligações com grandes empresas e ccm universidades e a beneficiar das
 trocas comerciais resultantes . Registou -se também a plena participação de Esta -
 dos-membros mais pequenos e menos desenvolvidos .
 0 principal objectivo deste programa consiste em .desenvolver a posição competi ¬
 tiva das indústrias transformadora e de materiais da Comunidade nos mercados
 mundiais através do apoio a um programa de investigação e desenvolvimento desti ¬
 nado a fornecer a tecnologia industrial e de materiais necessária a produtos
 inovadores e ao desenvolvimento de processos .
 0 programa contribuirá para a competitividade industrial incentivando a coope¬
 ração interf rontei ras no domínio da investigação orientada para a indústria na
 fase pré-competitiva entre vários sectores industriais e entre a indústria , ins ¬
 titutos de investigação e universidades e contribuirá igualmente para realizar
 o mercado comum em 1992 .   Será daaa uma atenção especial a projectos que envolvam
 PMEs com o objectivo de assegurar a sua participação adequada no programa .
 0 novo programa não se destina a assumir a responsabilidade da indústria na rea ¬
 lização de investigação e desenvolvimento adequados para apoiar as suas necessi ¬
 dades , mas , tal como os programas anteriores , desempenha um papel catalizador ao
 fornecer o incentivo para dar a melhor utilização aos recursos disponíveis na
 Comunidade .
 Em consequência de incentivos provenientes da indústria e da experiência resul ¬
 tante dos programas anteriores , as tecnologias de produção e de materiais serão
 agora integradas num programa único que abrange os seguintes domínios :
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 2 -
- tecnologias de materiais avançados
- metodologia de concepção e garantia de produtos e processos
- aplicação de tecnologias de produção
- tecnologias para processos de produção .                          >
A actividade do programa quadrienal , conjuntamente com as contribuições previs ¬
tas por intermédio da participação dos paises AECL, orçará em cerca de mil mi ¬
lhões de ECUs , 439.5 milhões dos quais serão fornecidos pela Comissão . Existi ¬
rão quatro formas diferentes de apoio .
Mais de 90% do orçamento será consagrado à investigação industrial aplicada , a
qual se realizará através de contratos a custos repartidos que envolvam pelo me ¬
nos duas empresas industriais independentes . 0 custo total de projectos situa -se
entre 1 e 3 milhões de ECUs e abrange pelo menos 10 homem . anos de actividade . A
contribuição comunitária não será superior a 50% dos custos totais , devendo o res¬
tante ficar a cargo da indústria .
Estará disponível até 7% do orçamento para investigação fundamental em áreas do
desenvolvimento de materiais em que o progresso industrial é entravado pela in¬
suficiência em termos de ciências de base . Para garantir um âmbito verdadeira ¬
mente industrial para esta actividade que não necessita da participação de um
parceiro industrial , será requerido o apoio de carácter industrial de personali ¬
dades designadas provenientes da indústria . Os projectos cujos custos se situem
entre 0,4 e 1 milhão de ECUs elevem abranger , pelo menos , 10 homem . anos de activi ¬
dade .
A Comissão está também a introduzir um plano-piloto de prémios de viabilidade
com o objectivo de apoiar as PMEs na definição da viabilidade de um dispositivo,
processo ou conceito como forma de melhorar as suas possibilidades de encontrar
um parceiro num futuro convite para apresentação de propostas no domínio da in¬
vestigação industrial aplicada . Tais prémios destinam-se a dar apoio para , compen ¬
sar as dificuldades com que as PMEs se depararam . A Comissão suportará até 75%,
num máximo de 25 000 ECUs , do custo da investigação durante um período máximo
de seis meses . Esta actividade será cofinanciada pelo Grupo de Trabalho PMEs .
Será consagrada à coordenação de actividades uma pequena parcela do orçamento
total do programa .
Além disso, serão apoiados projectos de demonstração no âmbito da investigação
industrial aplicada . As suas modalidades serão determinadas à medida que os
projectos inseridos nos primeiros programas BRITE e EURAM estiverem quase con¬
cluídos .
Será anunciado um calendário de convites anuais para apresentação de propostas
no primeiro Pacote de Informações . Os temas prioritários serão revistos anual ¬
mente para reflectir as alterações de requisitos da indústria . Os convites
regulares destinam-se a ultrapassar os problemas e a incerteza de candidatos
potenciais que se verificou com as grandes discontinuidades no programa anterior .
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 3 -
INTRODUCTION
In its Communication of 28 September 1987                 the Commission presented its
initial ^omments on the programme to follow on from the first BRITE
Programme .
The new programme integrates the cost-shared actions foreseen in lines 3.1 and
3.2 of the Framework Programme for Community Activities in the Field of
Research and Technological Development 15            ( 1987-1991 ) covering manufacturing
technologies and advanced materials, ^o building on the achievements already
emerging in the first BRITE and EURAM programmes . Experience with managing
these two programmes together with the strong encouragement revealed in
consultations with industrialists and, in particular , the Industrial Research
and Development Advisory Committee ( IRDAC ) and the panels evaluating the first
BRITE and EURAM programmes underlines the inseparable links between materials
development , product design*and manufacturing technology . A single programme
will best serve the R&D needs of European industry .
The objectives and strategic goals set out below are / in keeping with the
thrust of the Framework Programme towards improving industrial performance
particularly in relation to the 'modernisation of industrial sectors' and
also 'towards a large market and an information and communication society' .
While the development of information technology will be excluded from the new
programme the application of IT will of course be encouraged . By strengthening
the scientific and technological basis of European industry and encouraging it
to  become more competitive^ at              international level the aims expressed
in the Single European Act ^ are reflected . The Programme does not replace the
responsibility of industry to conduct adequate R&D in support of its needs but
it has a catalytic role in providing the incentive to encourage the best use
of the resources available in the Community . This applies particularly to the
established sectors of industry where the R&D base has to be seen as a more
important element of company strategy .
OBJECTIVES
The principal objective of the Programme is to help enhance the competitive
position of the Community 's manufacturing industries in world markets through
the support of a programme of research and development to provide the
industrial and materials technology base required for strategic , innovative
product and process development .
There are two subsidiary objectives .              First , to encourage transfrontier
collaboration within the Community in strategic industrial research between
industrial companies        and complementary     centres    of  expertise  in  industry ,
research organisations ,       and universities .     Second ,  to encourage transfer of
   COM ( 87 ) 307 FINAL / 2
2 0J N° L 83,25.3.1985, n . 8
3 0J N° L 302 , 24 . 10 . 1987,p. 1
4 OJ N° L 159, 14.6.1986, p. 36
5 OJ N° L 169,29.6.1987, p. 1
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 4 -
technology between sectors and particularly to those sectors , often with a
high predominance of SMEs , which are slow in exploiting new technologies to
improve their performance .
Strategie Goals
The main instrument for meeting the objectives will be collaborative ,
transfrontier R & D able to provide the technological             tools for better
products and processes . These will include the development and application of
new materials and engineering technologies and encouraging the wider
application of IT developed elsewhere . The tools will be aimed at meeting
strategic goals for improving the performance of manufacturing industries by :
- Developing        advanced materials and their processing for applications
    requiring improved physical and environmental behaviour , better performance
    repeatability and reliability , and cost effectiveness .
- Incorporation of best practice into design ( i.e. materials selection and
    design rules for manufacturing , assembly , reliability and maintenance ).
                                                             (
-    Reduction      of design to product      lead time ,  including reducing the
    manufacturing lead time .
- Improving management of the manufacturing operation , including process
    control , product quality assurance and condition monitoring .
- Improving the cost effectiveness of manufacturing .
PROGRAMME JUSTIFICATION
The case for the programme is based , first , on the need for a positive
response to the pressure of world competition in the market place for
manufactured goods and in the supporting technology development of products
and processes .      Second , R 8 D collaboration , bridging national and sectoral
boundaries is an effective way of exploiting available resources and a
valuable route towards the internal market .
The challenge in the world market place
Manufacturing industry is and will remain an essential part of the Community 's
economy . It provides around 30% of GNP and accounts for 75% of the industrial
workforce of some 41,000,000 people .       In spite of a strongly positive balance
of trade in manufactured goods of 130% in 1985 , structural weaknesses have
developed over the years , in particular the capacity to respond to growing
demand in the more developed markets .
Within manufacturing industry there are sectors with a fast growing demand
 ( e.g. instruments , chemicals ) and sectors with a stagnating demand ( e.g.
clothing , textiles , motor vehicles ).           The common element is that the
performance of the European industries and those of the most developed
industrial countries will be less concentrated on maintaining or increasing
market share of the total market .       Instead they will seek to capture the top
pnd of the market by new or improved products often with a high technology
content in the product itself or its means of manufacture .              This trend
establishes technology as one of the crucial factors for the competitiveness
of manufacturing industry . Its effective use in both production equipment and
new products is a potential source of spectacular improvements in industrial
performance .       Technology can increase equipment availability , introduce
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 5 -
flexibility into the production process and so improve market adaptability .
It also makes possible smaller production runs and allows for reduction in
time for manufacture .    Here the appropriate application of IT systems is of
relevance to all manufacturing industries . More detailed examples showing
where technology could be exploited to enhance the economic performance are
included in the technical areas for the new programme in Annex A.
Increasingly the distinction between leading edge and mature industries will
disappear .    The potential for increasing productivity and flexibility is
greater in mature industries as is the incentive to employ new technology .
For the future the dividing line will be between those who make full use of
the available technology and those who do not , even within the same sector .
Already this 'denaturing' process is evident in established sectors such as
motor vehicles or clothing .
The development and adoption of new technologies is therefore crucial .
However , the challenge of nev* technology goes far beyond sectoral definitions ;
it concerns the competitiveness of European industry as a whole - its very
ability to exploit new opportunities .
                                                            /
To assess the state of Community industry and the means of improving the
Community 's technological competitiveness , the innovation process can be
broken down into
- the création of new technologies ,
- their use in the production process and
- their implementation in products .
The création of new technologies
Trends in the funding of research give rise to concern underpinning the need
for an increased level and synergy of R & D activity in Europe .         The funds
devoted to R & D activities for the EEC *( 70 billion ECU ) were , in 1986, only
about 60 Z of that of the US .     As the annual increase was about 4 Z in both
cases this difference is unlikely to change rapidly .         In contrast , while
Japanese R S D expenditure is 30 Z below that of Europe its growth rate , 9 % ,
is twice as high .    Looking at research expenditure as a percentage of gross
domestic product , this rate reached 2,8 % in Japan and US in 1985 .       Only FRG
approached this level , which together with France and UK at 2,3 Z exceeded the
Community average of about 2 Z.     A further impediment to      European industry
henefitting from applied research and technology         transfer comes from the
lower industrial contribution in the distribution of R S D between industry
and the public sector within Europe .
A quantitative comparison identifies an overall weakness in the R & D
potential of the entire Community .      It , of course , neglects the effect of
twelve components between which there is little synergy .      The European effort
tends to cover the whole range of R 8 0 activity from basic to industrial
prototypes .   Japan and the US concentrate much more on R 8 D with a view to
later industrial use .    This difference in strategies means that the Community
lags behind in crucial enabling areas such as new materials and production
technologies , in addition to the microelectronics based technologies .
Technology in the production process .
 In production technology the Community is beginning to catch up with the use
of advanced computer aided techniques and equipment after a slow start and
here the advanced IT developed in the ESPRIT programme is of major importance .
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 6 -
But improvements are needed concerning the reliability and predictability of
machine behaviour as enterprises become more dependent on expensive machinery .
Recognising the characteristics of Community industry consisting of few large
and many medium sized and small enterprises , there is a particular need to
reduce the complexity and cost of new production technologies and systems .
However , the evidence from the first BRITE and EURAM programmes confirms that
in the Community industry there is a greater confidence that it is capable ,
particularly when assisted by universities and research institutes , of
mounting a realistic challenge to the market performance of the major
industrial competitors .
Technology in products .
Exploiting new technology in products is essential whether directly as in the
use of new materials or indirectly through improved design , reliability ,
servicing or marketing .      Here the Community industry has generally been less
successful than its competitors , particularly from the Far East .              In fast
moving advanced technology markets the Community industry has often retreated
into established production of engineered commodities such as colour
televisions without an equivalent activity in R&D - so ^ leading to losses in
industrial employment . Because of the government support in the US and Japan ,
the Community lags behind in the engineering aspects - performance and methods
of component manufacture of new materials .         Failure to exploit new materials
to improve product performance , durability and reliability bars the Community
from competing in rapidly expanding and traditional markets .
The programme aims to reduce the constraints and limitations at each of these
levels and help to provide European industry with the necessary enabling
technologies which demand an intersectorial and interdisciplinary approach .
Collaboration across frontiers and sectors
The importance of collaboration can also be demonstrated through the structure
of European industry . Individual sectors of industry are not islands but are
dependent on others .     For example , to be competitive established sectors must
incorporate the products of the high technology sectors ,                     including
microelectronics and     information    processing ,    for which   they   are  a  very
important market , into their products , processes and business systems .             A
similar dependence extends to the service sector as much of its activity is
geared to manufacturing .
Unfortunately , the supply chain in Europe is often fragmented compared to that
of its major industrial competitors .        Japan has a relatively small number of
giant financial holding companies while the US has economy of scale .                In
Europe a very varied market is met by a large number of suppliers who in turn
are customers for many suppliers of components , processes and services .           Too
often there is poor communication between functions - design , engineering ,
manufacturing , purchasing , marketing - both within and between companies .
This   situation   slows    down   the   rate   of   innovation   and   its   effective
implementation .     It  is desirable for both customers and suppliers to be
working together to ensure that resources are directed to RXD which will bring
the maximum benefits . Alnost always supply chains involve firms of all sizes ,
so that attention has to be given to ensure that technology based SMEs can
also benefit , recognising their particular problems , such as a lack of human
and financial resources to plan and implement, change .        Indeed , in almost all
sectors industrial success vtill often be largely influenced by performance of
f-ITs in the role of suppliers of materials , components or services .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 7 -
The commercial development of tools - the products and processes - is the
primary responsibility of those companies able to exploit the commercial
benefits they bring . This development process is more likely to be successful
if companies have access to preparatory or pre-competit ive research and
development at the leading edge .     There are considerable resources available
in the Community which should be used to best effect .       The catalytic role of
Community programmes can provide the incentive for this collaboration to take
place .
Pre-competitive RfJO - applied research not leading directly to commercially
exploitable results - is an essential enabling instrument for competitiveness
but may be too wide in application , of too long a time scale , or too risky to
make it acceptable for funding by single companies , particularly SMEs . It is
exactly in this field where existing resources in Europe are not exploited to
a sufficient level .
Additional and external funding will make it possible to provide ,          at the
European level , the linkages which enable the complementary expertise of those
in industry and research organisations to work together and so specify , manage
and implement the work required .      The Commission support will enable those
able to make a worthwhile contribution to the task in hand to participate
towards the internal market .
Towards the internal market
The challenges within the programme fall squarely within the scope of the
Framework Programme .   Only by working together across national boundaries can
Europe look to a future where the strength of the Far East and the US
manufacturing base can be challenged on a broad front .        Working together in
R5D will lead to companies seeing mutual benefits for their future in
continuing collaboration in R&D and possibly extending this to marketing ,
manufacturing and training .      Collaboration also provides opportunities for
bringing application expertise to new sectors through demonstrations of
technology or transfer of human expertise . In a more direct response to the
challenge of the single integrated market foreseen for 1992 , the involvement
of partners from several countries will be a valuable step in the
harmonisation of manufacturing practices .      This convergence of practices will
encourage the quest for standards .       One of the outcomes of the BRITE / EURAM
programme will hopefully be an enriched range of European standards produced
under the aegis of CEN and CENELEC .           Standardisation at European level
contributes , on one side , to break down the technical barriers to trade within
the Community and , on the other side , it enhances the competitiveness of
European industry in its home market . The inclusion of work in support of the
standards making activity should not be a definitive selection criteria for
the programme .   However , encouragement will be given to projects which aim to
exploit a potential market opportunity arising from advancing the development
of new standards or other codes of practice , including those which might be
associated with environmental or safety considerations . The European dimension
realised through the transfrontier collaboration ensures complementarity with
nationally supported initiatives .
An integrated Community is also better served when its technical expertise is
available to reach out across national boundaries . Community support can also
result , because of the structure of the market place or high cost of R&D , in
work which is unlikely to be funded by one company or one country , thereby
making more efficient use of resources for research ,       more efficient use of
capital equipment or the generation of a critical mass of expertise .
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 8 -
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FIRST BRITE AND .EURAM PROGRAMMES
The programme builds on the encouraging signs which have already emerged
within BRITE and EURAM and recognised by their evaluation panels .      Though the
first research work funded under the BRITE programme did not start until early
1986 and , in the case of EURAM, not until late 1987 , encouraging progress has
already been made with most of the projects underway in the process of
fulfilling their objectives .     The BRITE Evaluation Panel judged that a very
satisfactory 80% of projects were progressing well .         BRITE had helped to
consolidate industrial transborder alliances and to create new ones .          The
Panel considered that BRITE had benefitted SMEs , both by being involved in
research and from the resulting commercial opportunities .        The smaller and
less developed Member States had participated fully . Important results are
appearing which could not have happened without an enabling instrument for
transboundary collaborative research .     Examples are given at the end of this
section .
In the first BRITE and EURAM programmes more than 1200 proposals were received
involving almost 5000 individual partners .         130 experts from different
industrial sectors , universities and research institutes from all Member
States were involved in the technical and economical evaluation , and assessing
the potential industrial impact of the proposals .          These experts worked
together in groups in Brussels under the chairmanship of Commission officials
not belonging to the staff of the programmes .
About 300 projects are now being supported .      Within BRITE , of the projects
being supported 60% of partners are from industry ,            21% from research
institutions    and   19%  from  universities .     There  was    significant  SME
participation amounting to about 35% of the industrial partners .        The major
difference in EURAM was that somewhat less , 44% of partners , are from
industry , the major part being from universities and research institutes . In
both cases there was an encouraging level of collaboration between
universities and industry .      Both programmes included projects with a high
materials element integrating problems of'design and production .      Recognising
that in many cases no clear distinction can or should be made between a
programme with objectives relating to materials applications and production
technology , underlines the need for a single programme to follow on from the
first BRITE and EURAM .
A characteristic of the previous BRITE and EURAM programmes was the large
number of very good projects which were not supported because of budget
limitations .    In fact only about 1 in 4 of good projects was supported .    The
scale of the opportunities lost among those whose projects were rejected in
the earlier programmes makes a strong case for the substantially larger budget
for the new programme , an argument endorsed by the BRITE Evaluation Panel .
The programmes have helped to remove the bias against technical collaboration
in Europe and so will help in the realisation of the single market . The level
of interest will increase and this was underlined by the BRITE Technological
Days held in December 1987 which attracted more than 1000 delegates .
To achieve a better balance between the available funds and the number of good
projects submitted ,    the information pack will seek to give a more precise
definition of the projects which will be supported .       This will put greater
emphasis on the evaluation criteria and more closely define the priority
themes .    The introduction of an annual call for proposals should also help .
As before ,   the project selection will be undertaken by independent experts
familiar with the needs of industry , drawn from industry itself , but also
including experts from universities and research institutes . The fairness and
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 9 -
efficiency of this process was seen as a particular feature of the programme .
Careful consideration will be given to the improvements recommended by the
BRITE Evaluation Panel .
An important feature of the first BRITE programme was the 'expression of
interest' mechanism operated by the Commission which allowed those interested
in forming partnerships to be put into touch with one another .      Even when a
project did not emerge productive introductions often resulted .    This process
was supported by the contact points in each Member State who provided a source
of information close to intending partners . With EURAM advanced materials
networks organised with the European Materials Research Society ( EMRS ) and in
conjunction with industries and universities has provided a valuable
co-ordination    for work in 11 different specialised fields of materials
research .    The new integrated programme will build on the successful features
of the first BRITE and EURAM programmes , taking account of the comments from
their Programme Evaluation Panels .
Results from the first BRITE and EURAM programmes .
The following examples illustrate edrly achievements a(nd targets from the
earlier programmes .
European mould makers are often SMEs and face a challenge not only from their
major customers , such as the car industry , which requires its suppliers to be
equipped with CADCAM but also from the strong competition arising outside the
Community .    The objective is to shorten the whole process of mould design and
manufacture , which now is typically six months .     Success would increase the
competitiveness of the mould maker through shorter delivery times , and by
allowing smaller batch sizes or more complex parts to be produced from the
moulds .    The aim is to produce moulds with little or no reworking while
currently moulds may have to be modified 5 to 10 times .       In the consortium
seven enterprises , ranging from very small to very large , and two research
organisations are involved .    The first part of the project investigating the
weaknesses of existing approaches has already led to useful developments in
mould design .
The man-made fibre industry is anticipating even fiercer competition from
competitors outside Europe where developments in higher speed meltspinning
have been identified . For this reason major man-made fibre producers in three
Community countries , a specialised equipment maker together with two research
institutes , have come together to improve the technology for the melt spinning
of continuous synthetic yarn . This project aims at improving the productivity
and reducing the manufacturing costs of melt spinning of nylon and polyester
by increasing the collection speeds from typically 6 km per minute up to 10 km
per minute . Key requirements are to ensure zero defect operation and delivery
of yarns of the required quality . This project could lead to a cost reduction
of up to 10% in the final product . Preliminary results indicate that this aim
is feasible .
The most expensive part in the clothing production process is the assembly of
cut parts .     It accounts for roughly 50% of the production costs , of which
about S0% is the handling of the parts and only 20% the actual sewing process .
A clothing manufacturer , a machine manufacturer and a robot producer from two
Community countries have come together to develop a flexible system which is
capable of receiving stacks of cut parts , typically of between 50 and 200
nieces , removing a single component from each stack and then carrying out
sevo.ral stages of sequential assembly automatically . The system is limited to
operations that start and finish flat .      Final assembly will continue to be
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 10 -
manual .   As most of the handling is 2-dimensional , there is scope for cost
reductions in the production process of up to 25% , while maintaining and even
increasing the flexibility and the quality .        Considerable progress has been
made towards the objective of a         full-scale laboratory prototype assembly
system .     This laboratory prototype could be the basis - for the first fully
automated flexible clothing assembly cell in Europe .
Dyeing of fabrics is one of the most important steps in the manufacturing
process of textiles .      About 80% of the fabrics are dyed in continuous line .
Currently about 5% of material is waste because of variations in shade and
colour . Two textile producers , an equipment company and a research laboratory
from three Community countries are col laborating in a project to study the
parameters of continuous dyeing and to develop on-line sensors and real time
control mechanisms that will give consistency and shade repeatability . A
feasibility study has shown that it could be possible to control the key
process parameters to give consistent shade and colour across the width and
along the length of the fabcic .        A successful outcome could lead to price
reductions of up to 20% , which would place the European textile industry in a
stronger position in an increasingly competitive world market .
                                                              t
Welding takes up 20 - 30% of production time in European shipyards .          While
about 80% of welds are made in Japanese yards with automatic or semi-automatic
devices , about 80% of welds in Europe are still made manually . To improve the
European technological capability a shipyard , a supplier of welding equipment ,
a paint producer , two welding research organisations and a shipbuilding
research organisation , sponsored by shipyards , have joined together to achieve
a large-scale shift to mechanised welding processes .           The aim is a simple
automation of the welding of sub-components and the application of welding
robots , within the context of the shipbuilding industry . The welding problems
posed by the primer of the steel are also being studied in order to reduce the
influence of the prefabrication primer on mechanized , automated and robotic
welding . First results have led to data which could serve to define normalized
fume boxes .     Considerable progress towards automated welding has already been
made .
Laser technology will be used as a tool to cut and to identify defects in
natural materials .         This project ,    involving industries and research
organisations from two Community countries , aims at the reduction of material
waste and an increase in productivity rates for industries based on the use
and transformation of indigenous materials such as cork , leather , wood and
marble . The major objectives of research are to define the laser cutting
process and parameters for each material , especially for cork and marble where
laser cutting is a promising technique , and to develop methods for defect
identification by size , shope and colour .       Cutting speed should be increased
by up to 35% for leather and 50% for cork using laser , compared to manual
cutting .     It is estimated that such developments could lead to the waste of
material being reduced by 40% .      These important economic benefits explain the
high interest from industries which are generally SMEs .
In the field of materials research ,          a variety of projects address the
substitution of strategic materials with more available and versatile
materials leading to products with enhanced physical or mechanical properties .
The degree of dependency of important European industries on metals such as
chromium , cobalt , tungsten or some rare earth metals , supplied mainly from
outside the Community , can be reduced by substitution . For example , bringing
tnnether partners with expertise in metallurgy ,       process engineering , design
and magnetic theory has enabled a new and more efficient production process
for magnetic powder material of the new alloy iron ,      neodymyum and boron to be
 ---pagebreak---                                        11
developed for the manufacture of high energy permanent magnets . In another
example , hard particles and ceramic whiskers introduced into white cast iron
powder produced a new hard metal powder replacing more expensive and alloyed
steels .     Similarly , in electrical contact and switching materials , a new
silver alloy with a drastically reduced silver content was found and is now
patented and in commercial production .
The stimulation of cooperation in European manufacturing industry is , in many
sectors , breaking new ground and providing mutual help which ultimately must
result in a stronger position in the market place .
THE TECHNICAL CONTENT OF THE PROGRAMME
With a limited budget , less than   4 % of industrial R & D spending by Community
Governments , the programme must    focus on the R&D most likely to be effective
in meeting those goals which are    most critical to securing the competitiveness
of the Community 's manufacturing    industry , in the medium term , that is 5-10
years hence .
The technical areas for the programme have been selected after an extended
process of consultation .     In addition to a postal enquiry sent to some 1,000
companies across the Community, this involved inputs from many individuals ,
professional and trade associations from a wide range of manufacturing sectors
together with the industrial technologies and advanced materials working
groups of the Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee ( IRDAC ).
The Member States were consulted through         the appropriate Management   and
Co-ordination Advisory Committees ( CGC ).
The technical areas shown in greater detail in Annex A cover :
- Advanced Materials Technologies - the development of advanced materials and
   their processing for industrial use .
- Design Methodology and Assurance of Products and Processes - engineering
   technologies       for product design , means of manufacture and assurance ,
   together with          design and assurance of manufacturing processes .
- Application of Manufacturing Technologies - identification and addressing
   the needs of manufacturing industry and particularly the less advanced
   sectors , many of which have a major part made up of SMEs .
- Technologies for Manufacturing Processes - new and improved manufacturing
   techniques for more effective production .
In these areas there is a strong need for collaborative research , bringing
together partners drawn from suppliers of materials or components , users
( including where appropriate the end user ), the suppliers of expertise and
equipment for use in design , control , testing and systems integration ,
together with the research organisations and universities .             There are
opportunities for firms of all sizes .
BRITE / EURAM in a Global Industriai R&D Context
Consultations with industry have confirmed the requirement for a better
awareness of emerging technological development as an important element of the
technology strategy of industrial companies both large and small and , at the
same time , for reinforcing the market pull of the BRITE / EURAM Programme as
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 12 -
recommended by the BRITE Evaluation Panel .    The Commission will take further
initiatives , such as workshops , in consultation with IRDAC and the C6C . The
aim will be to bring together the global science and technological trends with
the planning needs of individual companies recognising this cannot be limited
to a single sector but must also involve related sectors which are major
customers and existing or potential suppliers of materials , equipment and
expertise .
PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
In line with its overall objectives ,        the programme will be open to
enterprises from all sectors of industry and research organisations , including
universities , within the Community and EFTA countries .       Projects involving
partners from EFTA countries will be welcomed where their participation can
contribute to the competitiveness of manufacturing industry as a whole .      The
projects must fulfill the normal eligibility criteria with the EFTA partner
being additional to the required type and number of partners from the
Community .     There will not be any financial contribution from Community
towards the participation costs of partners from EFTA countries who will be
required to contribute to the programme overheads .       /
Within the Programme there will be four separate forms of support .           The
Industrial Applied Research will be the principal action with more than 90% of
the budget .    There will also be Focussed Fundamental Research with up to 7 %
of the budget - that is one fifth of the budget for the work on materials ,
together with Feasibility Awards for SMEs and support for Co-ordinated
Activities with approximately 0.5% and 1.5% , respectively of the programme
budget .
To ensure the objectivity of the selection procedure and the selection
criteria , the details will be established in advance taking the advice of the
CGC .
Budget and Staff
The   indicative allocation of   funds between the different     technical themes
given below reflects the experience of the first BRITE and EURAM programmes ,
together with a grouping of the sub themes in such a way that the main themes
for the manufacturing elements of the programme are evenly balanced . The size
of allocation to the materials theme also reflects the balance of funding
foreseen in the Framework Programme for this subject .      The actual allocation
will be determined in conjunction with the CGC taking account of the response
to the calls for proposals .
                                                  %
Advanced materials applications                   30
Design and assurance of products                  21
Manufacturing systems                             21
Technologies for manufacturing processes          21
Administration                                      2.5
Personnel                                           4.5
                                                 100.0
 ---pagebreak---                                            - 13 -
The total budqet for the execution of the programme will amount to A39.5 mio
ECU including expenditure on staff whose costs will not exceed A. 5% of the
Community contribution .
In managing the programme ,        the Commission will increasingly seek the help of
external experts in the technical monitoring of projects in order to ensure
the necessary technical expertise .          The BRITE evaluation panel has also made a
similar recommendation .
Industrial Applied Research
The principal form of support for industrial applied                       research of a
pre-competitive character will be through cost shared action .               The conditions
for participation will be that in each project there will be at least 50%
financing from industrial partners and at least two independent industrial
enterprises from different Member States per project .              To be classified as an
independent enterprise , research organisations should normally receive the
industrial 50% in direct payments from nominated companies involved in
steering the project . Recognising the important role of SMEs in developing the
manufacturing base of the Community and the merits of their participation in
the programme , the Commission is considering , in conjunction with IRDAC , how
best research organisations can act within the programme as a focus for
meeting the RSD needs of SMEs .          Projects should include at least 10 man years
of activity , the realistic minimum for an effective collaborative project , and
the total project costs should fall in the range 1-3 mio ECU . Subsidiaries of
multinational companies based outside the Community may participate if the R&D
and exploitation takes place within the Community .
Focussed Fundamental Research
In some areas of materials development industrial progress is hindered by
weaknesses    in    basic    science .       These   areas  will   be   identified    in  the
Information Pack for each call for proposals . Transfrontier co-operation would
be reouired but there will not be a requirement for partners to include an
independent industrial enterprise .            However , to ensure the industrial focus ,
there   will    be    a    requirement     for   industrial   endorsement     by  nominated
individuals    from     at  least  two    independent    industrial   enterprises .      Each
individual will be required to commit at least two days per year in steering
the project .      Projects should include at least 10 man years of activity and
fall in the range of 0.A to 1 mio ECU total project costs .
Feasibility Awards for SMEs
The Commission will introduce a pilot scheme of Feasibility Awards aimed at
assisting SMEs establish the feasibility of a device , process or concept as a
means of enhancing their stature in finding a partner in a subsequent call for
nroposals under the shared cost action . The Commission will support up to 75%
( maximum 25000 ECU ) of the cost of research tasting up to six months .                 High
standards of evaluation will ensure that the awards are highly competitive and
recognised as nrestigous .             This scheme will he       co-financed by     the Task
Force SME .
Co-ordinated Activities
In cases where work , supported by national funds or entirely privately funded
is already going on , the Commission 's role may be limited to simply organising
the co-ordination of the work and the Community funding confined to covering
the cost of such co-ordination activities . However , in certain cases where it
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 14 -
is   clear   that   strategically   important   work  requires    more   than  simple
co-ordination , the Commission could , in consultation with the CGC , consider a
higher Community funding .
Demonstration Projects
It is to be expected that demonstrations of project results will be required
as the wide range of projects supported within the first BRITE and EURAM
programmes . near completion .     The type of support needed will be included
within the Industrial Applied Research and will be defined with the advice of
the CGC and reported on during the mid-term review of the programme .
Calls for Proposais
The closing date for the first of the annual calls for proposals is expected
to be in March 1989 .     This is subject to the adoption of a Common Position by
the Council before the end of 1988 .       By early autumn of 1988 an advance call
for proposals , giving early warning of the programme , will be published in the
Official Journal for those intending to participate .
                                                              t
There will be a separate call for proposals for the Feasibility Awards . This
will take place at about the same time , in order that the winners can be
selected and have undertaken the work in advance of            the   second call  for
proposals for the Industrial Applied Research .
As a basis for calls for proposals the Commission will ,        in consultation with
the CGC ,     establish and update annually information packages specifying
detailed topics and priorities within the scope set out in the Technical Annex
to the Council Decision .      For this purpose the Commission will encourage an
exchange of views between related sectors about their future technology needs .
A similar but simplified information package will be adopted for the
Feasibility Awards to SFIEs .
To assist in the process of finding partners , potential participants would be
invited to submit an 'expression of interest' so that they can be put in
contact with those having similar interests . The network of 'national contact
points' within the Member States will continue to be encouraged to provide an
initial form of introduction to the programme .              The arrangements for
expressions of interest and the national contact points are of particular
benefit to SMEs and will be developed in consultation with the CGC .
PROJECT SELECTION
Experts , from industry , research organisations and universities , familiar with
the research needs of industry will assist the Commission in the selection of
projects for funding .       Those projects satisfying the eligibility criteria
related to conformance with the technical themes , composition of partnerships ,
and project size will be judged on the basis of the relevance of the project
to advancing industrial performance and to the technical quality and degree of
innovation .     Project partners should include those who are able to follow
through the results into industrial exploitation .
A particular welcome will be given to projects which :
- encourage the wider use of more advanced techniques , processes and materials
   associated with CADCAM , modelling , expert systems , etc.j including those
   dove looed in other Community supported Programmes such as ESPRIT .
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 15 -
- establish links between enterprises from different horizontal or vertical
   sectors , particularly bridging the customer-supplier interface ;
- exploit the capacity of SMEs to provide innovative solutions to technical
   problems and also open up advanced technology for more effective use by
   SMEs ;
- aim to exploit        a potential market opportunity which will arise from
   advancing the development of new standards or other codes of practice
   including those which might be associated with environmental or safety
   considerations ;
- aim to develop a level of human interaction with the manufacturing system or
   process which best serves and extends man 's creative and intellectual
   abilities and capacity ,      while taking away the tedium and drudgery of
   repetitive or undesirable tasks .
RELATED EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES *
Links with complementary EC programmes are aimed at avoiding gaps and avoiding
unnecessary overlaps .        For example , some of the technical areas         are
complementary to parts of the work programme for the second phase of the
ESPRIT programme .        However ,    the primary objectives and scope of the
programmes are very different .         Links between the programme managers will
encourage the wider use of appropriate deliverables from ESPRIT , such as
advanced manufacturing systems approaches , within projects .            Of course ,
proposals which fall clearly within ESPRIT will not be considered within the
new programme . In the reverse direction it is anticipated that the wide
sectorial coverage within the new programme would provide a valuable input
into the periodic redefinition of the ESPRIT Work Programme .         There will be
similar exchanges of information with the BCR , ECSC Steel Research , and SPRINT
Programmes and with appropriate COST actions .        Links will also be maintained
with appropriate JRC activities .        Care'will also be taken to ensure that the
envisaged Aeronautical ,     ENERGY and TELEMAN Programmes take into account the
scope of BRITE / EURAM .
In the important area of high critical temperature superconductivity ,          the
programme will , together with other Community programmes igcluding ESPRIT and
SCIENCE form part of the Community Superconductivity Action
Recognising that      successful innovation and its implementation depends on
appropriately trained and experienced people , links with the SCIENCE Plan and
the COMETT programme and related actions will aim to develop the scope for
increasing the human transfer of technology within the new programme and this
wilt include grants for students undertaking work related to the themes of the
programme .
In addition to exchanging information at the stage of programme definition and
setting of priority themes , unnecessary overlaps between programmes will also
bo avoided by involving teams from other programmes in the selection process
itself .
There will also be a continuing exchange with the EUREKA Programme and this
will include initiatives such as joint workshops .           This will be aimed at
accelerating thp path of innovative R."D into the market place . Projects within
the   new   programme   could be    regarded   as establishing  the ore-competitive
T.
   OJ No . C 124 , 11.4.1988 , p. 6
 ---pagebreak---                                           16 -
do l i ver ah l es which might be taken to the market place within EUREKA . Contacts
would continue to be encouraged between participants in similar technical
areas .
PROGRAMME EVALUATION
In the third year the programme will be evaluated by an independent group of
experts . The cost of this evaluation will be approximately 400,000 ECU .
                                                               /
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 17 -
                                                                              ANNEX A
                        TECHNICAL AREAS FOR THE NEW PROGRAMME
                          1 . ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
The work in this area will focus on the development ,                 processing and
application of improved or new materials and material processing . In addition
to materials and composites based on metals , polymers and non-metallic
materials ,, the work will cover materials for a range of specialised
applications . Among the wide range of possible applications of these new
materials , some are directly related to IT and are therefore excluded from
this programme .    Developments of materials already covered by ESPRIT are , for
instance , dealing with magnetic , magneto-optical , optical thin films for
sensors , recording media and heads , optical layers and specific materials for
opto-electronics ,     ceramics and polymers for IC packaging and specific
substrates , superconducting thin films for low current applications and
devices .
1.1 . METALLIC MATERIALS AND METALLIC MATRIX COMPOSITES       f
For metallic materials , including metallic based composites , advances in
processing and alloying technologies have considerably widened the design
scope . For example , castings can now be made to high accuracy and are used in
critical fatigue loaded applications in ways that were not considered possible
10 years ago . The potential of metal matrix composites is in the early stages
of realisation and they are already demonstrated as ceramic reinforced light
alloy pistons .     A major challenge is to establish confidence in the new
materials and improve processing techniques of these and more established
materials so as to bring production costs to competitive levels .
A particular focus of this class of materials is in those           industries where
improved materials can be exploited by designers to secure the reduction in
operating and maintenance costs ,       including savings in energy ,   necessary for
success in the market place .
Up to    now most   structural materials      have been  homogeneous metallics    and
alloys .     Increasingly ,     anisotropic materials using various strengthening
techniques such as particles or fibre reinforcement will be required to meet
the exacting requirements of the designer .          The optimised approach demands
that the material is designed alongside the specific component and matched to
the appropriate manufacturing process .
Goals
- Extended working life of components
- Higher operating temperatures for increased thermal efficiency
- Better and more effective material processing techniques
1.2   MATERIALS    FOR   MAGNETIC ,     OPTICAL ,  ELECTRICAL   AND   SUPERCONDUCTING
      APPLICATIONS
Those materials are crucial to advances in a wide range of industries .
Magnetic materials , for example , play an indispensable part in the electrical
and computer industries .        The value of their annual production worldwide is
annroximately 5 billion ECU .         There is considerable scone for developments
which permit effective and economical exploitation as ,                 for example ,
 ---pagebreak---                                           18 -
polymer-bonded anisotropic permanent magnets or massive segments of metallic
glass for applications such as electric motors , security systems , ore
separation , medical equipment and magnetic levitation for transport .
Optical    materials     are   of   major    importance   particularly    for   optical
communication in a wide range of applications such as laser beam delivery
systems .     New materials are emerging which have the prospect of reducing
signal attenuation .
Among materials for electrical applications are those for electrochemical
devices .     Improved materials based on solid state ionics are needed as the
basis for a new generation of batteries and fuel cells .
The discovery of high temperature superconductor materials aroused worldwide
interest and is expected to have a great impact in the medium and longer term
on most of the high technology industry sectors , particularly in component
design for reduced energy consumption .         However , many basic problems remain
unsolved .      The industrial breakthroughs will not be achieved without a
systematic investigation of the operating mechanism and engineering problems .
    Improved materials and materials processing             for  optical ,    magnetic ,
    electrical and superconducting applications
1.3   HIGH TEMPERATURE NON-METALLIC MATERIALS
There are estimates that the world market for engineering ceramics , including
special glasses and amorphous materials , will be some 12 billion ECU within a
few years .      It is expected that the demand will be evenly divided between
electro-ceramics and structural ceramics . The demand is increasing for high
temperature materials that can also take structural loads needed to contain
the processes now being used in the' materials and chemical processing
industries .     They are also needed in the power generation , energy conversion
and notive power industries instead of metals so that the energy losses due to
cooling are minimized ,      more efficient high temperature combustion can be used
and combustion products produce as little pollution as possible .           In contrast
to the US and Japan , the European share of today 's activity is very low .          The
large potential of this class of materials depends on solving some difficult
problems .      In speciality powders ,       such as whiskers , there are supply
difficulties within Europe .        If this technology is to meet the user 's needs ,
there will he a requirement for closer links with powder producers .
There are still many basic problems . There is a very limited understanding of
the most appropriate structure , such as the optimum spectrum of grain size ,
for a particular application .         Large scale manufacture of advanced ceramics
can introduce pollution issues , considering that there may be some 40% of
organic additive to be burnt off in some processing steps .            Not only is it
difficult    to   control the process to       achieve desired   levels of    porosity ,
particularly in products designed with variable porosity , but there are also
problems in quality assurance , both              in establishing that the desired
structure is achieved and also that it is         defect free .
The potential application goes a long way in defining a ceramic and so there
must always be close user involvement .          Similarly , there is a need for the
manufacturing, process to reflect properly the characteristics of ceramics .
Too often the equipment used is a modified version of what is used in other
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 19 -
applications ,   for example ,    in traditional ceramics ( slip casting ) or even
plastics injection moulding .      New equipment specially designed for processing
advanced ceramics will be required .
Finish machining of ceramics is not easy but even with near-net shape forming
it is often necessary .      Though an important aspect of ceramics technology ,
Europe is currently behind its major competitors .
Goals
- Design methodologies for products based on ceramics ,       glasses and amorphous
   materials
- Improved monolithic and ceramic composites and metal / cerami c interfaces for
   industrial applications
- Better processing techniques and quality control strategies .
1.4    POLYMERS AND ORGANIC MATRIX COMPOSITES
The world polymer market is of the order of 120 billion ECU , of which
engineering polymers , including polymer matrix composites^, amount to 5 billion
ECU .    Europe is a net importer of engineering polymers .        The US with 70% of
the world production and Japan with 1C% are increasing market share at the
expense of Europe with 10-15% .      Europe has been slow to respond to the trends
of general purpose materials replaced by functional materials .              There are
major opportunities for Europe to respond in specific applications .
Set   in  the context  of 815000    tons as   the  US  market for    fibre  reinforced
thermosets in 1986 , the US market for high performance composites is expected
to be 10,000 tons within 5 years .         Currently the market for these advanced
materials is limited and mostly in the US because of the aerospace dependance .
Growth will come from cheaper applications .        For example , in automobiles or
construction where materials have to be , typically , an order of magnitude less
expensive per kilogram than for aerospace*.
The polymer industry is characterised by large suppliers of raw materials ,
equipment manufacturers ( tending towards medium sized units of larger groups
supplying injection moulding machinery or extruders ),                specialist SMEs
manufacturing moulds , or handling equipment or polymer finishing , and SMEs as
component suppliers .      There is however a tendency for the machinery
manufacturers to restructure into larger groups and also for the major users
to process more of the polymers themselves .
The availability of new polymers - components with specific properties is a
serious consideration in the lead time of new products . Modelling should help
and is already being used in mould design and extrusion dies for simpler
components but it is not yet capable of dealing with the moulding process for
complex parts ,     and anisotropic shrinkage in injection moulding without
excessive computing costs .
The major problems limiting the applications of polymer composites to motor
vehicles - springs ,    suspension ,    drive shafts - include the need for more
economic process techniques for composites made          from long    fibre thermosets
and / or thermoplastics and joining composites to other components .
Moving to greater use of polymers in consumer products puts more emphasis on
environmental consideration , particularly when there are some 7000 types of
polymer in circulation .       The scope for recycling should he included in the
 specification for new polymers .
 ---pagebreak---                                           - 20 -
Goa l s
- Development of polymers for specific applications
- "ore cost effective process techniques for parts made from polymer and
  polymer matrix composites
- Design rules for the specification and manufacture of engineering polymers
  and composites
- New polymers with improved recycling attributes
- Improved . product assurance techniques
1.5     MATERIALS FOR SPECIALISED APPLICATIONS
There are classes of materials whose development is dominated by a single area
of application .         These   will   relate   to either   established or   emerging
opportunities .
New and improved materials are essential to the packaging industry which is of
major economic and technical significance and had an annual turnover in the
Community of about 30 billion ECU in 1984 employing about 1 million people .
Packaging 'systems' are vital elements of preservation /and product 'security
'systems' in a range of market sectors such as the food , pharmaceutical and
paint industries .        Innovation in this fragmented industry is essential to
respond to rapidly changing market requirements focussed on the competitive
edge of a customers' products .          The material and its processing route must
meet a novel combination of properties - strength , heat resistance , barriers
to gases ,     liquids and micro-organisms - for the product and short lead times
for the process .
For the time being biomaterials for which there is a growing world market have
emerged as being of special interest for the Community .             For example , the
world market for joint prostheses in 1985 was 700 mio ECU and is expected to
be more than double at 1500 mio ECU by 1989 . In contrast to the US and Japan ,
biomaterial products emerge from a large 'number of small companies in Europe .
They cannot afford the research investment to secure European competitiveness
in this field .       Nevertheless , the European market is sufficiently large to
provide a good demand base .        Its development requires effective collaboration
between industry , the clinics and research expertise in universities and
research organisations . Areas of potential application include bone and joint
replacement , osteosynthesis materials , dental implants , drug delivery systems
and catheters and materials in direct blood contact ,                 non thrombogenic
materials , and organ replacement materials .
Other     materials   which  will  be   considered will    include  the  more advanced
materials for the building and civil engineering industry .
Goal
- Improved materials and their processing for specialised applications
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 21
           2 . DESIGN METHODOLOGY AND ASSURANCE OF PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES
The development of techniques to improve product quality and the reliability
and maintainability of structures , and manufacturing systems by clarification
of the design aims for both product and process , and by refinement of the
criteria against which the attributes are measured .                The exploitation of
materials for sensors , and the reduction in the whole life costs of sensors
are also included in this section .       This will complement work in Community IT
programmes , where    on-line   control    is  treated ,    including     monitoring  and
diagnostics , predictive maintenance and quality assurance .
2.1 QUALITY , RELIABILITY AND MAINTAINABILITY IN INDUSTRY
The costs relating to total quality have been estimated in one of the Member
States to be some 10% of GNP and can typically range from 5 - 25% of company
turnover .     These costs are often unmeasured and hence uncontrolled , but it is
estimated that it would not be difficult to make a reduction by 70% of their
present level through better management and control .
The costs of quality are related to the imperfection ? and also costs of
process and product assurance .        A major task is to reduce the imperfection
rate while reducing the assurance costs .                BRITE / EURAM will contribute
improvements in product quality and in the reliability and maintainability of
manufacturing systems by clarification of the design aims for both , and by
refinement of the criteria against which these attributes are measured .               It
will thus complement work in ESPRIT, where on-line control is treated ,
including monitoring and diagnostics , predictive maintenance and quality
assurance .
However , in a world moving to low inventory or Just In Time ( JIT ) manufacture ,
the requirements for reliability and maintainability are growing more
stringent .     Work is needed to ensure that all elements of the process perform
reliably ,    because their availability hasf become more critical with more high
capital based integrated manufacturing systems .                 However ,   due to the
irregularity or short cycle nature operations in these sectors , there are
problems in determining the physical characteristics of the process which can
be the basis of condition monitoring systems , such as those being developed in
ESPRIT .
Goals
- Improved performance measurement for manufacturing operations in a wide
  variety of industries
-  Improved and more predictable physical and environmental behaviour of
  products
- Improved quality control strategies
- Design rules for reliability and maintainability of components , structures
  and systems including machinery operating under varying conditions
2.2 PROCESS AND PRODUCT ASSURANCE
In many sectors there has been a concern expressed over limitations of
available process control and the means by which the product specified is
assured .     The control of processes may be limited by the understanding of the
process itself as in nowder atomisation , or the availability of sensors to
measure and enable real      time corrections to be made as in metal           cutting or
m^at processing .      In product assurance - non destructive evaluation - there
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 22 -
are many problems in establishing the presence of significant defects such as
might affect safe use as in ceramics for aero engine components , or customer
satisfaction as in textiles .
Sensors are key elements in controlling any process and their importance
increases with scale and flexibility of the systems they are operating within .
The exploitation of materials for application in sensors , and the reduction in
the whole - life costs of sensors are key objectives towards better
competitiviness .    However , the development of small area and large area
sensors , with built-in or chip signal processing , based on microelectronic
related technologies , is covered by ESPRIT .
A promising area appears to be fibre optics sensors .        Potentially they are
cheap ,   attractive and capable of detecting many variables within hostile
environments   including   electromagnetic   fields .   There    can be problems ,
particularly when more than one variable changes .       This is a new technology
which is expected to be particularly suitable for measuring distance and
liouid levels , and for fire detection .
The areas of testing , detection and' inspection are wel(l illustrated by the
developing technology of optical engineering . This has a number of very
attractive and industrially significant applications .      However , in almost all
cases applied R&D , and even some more fundamental work , is required before
wide cost-effective operation is achieved .
As a technology holography is capable of meeting the motor industry 's needs
for tyre examination where current tests are inadequate . However , the process
is currently too slow and too expensive .    There would be many applications for
structural and vibration testing if a breakthrough allowed the process to be
easily operated by a technician .
An outstanding technical problem for manufacturing         industry is    that many
precision manufacturing machines can work to a greater accuracy and rate than
the measurement capability which is typically manual .      Contactless in-situ 3D
measurement and vision systems , such as those developed in other Community
programmes , are attractive tools to overcome the problems to solve most of the
weaknesses in tracking technology .       Therefore the use of those innovative
systems for testing and monitoring of products and processes based , for
example ,   on  ultrasonic   measurement  techniques  must   be   a  target  of the
programme .
A further important aspect of control technology concerns power control
engineering , that is the ability to control the energy flow in industrial
nrocesses and machines for speed or position as in electric motores used in
metal cutting machinery .     It is at the base of advances in automation in all
kinds of industry . Though there were strengths in the past , European and US
manufacturers are now losing market share against Japan .       It is essential for
the European manufacturers of process and production machinery to have access
to the most suitable technology .       Advancing this technology in Europe will
depend on close co-operation between producers and users exoloiting advanced
materials and IT techniques .
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 23 -
Goals
- Reduction of whole life costs of sensor systems for process control
- Fxnloitation of materials properties for applications in sensors
- Use of advanced measurement techniques for more cost effective examination
  of topology
- Improved energy control for industrial applications
- Improved non destructive testing methods for product assurance
                                                        t
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 24 -
                  3 . APPLICATION OF MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES
In this area the task is to identify and address the needs of manufacturing
industry and particularly the less advanced sectors , - many of which have a
major part made up of SMEs .    It is to be expected that modelling of physical
processes will be a valuable instrument for progress .      Also addressed is the
challenge to the industries based on the use of flexible materials . . Overall
the work will mainly focus on product and process development transferring
and adapting technology already used in other sectors . This should complement
work in ESPRIT where IT systems for advanced manufacturing and CIM are being
developed .
3.1 ADVANCING MANUFACTURING PRACTICES
There is a need to apply the principles of the best manufacturing practices
already established in the leading sectors to others which have been slow to
exploit the benefits that can be obtained in terms of business performance .
Those sectors most likely to gain will include a high proportion of SMEs and
have limited research and development capabilities t/iemselves         and  so be
dependent on the expertise and experience of other sectors .
The challenge is to identify common opportunities relevant to a significant
number of companies in the Community and then , in conjunction with those
having relevant expertise and experience ,        to develop the manufacturing
processes which will enable them to improve the services they give their
customers .
Modelling is essential in many areas of interest to estabished industries ,
such as the filling of complex injection moulds , particle formation in
atomisers , positioning of sensors in condition monitoring systems , noise
generation in machinery or the design of composite materials . However ,
modelling projects can only he justified 'in applied R&D when their application
would be used as an effective industrial tool .
Goals
- Identifying means for improving manufacturing practices in specific sectors
- Transfer and adaptation of technology already used in other sectors
3.2 MANUFACTURING PROCESSES FOR FLEXIBLE MATERIALS
This activity addresses the challenge to the industries based on the
processing and use of flexible materials including textiles , leather , non
woven products , composites and packaging materials . Their importance is well
illustrated by the Community 's textile and leather related industries where
some 3.5 million people are employed .
The clothing industry illustrates the problems of these industries .           Its
manufacturing processes deliver very large batches of similar products ,       but
often at a price not competitive with the rest of the world .      The long runs ,
high stocks and long lead times are no longer applicable to today 's markets
where the competition is worldwide .      Clothino retailers have to be able to
carry the right amount of the latest style .       No longer is it acceptable to
have the lead tines of 6 months or even longer characteristic of many of
today 's clothing manufacturers , to go from design through selection of fabric ,
cuttirv-, assembly and batch -preparation .   Uncertainties associated with lonn
load times result in considerable waste at all stages of the process , from
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 25 -
ordering of too much raw material ,      through high work in progress to unsold
stocks of finished goods .       The challenge for the textile suppliers is to
provide short delivery of small batches having reproducible dyes , finishes and
properties .
In the clothing industry about 80% of production comes from SMEs ,           many of
which  have   limited    technical  capabilities .     The transfer    and   further
development of technology already used in other sectors is seen as an
important means of meeting their needs .           Where appropriate ,     prototype
developments might be demonstrated to potential users to keep them informed of
emerging technologies .
Though   the    clothing industry has been used to illustrate the R&D
opportunities ,    there is much in common with other , but quite different ,
applications in the physical processes involving flexible materials used in
the     packaging ,    meat processing and composite material manufacturing
industries .
Goals
                                                            /
- Increased process flexibility
- Reduce waste of material
- To improve process and product quality
                                                                S
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 26 -
                      4 . TECHNOLOGIES FOR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
Improved techniques for shaping , joining and assembly , surface treatment ,
chemical processes and particle technology are fundamental needs for industry .
Advancement     of   these    processes   is  essential    for  securing  manufacturing
competitiveness .
4.1 SURFACE TECHNIQUES
Surface treatments vary considerably in nature and are applied across industry
to a very wide range of materials for a wide variety of reasons , including
improving resistance to wear , corrosion and high temperatures . In the case of
corrosion it has been estimated that the costs of its prevention and effects
amount to about 4% of Gross National Product in industrial countries .          Similar
figures can be given for wear .          Such information indicates the scale of the
problem,      although      the   scope   for   cost-effective   amelioration   may   be
considerably less .
In almost all surface treatment systems ,               quality assurance ,   condition
monitoring in service and control of the treatment process are very weak
areas .     For example , there are no satisfactory tests for the adhesion of
coatings or coating quality in general .                  Because of the variety of
applications , materials and environments , research work on a surface system
has to be applications driven and recognise that there can be major problems
in scaling up laboratory scale techniques .
The selection of the best system should be assisted by the increasing emphasis
on the understanding of the degradation of materials . This requires the
synergistic appreciation of environmental , stress and ageing issues . With a
better understanding of the way in which surface systems behave , it should be
possible to model systems to optimise selection .           With some exceptions , such
as in parts of the process industry , it is unlikely that existing knowledge is
sufficiently complete to support the use of expert systems which would bring
enough benefit to others to justify their development costs .            Development of
such a knowledge here , but not the mere collection of data , should be a
further topic for development .
Overall this is an area where collaboration is needed to bring complementary
expertise together and to ensure that equipment suppliers and users , which
include many SMEs , are able to integrate the different technologies into
cost-effective applications making use , as appropriate , of the advanced
information handling technologies developed elsewhere .
Goa l s
- Cost-effective surface treatments for industrial applications
- Techniques for quality assurance and control of the treatment process
4.2 SHAPING , ASSEMBLY AND JOINING
Technologies      for     shaoing ,   assembly and joining are fundamental to
manufacturing industry .          Many of these technologies are regarded as mature
with scone     for development being limited to changes necessary for their
incorporation into computer integrated manufacturing systems .           However ,  ever
increasing demands for improved performance including high precision and
faster operation , and the availability of more advanced materials both to be
treated and also for use in the treatment process , challenge conventional
rtractice .
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 27 -
As the programme propresses the need to improve methodoloqies for shaping
processes and assembly will be developed .        For this purpose shaping is taken
to mean component processing techniques including forging ,             moulding and
cutting and particularly those approaching pear net shape .
In the area of joining , besides meeting more stringent technical requirements ,
an overriding priority is to reduce fabrication costs in all the major
industrial areas , e.q . power generation , process plant , petro chemical ,
offshore hydrocarbon extraction ,            transportation ,    civil engineering ,
automobiles and construction plant .        For example , manual metal arc welding ,
whilst offering considerable flexibility and tolerance in use ,              has low
productivity and is being progressively replaced in many applications by
alternative and particularly more automated processes such as those being
developed in ESPRIT which include seam tracking , adaptive control and sensing
when geometrical changes occur in the joint . These technologies are equally
applicable to adhesive bonding .
Adhesive bonding , in addition to providing an alternative to welding , has
opened up new approaches to joining , particularly suited to the assembly stage
and the joining of dissimilar materials .            Improvements in the speed and
control of curing ,     together with wider operating temperature ranges would be
welcome .
An associated      problem to   joining is    the  limited  reliability of   the   non
destructive inspection methods used to evaluate the weld soundness and its
behaviour in service , an area where physical principles require development to
allow better reliability of results and service predictability .
In certain manufacturing industries , where there is a large throughput of
repetitive fabrication , the use of friction welding or the power beam
processes such as electron beam and laser may be practicable and economic but
their inflexibility ,       high capital costs and often poor stability and
reliability outweigh their general use . *
In the case of laser systems for materials processing , the laser itself is of
low efficiency and often there is poor conversion efficiency at the workpiece
where there is little understanding of the interaction of the beam with the
target .
Lasers are suited to a limited ranee of applications and it is important that
research reflects their needs .       This will pull together the eventual users -
to ensure that a cost-effective solution can emerge - with potential
manufacturers and the reservoirs of expertise in research organisations .
Goals
- Imoroved methortolooies for shaping processes and assembly
- Improved joining techniques to improve reliability and reduce defect levels
- - '.a t hods for testinn welded and bonded joints to improve reliability of
  results and service predi ctahi l i ty
- Design methorinlogy for joining
- Getter understanding of beam / workpiece interactions         for industrial   power
  beam nrocesses
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 28 -
4.3 CHEMICAL PROCESSES
There are many aspects underpinning the effectiveness and usefulness of
chemical manufacture which will only result if there is collaboration between
chemical manufacturers , users and suppliers of new technology or expertise .
Improved predictability of chemical reactions         will help in optimising
specificity , safety and energy conservation . This   is a vital area where tools
can be of wide applicability but where , as in         the case of chemical and
electrochemical sensors , the European industry is    under considerable pressure
from Japan and the USA .
The effectiveness of many chemical reactions depends on the use of catalysts .
The supply is generally local and Europe is generally strong hut needs to
maintain and improve its position . Most catalysts are of high specificity and
so their development is generally inappropriate for collaborative research .
There are , however , basic . problems related to the performance of catalysts
such as poisoning which , if solved , would underpin the competitive edge of the
European catalyst manufacturers and users .
                                                           t
Separation technologies are vital elements of many industrial processes .      In
addition to opportunities to develop operating efficiency , the incentive for
new technology in this area may come from a cost effective response to
envi ronmental pressures such as those associated with effluent control . Though
many separation processes are of importance , membrane technology is currently
identified as having a particular potential for development .
In the face of strong competition , Europe has been slipping behind in membrane
innovation .    In terms of installed capacity , desalination is by far the
largest application area .      The size of the world market for membranes is
estimated to be about 400 mio ECU / year .   This is likely to grow significantly
in the future as new applications for membranes are identified , such as gas
filtration .
Dew membranes are very expensive to devetop and , for some types , can typically
take up to 10 years . Few users are willing to make such an investment ,       so
development is left to the membrane makers .      Many of these are unwilling to
make such long term and high risk investments . Development tends to be highly
exoerimental reflecting the poorly categorised media to be processed and the
very limited understanding of membrane separation processes .
Membrane processes often have to trade off separation efficiency against flux
rate .    Rarely does a membrane behave in the anticipated way and fouling
nrohlems can severely limit life .     There is considerable scope for optimising
the design of the membrane systems , such as to enhancing turbulence at the
membrane surface and also techniques to inhibit fouling .
bonis
- Improved predictabi l ity and yield in chemical processes
- Membrane materials with improved characteristics
- Improved performance of membrane nrocesses
- PPM Systems for séparation in hostile environments
 ---pagebreak---                                        29 -
4.4 PARTICLE AND POWDER PROCESSES
Particles , whether in the form of powders , dusts , gaseous or suspensions , or
porous media , are found in almost every area of manufacturing industry .
Problems with their production , separation , stability and . categor i sat ion limit
their application in both quality and quantity , such that alternative and much
more expensive solutions have to be employed .
In general ,    the Japanese are in the lead on the novel approaches to particle
production and application .     Europe , like the US , has its strengths but has
not been so good at bringing together complementary expertise to tackle common
problems .    There is a need to bring together the complementary expertise from
the different interests - the material suppliers , the users , the instrument
makers ( often small specialists ), the process plant manufacturers and the
innovators from universities and research organisations .
There is a series of common problems which are found in many very different
narticle systems and these include the inability to fully categorise particles
- not only in-process but also for batch sampling .            There is also poor
efficiency and size control within many conventional processes - such as
milling and classification .     There are also many problems in maintaining even
flow and distribution in the flow of powders           and suspensions .      Serious
difficulties also arise when separating suspensions ,         particularly at high
temperatures or when the medium is of high viscosity .           In contrast ,    the
improved    stability   of   colloids ,     including micro-emulsions ,    would   be
advantageous in nany sectors .
The scale of the powder technology industry is illustrated by the level of
production in the US - about 270,000 tonnes ( of which 200,000 tonnes is
stainless steel ) per year valued , in parts and products , at about 2 billion
ECU .     Japan and Europe produce about 1 billion ECU each .          The value is
illustrated by the vatue of steel semi-finished powder and metallurgical
connonents being between 20-50 ECU / kilo , 'while ceramic powder parts can cost
2000 ECU / kilo .
Overall it is an area where international competition is very strong , driven
in part by the requirements and spin-offs , such as vacuum technology , from the
space programmes .     Though not in the lead overall , Europe has strengths in
some   process areas .
There are a number of areas , such as aero and automative engines , magnets ,
tools steels and electronic materials , where advanced powder materials could
meet industrial requirements , though in each the technology is limiting the
achievement of potential benefits .
Better products will come from improvements in powders and their processing .
There is sufficient understanding of the powder categorisation and the physics
and chemistry of the processes involved but , to date , there has been a limited
ar.nl.ication of modelling techniques to address the problems .         It is likely
that modelling techniques could assist in improving the performance of powder
production ( for example , the yield of atomisers is typically around (>0% ),
pressure transmission in compaction , and sintering . The high capital cost of
nowder oroduction and processing equipment makes         the need  for an    improved
understanding of the processes necessary .
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 30 -
For the future , the competitive edge will reflect advances in process
techniques to supply and compact smaller quantities of high quality powder .
Movement in this direction would allow        smaller  companies  to exploit the
potential of powder technology .
Goals
- Improver! techniques for particle production to optimise product shape ,
  structure and stability
- Cost-ef fecti ve techniques    for    particle   catégorisation   and process
  performance
- Retter approaches to handling and separation
- Cost effective routes for small lots of high quality powder
                                                            /
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 31
                                                                         ANNEX 0
          OPINION OF THE MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
                              ON INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
After having examined and discussed in depth the draft communication from the
Commission to the Council and to Parliament concerning a Research and
Technological Development Programme of the EEC in the fields of industrial
manufacturing technologies and advanced materials application U3RITE / EURAM )
( 1989-1992 ) / dated 3 May 1988 ( CGC-IT / 88/ 20) ;
After havinn been informed of the preliminary conclusions and recommendations
expressed by the panel of external experts in charge of the evaluation of the
on-going I3RITE programme ( 1985-1988 );
The Management and Coordination Advisory Committee on Industrial Technology
delivered the following opinions and suggestions at its meeting on 30 May
1988 .
                                                          /
The Committee having had a joint meeting with the CGC ' - Raw Materials and
Other Materials :
- subscribes to the general approach proposed for the new programme and
   recognises the relevance of the objectives set out in it , in particular
   subscribes to the importance of the possibility of inclusion of Focussed
   Fundamental Research in all areas of the programme ;
- approves the scientific and technical content of the new programme , which
   comprises four technical areas : advanced materials technologies , design and
   assurance of products and processes , manufacturing systems and technologies
   for manufacturing processes ;
    recommends that the draft programme be approved and adopted by the
   Commission in good time for the Council decision to be taken within the
   deadline needed for its implementation from 1 January 1989 ;
- recommends that 500 mio ECU should be made available for the implementation
   of the programme .
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 32 -
                                                                                ANNEX C
                 01’ I MI ON or roc IMU MATERIALS ANO OIIIE.K MATERIALS
After having examined and discussed in depth the draft communication from the
Commission to the Council and to the Parliament concerning a Resarch and
Technological Development Programme of the EEC in the fields of industrial
manufacturing technologies and advanced materials application ( BRITE / EURAM )
( 1W9-1 992 ), dated 3 May 1933 ( CGC-IT / 83 / 20 ) ;
After having been informed of the preliminary conclusions and recommendations
expressed by the panel of external experts in charge of the evaluation of the
on-going BRITE ( 1985-1988 ) and EURAM ( 1986-1989 ) Programmes ;
The Management and Coordination Advisory Committee on Raw Materials and Other
Materials delivered the following opinion and suggestions at its meeting on 30
May 1983 .
The Committee , having had a joint meeting with the CGC-Industrial Technology :
                                                                  /
- subscribes to the general approach proposed for the new programme and
   recognises the relevance of the objectives set out in it ;
- annroves in general the scientific and technical content of the new
   programme ,  which comprises four technical areas : advanced materials , design
   and   assurance     of   products   and  processes ,    manufacturing    systems  and
   technologies for manufacturing processes ;
- recommends that the Commission , after consultation with the CGC , should take
   into account the conclusions of the above mentioned evaluations in the
   implementation of the programme ;
- recommends that the amount set aside for focussed fundamental research could
   be increased to as much as 20% of the total budget in each research area
   vihen it appears necessary , for progress to be marie ;
- recommends tht the Commission be flexible in its approach to modalities so
   that the programme will be seen as dynamic and capable of adapting to meet
   the changino needs of the Community .               It further recommends that the
   CGC-Materials be consulted at regular intervals in this regard ;
- recommends that the . BRITE / EURAM Programme should not overlap with other
   Community programmes and , in particular , with ESPRIT and SCIENCE in the area
   of superconductivity ;
- recommends that a minimum of 500 mio ECU should be made available for the
   implementation of the programme ;
     recommends  that the       draft  programme    be approved     and adopted   by the
Commission in nood time for the Council decision to be taken within the
   deadlines needed for its implementation from 1 January 1989 .
A majority of th° delegations of the CGC recommended that the participation of
universities and        similar organisations    in any    project of the BRITE / EURAM
Programme should be financed un to 100% of their marginal costs .
TV - CGC welcomes the technical balance of the programme .             It notes that the
Commission proposes to strengthen the proposal by reference to the technical
comments of the CGC .
 ---pagebreak---                                          33 -
                                 Proposta de
                            DECISÃO DO CONSELHO
            que adopta um programa específico de investigação
               e desenvolvimento da Comunidade europeia nos
             domínios das tecnologias de produção industrial e
           das aplicações de materiais avançados ( BRITE / EURAM)
                               ( 1989 - 1992 )
0 CONSELHO DAS COMUNIDADES EUROPEIAS ,
Tendo em conta o Tratado que institui a Comunidade Económica Europeia e ,
nomeadamente , o na 2 do seu artigo 130Q Q,
Tendo em conta a proposta da Comissão, ( 1 )
Em cooperação com o Parlamento Europeu (2 ),
Tendo em conta o parecer do Comité Económico e Social (3 ),
Considerando que o artigo 130Q K do Tratado estabelece que será aplicado
um programa-quadro através de programas específicos , desenvolvidos no âmbito
de cada actividade ;
Considerando que, através da sua Decisão 87 / 516 / EURATOM, CEE ( 4 ), o
Conselho adoptou um programa-quadro comunitário de investigação e desenvolvj_
mento tecnológico ( 1987-1991 ), que prevê actividades no domínio da ciência
e tecnologia para a indústria transformadora e materiais avançados ;
Considerando que a Decisão do Conselho de 28 de Setembro de 1987 relativa
ao programa-quadro para acções comunitárias de investigação e de desenvolv_i_
mento tecnológico prevê que um dos objectivos especificos da investigação
comunitária será o de reforçar a base cientifica e tecnológica da indústria
europeia e incentivá -la a tornar-se mais competitiva a nivel internacional , e
que se justifica uma acção comunitária sempre que a investigação contribua
designadamente para o reforço da coesão económica e social da Comunidade e
para a promoção harmoniosa do seu desenvovi mento global , na medida em que
isso seja compatível com a prossecução de um objectivo de qualidade cienti ¬
fica e técnica , que se pretende que o programa BRITE/ EURAM contribua para
a concretização destes objectivos;
Considerando que a Decisão 85 / 196 / CEE ( 5 ) estabelece o programa plurianual
de investigação e desenvolvimento da Comunidade Económica Europeia nos dom
nios da investigação tecnológica fundamental e da aplicação das novas tec¬
nologias ( BRITE 1985-1988 );
( 1 ) JO no.
( 2 ) JO nQ .
( 3 ) JO nQ .
( 4 ) JO nQ L 302 , de 24.10.1987, p. 1 .
( 5 ) JO nQ L 83 , de 25.3.1985 , p. 8 *
 ---pagebreak---                                              34 -
Considerando que a Decisão do Conselho 86 / 235 / CEE ( 6 ) estabelece um progra ¬
ma de investigação no sector dos materiais ( matérias primas e materiais
avançados ) ( 1986-1989 );
Considerando que é necessário dar uma resposta adequada ao interesse demon£
trado pela indústria na cooperação transnacional ;
Considerando que é necessário envolver tanto quanto possível as pequenas e
médias empresas no desenvolvimento das' tecnologias industriais , tomando em
consideração os seus requesitos específicos e respeitando simultaneamente
o objectivo da qualidade cientifica e técnica do programa ;
Considerando que é necessário sublinhar a natureza industrial e transnacio¬
nal do programa dando prioridade a projectos de investigação com pelo menos
dois parceiros industriais de dois Estados-membros diferentes ;
Considerando que é necessário assegurar a natureza industrial do programa ,
exigindo projectos de investigação fundamental com essas caracteristi cas e
com o apoio da indústria de , pelo menos , duas empresas independentes ;
Considerando que a participação , mediante determinadas condições , de organ_i_
zações de paises AECL nos projectos de I&D orientados para a indústria
transformadora no seu conjunto ;
Considerando que é do interesse da Comunidade consolidar a base cientifica
e técnica da investigação europeia através do envolvimento , em maior escala ,
dos paises da AECL em determinados programas comunitários , nomeadamente em
programas que envolvam cooperação em investigação e desenvolvimento de tec ¬
nologias industriais de base , incluindo os materiais avançados ;
Considerando que a execução de acções concertadas no âmbito da COST consti ¬
tui um elemento complementar fundamental para os projectos de I&D orienta¬
dos para a indústria ;
Considerando que o Comité de Investigação Cientifica e Técnica , foi consul ¬
tado acerca das      medidas a seguir referidas ,
DECIDE :
                                        Artigo 12 .
É adoptado por um periodo de quatro anos , a partir de 1 de Janeiro de 1989,
um programa especifico de investigação e desenvolvimento tecnológico
para a Comunidade Europeia nos dominios das tecnologias de produção indus¬
trial e das aplicações de materiais avançados , tal como definidos no Anexo
I.
                                        Artigo 2a .
0 financiamento considerado necessário para a execução do programa eleva-se
a 439,5 milhões de ECUs , incluindo as despesas de pessoal , cujos custos não
excederão       4,5% da contribuição da Comunidade .
                                        Artigo 3Q .
  Encontram-se estabelecidas no Anexo II regras pormenorizadas para a aplicação
 do programa e a taxa de participação financeira da Comunidade .
 ( 6 ) JO nQ L 159 , 14.6 / 1986 , p. 36 .
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 35 -
                                        Artigo 4Q .
1 . No terceiro ano de execução do programa a Comissão efectuará a sua
      revisão cujos resultados comunicará ao Conselho e ao Parlamento Europeu ,
      conjuntamente , se for caso disso, com quaisquer propostas de alteração
     ou de prolongamento com base nos resultados intermédios obtidos .
2 . Antes do final do programa , a Comissão efectuará uma avaliação dos resul_
      tados obtidos que       transmitirá ao Conselho e ao Parlamento Europeu .
3 . Os relatórios supracitados serão elaborados tendo em conta os objectivos
      fixados no Anexo II da presente decisão e em conformidade com o dispos ¬
      to   no  nQ 2 do artigo 2Q do programa-quadro .
                                       Artigo 5Q .
1 . A Comissão assegurará a execução do programa e será assistida na sua reali ¬
      zação pelo Comité Consultivo de Gestão e Coordenação ( CGC ) de Tecnologia
      Industrial , criado pela Decisão 84 / 338 / EURAT0M / CECA / CCE do Conselho ( 7 ).
2 . Os contratos concluídos pela Comissão regularão os direitos e deveres das
      Dartes , incluindo o regime de difusão , protecção e valorização dos resul ¬
      tados de investigação .
                                         Artigo 6Q .
 1 . Nos casos em que tiverem sido concluidos Acordos-quadro de cooperação
       cientifica e técnica entre paises europeus não comunitários e as Comuni ¬
       dades Europeias , as organizações ou empresas estabelecidas nesses paises
       podem , sob condições adequadas a definir pela Comissão , tornar-se parcej.
       ros em projectos realizados no âmbito do programa . Para cada um desses
       projectos , o Comité referido no artigo 5Q assistirá a Comissão na definjj_
       ção dessas condições .
 2 . Nenhum contratante estabelecido no exterior da Comunidade , a participar
       como parceiro num projecto realizado no âmbito do programa , terá direito
       ao financiamento comunitário previsto no programa . 0 contratante contri ¬
       buirá para as despesas administrativas gerais .
                                         Artigo 7Q .
 A Comissão garantirá que sejam estabelecidos procedimentos que permitam uma
 cooperação adequada com as actividades de COST relacionadas com as áreas de
 investigação abrangidas pelo programa , assegurando uma troca regular de in¬
 formações ; entre o Comité referido no artigo 5Q e o Comité de Gestão COST
 adequado
                                        Artigo 8Q .
 Os Estados-membros são destinatários da presente decisão .
 Feito em                                                     Pelo Conselho
                                                              0 Presidente
 ( 7 ) .10 nu L 17 /, 4.7.1 784 , p.
 ---pagebreak---                                               36
                                                                         ANEXO I
                                         ANEXO TÉCNICO
1 . TECNOLOGIAS DE MATERIAIS AVANÇADOS
     O trabalho neste dominio incidirá no desenvolvimento de materiais ou trata_
     mento de materiais aperfeiçoados ou novos destinados a uma ampla gama de
     apli cações, excepto os que se encontram directamente relacionados com as TI
     abrangidas pelo programa ESPRIT ( 1 ).
     0 trabalho inclui , em especial :
     1.1    Materiais metálicos e materiais compósitos de matriz metálica
            Objectivos
            - Alargamento da vida útil de componentes
            - Temperaturas de funcionamento mais elevadas par uma melhor eficiên¬
               cia térmica
            - Melhores e mais eficientes técnicas de tratamento de materiais
     1.2 . Materiais para aplicações magnéticas , ópticas , eléctricas e de super-
            condução
            Objectivos
            - Materiais aperfeiçoados e tratamento de materiais para aplicações
               ópticas , magnéticas e eléctricas e de supercondução
     1.3 . Materiais não metálicos de alta temperatura
            Obj ecti vos
            - Metodologias de concepção para produtos com base em cerâmica , vidro
               e materiais amorfos
            - Materiais compósitos monolíticos e de cerâmica aperfeiçoados e in¬
               terfaces metal / cerâmica para aplicações industriais
            - Melhores técnicas de tratamento e estratégias de controlo de quali ¬
               dade
     1.4    Polímeros e materiais compósitos de matriz orgânica
            Objectivos
            - Desenvolvimento de polímeros para aplicações especificas
            - Técnicas de tratamento mais rentáveis para peças de polímeros e de
               materiais compósitos de matriz de polimeros
            - Regras de concepção para a especificação e produção de polimeros de
               engenharia e materiais compósitos
            - Novos polimeros com qualidades de reciclagem aperfeiçoados
             - Aperfeiçoamento de técnicas de garantia de produto
   ( 1 ) 0 desenvolvimento de materiais já abrangidos pelo programa ESPRIT são ,
         por exemplo , o trabalho sobre películas magnéticas , magneto-ópti cas e
         ópticas finas para sensores , meios e cabeças de gravação , camadas óp¬
         ticas e materiais específicos para opto-elect róni ca , cerâmica e poli ¬
         meros para o invólucro de circuitos integrados e substratos especi_
         fi cos , pe li cuias finas supercondutoras para aplicações e dispositivos
         decorrentes fracas .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 37 -
    1.5   Materiais para aplicações especializadas
          Objectivos
          - Materiais especializados e seu tratamento para aplicações especia¬
            lizadas
2 . METODOLOGIA DE CONCEPÇÃO E GARANTIA PARA PRODUTOS E PROCESSOS
    O desenvolvimento de técnicas para melhorar    a qualidade do produto e a
    fiabilidade e manutenção de estruturas e sistemas de produção através da
    clarificação dos objectivos de concepção quer para o produto quer para o
    processo, e através do aperfeiçoamento dos critérios em relação aos quais
    as qualidades são avaliadas . A exploração de materiais para aplicação em
    sensores e a redução dos custos de vida total de sensores estão também
    incluidos nesta secção . Este trabalho constituirá um complemento ao tra¬
    balho realizado em programas comunitários no domínio das TI , em que são
    tratados o controlo em linha incluido a verificação e o diagnóstico,
    manutenção de previsão e garantia de qualidade .
    0 trabalho inclui, em especial :
    2.1 .  Qualidade , fiabilidade e manutenção na indústria
           Objectivos
           - Aperfeiçoamento da medição de rendimento para operações de produ¬
             ção numa ampla gama de indústrias
           - Comportamento ambiental e fisico , aperfeiçoado e mais previsivel ,
           - Estratégias aperfeiçoadas de controlo de qualidade
           - Regras de concepção para a fiabilidade e manutenção de componentes
             estruturas e sistemas , incluindo equipamento a funcionar em condi ¬
             ções variáveis
    2.2 .  Garantia de processo    e de produto
           Objectivos
           - Redução dos custos devida total de sistema de sensores para contrçj
             lo de processos
           - Exploração de propriedades de materiais para aplicação em sensores
           - Utilização de técnicas avançadas de medição para um exame mais
             rentável de topologia
           - Controlo de energia aperfeiçoado para aplicações industriais
           - Métodos de ensaio não destrutivo aperfeiçoados para garantia de
             produto
3 . APLICAÇÃO DE TECNOLOGIAS DE PRODUÇÃO
    Neste dominio , o trabalho consiste em identificar e ocupar-se das necess_i_
    dades da indústria transformadora e , em especial , dos sectores menos de¬
    senvolvidos , muitos dos quais têm uma componente dominante de PMEs . Prevê-
    - se que a modelização de processos fisicos venha a constituir um precioso
    instrumento de desenvolvimento . Será igualmente tratado o desafio que se
    coloca às indústrias que têm por base a utilização de materiais flexiveis .
    0 trabalho incidirá fundamentalmente no desenvolvimento de processos e
    de produtos , transferindo a adaptação tecnológica já utilizada noutros
    sectores . Estas actividades devem constituir um complemento do trabalho
    realizado no programa ESPRIT, em que estão a ser desenvolvidos sistemas
    de TI para produção avançada e CIM.
 ---pagebreak---                                        38
    0 trabalho inclui em especial :
    3.1 . Práticas avançadas de produção
          Objecti vos
          - Meios de identificação para aperfeiçoamento de práticas de produção
            em sectores específicos
          - Transferência e adaptação de tecnologia já utilizada noutros secto¬
            res .
    3.2 . Processos de produção para materiais flexíveis
          Objecti vos
          - Maior flexibilidade de processos
          - Redução de resíduos de materiais
          - Qualidade aperfeiçoada dos processos e dos produtos
4 . TECNOLOGIAS PARA PROCESSOS DE PRODUÇÃO
    0 aperfeiçoamento de técnicas de enformação, junção e montagem ; tratamento
    de superfície . Os processos químicos e a tecnologia de partículas consti ¬
    tuem necessidades fundamentais da indústria . 0 avanço destes processos é
    essencial para assegurar a competitividade do fabrico
    0 trabalho inclui, em especial :
    4.1 . Técnicas de superficie
          Obj ecti vos
          - Tratamentos de superfície rentáveis para aplicações industriais
          - Técnicas de garantia de qualidade e controlo do processo de trata ¬
            mento
    4.2 . Enformação, montagem e junção
          Objecti vos
          - Aperfeiçoamento de metodologias para processos de enformação e mon¬
            tagem
          - Aperfeiçoamento de técnicas de junção para melhorar a fiabilidade
            e reduzir os níveis de defeitos
          - Métodos de ensaio de juntas soldadas ou montadas para melhorar a
             fiabilidade de resultados e a previsibi lidade de serviço
          - Metodologia de concepção para junção
          - Melhor compreensão de    interacções feixe / peça para processos indu£
            triais de feixes de energia
 ---pagebreak---                                - 39 -
4.3 . Processos quimicos
      Objectivos
      - Melhoria da previsibi lidade e produtividade em processos quimicos
      - Materiais de membrana com caracteristicas aperfeiçoadas
      - Melhoria do rendimento de processos de membrana
      - Novos sistemas para separação em ambientes hostis
4.4 . Processos de partícula e pó
      Objecti vos
      - Aperfeiçoamento de técnicas para produção de partículas para opti
        mizar a forma , a estrutura e a estabilidade do produto
      - Técnicas rentáveis para categorização de partículas e rendimento
        de processos
      - Melhores abordagens da manutenção e separação
      - Vias rentáveis para pequenas quantidades de pó de alta qualidade
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 40 -
                                                               ANEXO II
                             MODALIDADES DE EXECUÇÃO
Os participantes podem ser organizações industriais, institutos de inve_s_
tigação e universidades estabelecidos na Comunidade . A contribuição conw
nitária não excederá normalmente 50% da despesa total , devendo o restan¬
te, em principio, ficar a cargo dos participantes industriais . Os^parti -
cipantes industriais incluirão quaisquer institutos de investigação fi
nanciados integral ou principalmente por organizações industriais .
Investigação industrial aplicada
A principal forma de apoio à investigação industrial aplicada de carácter pré-
- competitivo serão os contratos a custos repartidos . As condições de partici ¬
pação impõem que , em cada projecto , 50% do financiamento seja proveniente de
parceiros industriais e deverão estar envolvidas pelo menos duas empresas indus ¬
triais independentes de Estados-membros diferentes por projecto . Para obter o
estatuto de empresa independente , os organismos de investigação deverão , normal ¬
mente, receber a parcela de 50% a cargo da indústria em pagamentos directos pro ¬
venientes de empresas designadas , envolvidas na orientação do projecto .
Reconhecendo o papel importante das PMEs no desenvolvimento da base produtiva
da Comunidade e o valor da sua participação no programa , a Comissão está a estu¬
dar , juntamente com o IRDAC, qual a melhor forma de participação dos organismos
de investigação no programa como meio de dar resposta às necessidades de I&D
das PMEs . Os projectos deverão incluir pelo menos 10 homem . anos de actividade ,
o que é um minimo realista para a realização de um projecto de verdadeira cola ¬
boração , devendo os custos totais dos projectos situai– se entre 1 e 3 milhões
de ECUs . As filiais de empresas multinacionais estabelecidas no exterior da Co ¬
munidade podem participar se o trabalho de I&D e a sua exploração se efectuar
na Comunidade .
Investigação fundamental
Os projectos de investigação fundamental aplicada devem envolver pelo
menos dois parceiros estabelecidos em Estados-membros diferentes . Se os
participantes forem universidades ou institutos de investigação , o pro¬
jecto deve ter o apoio de pelo menos , duas empresas industriais legal ¬
mente independentes e a Comunidade poderá suportar até 100% dos custos
marginais desses parceiros . Os projectos devem incluir pelo menos 10
homem . anos de actividade e os custos totais dos projectos situarse-ào
entre 0,4 e 1 milhão de ECUs .
 Prémios de viabilidade destinados às PMEs .
 A Comissão introduzirá um plano-piloto de prémios de viabilidade com o objecti
 vo de apoiar as PMEs na definição da viabilidade de um dispositivo, processo
 ou conceito como forma de melhorar as suas possibilidades de encontrar um par¬
 ceiro num futuro convite para apresentação de propostas no quadro de acções a
 custos repartidos . A Comissão suportará até 75% do custo da investigação (num
 máximo de 25 000 ECUs ) durante um periodo não superior a seis meses . Os padrões
 elevados de avaliação assegurarão a grande competitividade dos prémios e o seu
 prestigio . Este plano será cofinanciado pelo Grupo de Trabalho PMEs .
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 41
Coordenação de actividades
Nas situações em que o trabalho, apoiado pelo financiamento público ou inteira ¬
mente privado , se está já a desenvolver , o papel da Comissão pode limitar-se a
organizar somente a coordenação do trabalho e o financiamento comunitário pode
restringir-se à cobertura dos custos dessas actividades de coordenação . No en¬
tanto, em algumas situações em que trabalho importante do ponto de vista estra ¬
tégico necessite claramente algo mais do que simples coordenação , a Comunidade
poderá , em consulta com o CGC, atribuir um financiamento mais elevado .
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 42 -
                                                                 ANEXO III
                      CRITÉRIOS DE AVALIAÇAO DO PROGRAMA
Os resultados relativamente aos quais o programa deverá ser avaliado devem
reflectir os seus objectivos e os objectivos mais gerais do programa-qua-
dro .
1 . Visto o objectivo principal consistir em melhorar a situação competiti ¬
    va das indústrias transformadoras da Comunidade , a avaliação deve dete_r
    minar :
    - até que ponto os projectos foram seleccionados em função de critérios
      industriais mensuráveis e merecedores de crédito ;
    - até que ponto o desenvolvimento significativo de produtos ou processos
      resultou do trabalho apoiado .
2 . Outro dos objectivos consiste em incentivar a colaboração transf ronte_i_
    ras na investigação estratégica industrial . A avaliação deve determinar :
    - até que ponto, antes e depois da conclusão do projecto, existiram lig£
      ções continuadas entre parceiros para investigação , desenvolvimento ,
      produção, comercialização ou formação de pessoal .
3 . Um outro objectivo do programa consiste emincentivar a transferência de
    tecnologia através das fronteiras de Comunidade e entre sectores , esp£
    cialmente entre os que        registam uma predominância elevada de PMEs .
    A avaliação deve determinar :
    - até que ponto as PMEs exploraram as tecnologias e os novos materiais
      resultantes de projectos concluidos e bem sucedidos ;
    - até que ponto as realizações são protegidas por meio de patente ou
      são divulgadas para conhecimento na comunidade de investigação e
      tecnologia da Europa .
4 . Num contexto mais amplo do programa-quadro, a avaliação deve determi ¬
    nar :
    - até que ponto os projectos contribui ram para a harmonização da Comu¬
      nidade através da redução dos entraves técnicos às trocas comerciais .
A avaliação será efectuada por avaliadores independentes .