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Research and aeronautics: setting up the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking

2007/0118(CNS)

PURPOSE: to set up a Joint Undertaking: “Clean Sky”.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 71/2008 setting up the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking.

CONTENT: for the implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Clean Sky, this Regulation sets up a Joint Undertaking for the period up to 31 December 2017 (Clean Sky Joint Undertaking). The Regulation states that the Clean Sky JTI must mitigate the various risks of market failure which discourage private investment in aeronautics research in general, and in clean Air Transport technologies in particular. It must provide integration and demonstration at the level of the system as a whole, thus decreasing the risk for private investment in developing new environmentally friendly aeronautics products. It must stimulate private R & D investment in environmentally friendly technologies in the EU. The Clean Sky JTI is public-private partnership associating all key stakeholders. Taking into account the long-term nature of this partnership, the necessary pooling and availability of financial resources, the high scientific and technical expertise required, including the management of a vast amount of knowledge, and appropriate intellectual property rules, it was vital to set up a legal entity capable of ensuring the coordinated use and efficient management of the funds assigned to the Clean Sky JTI. Accordingly the Clean Sky JU is established. It is a Community body with legal personality. In terms of liability, it will be solely responsible for meeting its obligations.

Objectives: the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking will contribute to the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme and in particular Theme 7, Transport (including Aeronautics) of the Specific Programme Cooperation. Its objectives are:

  1. accelerating in the EU the development, validation and demonstration of clean Air Transport technologies for earliest possible deployment;
  2. ensuring coherent implementation of European research efforts aiming at environmental improvements in the field of Air Transport;
  3. creating a radically innovative Air Transport System based on the integration of advanced technologies and full scale demonstrators, with the target of reducing the environmental
  4. impact of air transport through significant reduction of noise and gaseous emissions, and improvement of the fuel economy of aircrafts;
  5. accelerating the generation of new knowledge, innovation and the uptake of research proving the relevant technologies and fully integrated system of systems, in the appropriate operational environment, leading to strengthened industrial competitiveness.

Tasks and activities: themain tasks and activities will be the following:

  1. bringing together a range of ITDs with the emphasis on innovative technologies and development of full scale demonstrators;
  2. focusing efforts within ITDs on key deliverables that can help meet Europe's environmental and competitiveness goals;
  3. enhancing the technology verification process in order to identify and remove obstacles to future market penetration;
  4. pooling user requirements to guide investment in research and development towards operational and marketable solutions.

Community contribution: the maximum Community contribution to the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking covering running costs and research activities shall be EUR 800 million paid from the budget appropriation allocated to the Theme ‘Transport’ of the Specific Programme Cooperation.  Other Members of the JU shall contribute resources at least equal to the Community contribution, excluding those allocated through calls for proposals in order to carry out the research activities of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking.

Members: these are the EC represented by the Commission as public representative, the leaders of Integrated Technology Demonstrators (ITDs) and the Associate members of the individual ITDs. The Clean Sky JU is open to new members.

Seat: this is located in Brussels, Belgium.

Bodies: these will bethe Governing Board, the Executive Director, the ITD Steering Committees, the Technology Evaluator Steering Committee, and the General Forum. A National States Representative Group shall be an external advisory body to the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking. An Advisory Board will be established as appropriate by the Joint Undertaking to advise and issue recommendations to, the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking on managerial, financial and technical topics.

Report, evaluation and discharge: the Commission will present an annual report on progress. By 31 December 2010, as well as by 31 December 2013, it will carry out interim evaluations with the assistance of independent experts, and carry out a final evaluation not later than six months after the end of the JU with the assistance of independent experts. Discharge for the implementation of the budget will be given by the European Parliament, upon recommendation of the Council.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 07/02/2008.