Research and development: renew and modify the EC/Australia, Canada, USA, Norway, Switzerland, Korea, Japan agreements, intelligent manufacturing systems
PURPOSE : to renew and modify an agreement on intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) between the European Community and Australia, Canada, Norway and Switzerland, Korea, Japan and the United States.
LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2008/148/EC concerning the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters recording the common understanding renewing and modifying the Agreement on international cooperation on research and development activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) between the European Community and Australia, Canada, the EFTA countries of Norway and Switzerland, Korea, Japan and the United States of America
CONTENT: this Decision approves the above Agreement on behalf of the Community. The IMS scheme is an international and multilateral cooperation scheme in which participants work cooperatively to boost industrial competitiveness, solve problems facing manufacturing worldwide, and develop advanced manufacturing technologies and systems to benefit humanity.
The IMS agreement, which expired in April 2005, will be renewed for 10 years.
The specific provisions detailing the terms of the Agreement are set out in a “Terms of Reference for a Scheme for International Cooperation in Advanced Manufacturing for Intelligent Manufacturing Systems”, found in Annex to the Council Decision. The Terms of Reference, or ToR, set out the objectives, management structure and terms and conditions of participating in the Agreement. It includes a technical annex on the dissemination of information and what intellectual property rights apply to any research consequences resulting from IMS collaboration.
ENTRY INTO FORCE : the Agreement shall apply from 4th January for European Community, Norway, Korea, Japan and the United States.