Research RTD 1994-1998: participation of undertakings, research centres, universities. Specific programmes

The proposal for a decision laid down the rules governing the participation of businesses, research centres and universities in specific Community RTD programmes and completed the proposal for a Fourth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development for the period 1994-1998. The proposed rules would cover all legal persons and would apply to all indirect actions listed in Annex IV to the Fourth Framework Programme (shared-cost RTD projects, integrated consortia, networks of excellence, training and mobility of researchers, measures to prepare and support projects, joint actions, etc.). As regards the geographical conditions of eligibility, participation in the projects was open to all legal entities established or exercising RTD activities in the Community or in an associated third country, and to the Joint Research Centre. With a view to strengthening international cooperation in the field of RTD, greater flexibility would be given to the opportunities open to those entities which were based in countries which had signed agreements on scientific and technical cooperation with the Community, as well as to international organizations. Technology users and entities which were keen to have research carried out on their behalf within the framework of "cooperative research", would also be eligible to participate in the RTD actions. Projects would generally be selected on the basis of calls for proposals published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and, in some cases, on the basis of restricted calls for offers. The general selection criteria were contained in the proposal. The programme retained the principle whereby Community RTD actions had to be undertaken by at least two independent entities established in two different Member States. However, special provisions were laid down for independent established entities and SMEs receiving feasibility grants for the exploratory phase of an action before the main RTD project began. Finally, with a view to controlling the cost of administering the RTD projects, the proposal set out guidelines for the mechanisms to be used for evaluating the reimbursable costs and paying the Community contribution. The Commission could therefore calculate the reimbursements, according to circumstances, on the basis of negotiated costs, scales and tariffs set in advance, sums linked to the results of quantifiable research and inclusive sums for small-scale projects. �