Research and training, Euratom programmes: participation of undertakings, research centres and universities

This proposal for a decision sets out the rules governing the involvement of enterprises, research centres and universities in the specific research and teaching programmes of the European Atomic Energy Community. It applies to all types of legal entities, including the Joint Research Centre (JRC). As far as the geographical conditions of eligibility are concerned, participation in projects is open to all legal entities established or exercising RTD activities in the Community or in third countries with association agreements with the Community and to the JCR. In order to step up international cooperation on RTD, there are more flexible terms of eligibility for entities located in third countries which have concluded scientific and technical cooperation agreements with the Community and international organisations. Participation in RTD projects is also open to technology users and entities wanting research carried out on their behalf in the form of "cooperative research". As a rule, projects will be selected on the basis of calls for proposals published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and, in certain cases, on the basis of restricted calls for proposals. Activities in the controlled thermonuclear sector will be carried out under the terms of association contracts or agreements (NET, ITER, JET etc. agreements or projects). The general selection criteria are set out in the proposal. The principle whereby Community RTD projects must be undertaken by at least two independent entities established in two different Member States has been maintained. However, there are specific provisions for European economic interest groups and SMEs in receipt of feasibility awards for the exploratory phase prior to a detailed RTD project. Finally, in order to control costs when managing RTD projects, the proposal sets out guidelines for the mechanisms to be used in order to evaluate the reimbursable costs and pay the Community contribution. The Commission may calculate reimbursements on the basis, depending on the circumstances, of negotiated costs, scales or tariffs set in advance, sums linked to the results of quantifiable research or inclusive sums for small-scale projects.�