Research and development: EC/Australia, Canada, USA agreements, intelligent manufacturing systems

OBJECTIVE: this proposal for a decision requests the Council to approve and authorize the signing of an international cooperation agreement concerning research and development in the field of intelligent manufacturing systems with the following third countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, United States, Norway and Switzerland. SUBSTANCE: the agreement would establish the principles of cooperation in the field of intelligent manufacturing systems between legal entities in the Community and legal entities in third countries. For legal entities in the Community the multiannual framework R&D programme, and particularly the Informational Technologies Programme and the Industrial and Material Technologies Programme, are the relevant financing programmes. The rules proposed for the allocation, dissemination and protection of intellectual property rights arising from the cooperation follow the guiding principles set out in the Joint Declaration by the Council and Commission of 26 June 1992. The cooperation will initially cover the following subjects: total product life cycle; processes; strategy/planning/design tools; human/organization/social issues; virtual/extended enterprises. Cooperation will involve participation in projects by entities in accordance with procedures adopted in common for the creation and operation of international consortia and may include visits, training and exchanges of scientists. Representatives of the Participants appointed to the International Steering Committee (ISC) will liaise between the ISC and their respective governments. They will monitor the implementation of IMSs. Financing of the activities will be subject to the availability of funds and to the applicable laws and regulations, policies and programmes of the participating regions. Each Participant will cover its own participation. The IMS programme will run for 10 years. �