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

This Council decision lays down the rules governing the participation of enterprises, research centres and universities in European Community research, technological development and demonstration projects. - This decision applies to projects under the fourth RDT framework programme for 1994-1998 (shared cost RDT projects, integrated consortia, networks of excellence, training and mobility of researchers, measures to prepare and support joint projects); - Participation in projects is open to all legal entities established or exercising RDT activities in the Community or in third countries with association agreements with the Community and to the Joint Research Centre (JRC). - Entities located in third countries other than associated countries and international organisations may also participate, provided that their participation serves Community policies and they are cooperating with a minimum number of Community participants. - As a rule, participating international organisations and entities in third countries will not receive Community funding under the framework programme. - Community RDT projects must be undertaken by at least two independent entities established in two different Member States or at least one legal entity and the JRC. - As a rule, proposals 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 invitation. - Where necessary, calls for proposals may be preceded by a call for expressions of interest for information purposes. - Proposals will be selected on the basis of criteria which meet the specific objectives of the programmes. The general selection criteria are as follows: innovative nature of proposals, effective transnational cooperation, synergy between the various categories of participants (especially SMEs), cost/benefit ratio, participants' ability to manage transnational activities and the potential for the efficient dissemination and application of the results of RDT. - Small and medium-sized enterprises established in the Community or in an associated country may: . participate in cooperative research activities which allow them to ask other legal entities to carry out RDT on their behalf; . receive help in finding partners and drafting proposals; . receive financial support in order to complete the exploratory phase of a project in collaboration with others (feasibility study). - Finally, the decision 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.�