Call for Proposals on Intelligent Manufacturing System

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

Originally From: gsrt_abroad@isosun.ariadne-t.gr

Esprit & IMT Programmes

Joint Call for Proposals on

Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS)

Closing date : 21 January 1998 (Outline proposals) & 31 March 1998 (Full proposals)

Introduction

1. The Call has, as its legal bases, the following decisions: On 26 April 1994, the European Parliament and the Council adopted the Fourth Framework Programme of European Community activities in the field of Research, Technological Development and Demonstration (RTD) for the period 1994 to 1998 (1110/94/EC). On 27 July 1994, the Council adopted the specific programme for Research and Technological Development, including Demonstration, in the field of Industrial and Materials Technologies (IMT Programme) (94/571/EC). On 23 November 1994, the Council adopted the specific programme for Research and Technological Development, including Demonstration, in the field of Information Technologies (IT Programme) (94/802/EC). On 25 March 1996, the European Parliament and the Council adapted Decision No. 1110/94/EC following the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union. On 27 January 1997, the Council approved the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of an agreement for international cooperation in Research and Development in the domain of Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) between the European Community and Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States of America, Norway and Switzerland.

Focus of this call

2. In conformity with Article 5(1) of the decisions on the IT and the IMT programmes, each programme has a work programme setting out the technological objectives and types of actions to be undertaken and the financial arrangements to be made for them. Research and Technological Development activities, including demonstration, must be within the scope of the IT and/or the IMT work programme and the technical themes for international cooperation on Intelligent Manufacturing Systems which have been defined in the Council decision of 27 January 1997 on IMS as follows (a detailed description of the technical themes is given in the Guide for Proposers): total product life-cycle issues; process issues; strategy/planning/design; human/organisational/social issues; and, virtual/extended enterprise issues.

3. The legal entities referred to in Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Council decision (94/763/EC of 24 November 1994) on the rules for participation in specific programmes and the JRC are invited to submit proposals for Research and Technological Development, including Demonstrations, actions.

To be eligible for funding, projects should involve at least two non-affiliated partners from different Member States or from one Member State and one Associated State. In addition, in order to create an international consortium under IMS, there should be partners from at least two other participant regions (i.e. Australia, Canada, Japan, the US, Norway-Switzerland).

4. The submission of IMS proposals will proceed as follows: first, outline proposals will be submitted followed by the submission of full proposals. Full proposals will be evaluated and selected in accordance with the rules and procedures in force for the implementation of the IT and IMT programmes.

Proposals will be selected on the basis of criteria given in Annex II of the Fourth Framework Programme and those given in the Council decision on IMS of 27 January 1997 - in particular, added value of carrying out work at international level, balance of benefits and contributions, and compliance with Intellectual Property Rights provisions. Priority will be given to proposals with high industrial relevance.

5. The RTD work, including demonstrations, will be addressed, by shared-cost actions, in conformity with the implementation set out in Annex III of the Council decisions for the above-mentioned specific programmes.

Budgetary allocation

The total possible Community contribution for European participation in IMS within the Fourth Framework Programme will not exceed 55MECU. This contribution will be financed, as appropriate, from both the IT and IMT programmes. Considering the time left for the implementation of IMS in Europe, it is unlikely that the ceiling of 55 MECU will be reached.

6. Detailed information about technical content, procedures, eligibility, submission of proposal and background material is given in the Guide for Proposers which can be obtained from the European Commission. All correspondence concerning this Call should be sent to:

European Commission European IMS Secretariat (N-105 6/84) 200 Rue de la Loi Wetstraat B-1049 Brussels e-mail: ims@dg3.cec.be

Proposal delivery

7. Outline proposals can be submitted at any time up to 21 January 1998. Full proposals will have to be sent to the Commission at any time up to the 31 March 1998 at 12h, local time, as confirmed by the postmark, or delivered by hand, at the address indicated in section 6 or in one of the Offices of the Commission within the Community, by the same date, as confirmed by the date of the acknowledgement of receipt.

(1) The work programme for the IT programme is that which was updated by the Commission decision of 11 December 1996 (H/96/5157). The IMT work programme is that which was updated by the Commission decision of 12 December 1995 (H/95/5488).

The URL of this document is http://www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/imscall.htm or http://www.gsrt.epmhs.gr

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