Реферат: Quality of life and management of living resources

The Thematic Programmes are :

· Quality of life and management of living resources

· User-friendly information society

· Competitive and sustainable growth

· Energy, environment and sustainable development.

In line with the provisions set out in the EC Treaty, the widely ranging Horizontal Programmes underpin and complement these Thematic Programmes.

The Horizontal Programmes are:

· Confirming the international role of Community research

· Promotion of innovation and encouragement of participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

· Improving human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base.

One essential new characteristic of the Fifth Framework Programme is the integrated, problem-solving approach . Integration is strengthened at three levels:

- By the key action concept in the Thematic Programmes. Key actions are major innovations of the Fifth Framework Programme. They will enable the many and varied aspects of the economic and social issues to be targeted, by integrating the entire spectrum of activities and disciplines needed to achieve the objectives.

- By integration between Horizontal and Thematic Programmes objectives .

International co-operation

Participation by entities of third countries and international organisations will be possible in all Programmes in addition to opportunities for participating in the Horizontal Programme “Confirming the international role of Community research”. Conditions for participation, including possible financial arrangements, are specified in section III of this document. Box 1 describes the opportunities for bursaries for young researchers from developing countries.

Innovation and participation of SMEs

Measures encouraging SME participation in RTD activities will be carried out in all Thematic Programmes and the Innovation and SME programme. Details on SME stimulation measures will be found in a special information brochure devoted to them. In addition, each Thematic Programme will interface with the Horizontal Programme “Promotion of innovation and encouragement of SME participation” in order to develop awareness and help technology transfer and use of the results of the Thematic Programme.

Socio-economic and training aspects

Socio-economic research can be funded by both the Thematic Programmes and by the key action on “Improving the socio-economic knowledge base” of the Horizontal Programme “Improving the human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base”. Socio-economic research is present in the Thematic Programmes as an integral part of the technological research activities. Training opportunities for researchers are assured through the Marie Curie system of fellowships that can be implemented by Thematic Programmes as well as by other specific training activities in the Human Potential Programme. The fellowships system is described schematically in Box 2.

- By integration between Thematic Programmes . Complementary and synergistic interactions will be ensured in implementing the Programmes.

I.3. Implementation

I.3.1. Work Programme

A Work Programme has been drawn up for each Specific Programme, describing the specific activities and the various research areas. The Work Programme will be revised regularly with the assistance of Advisory Groups of independent experts to ensure its continued relevance in the light of evolving needs and developments. Potential proposers should therefore ensure they are consulting the current version of the work programme when planning a proposal. The Work Programme appearing at the Specific Programme Web site is always the current version.

The Work Programme includes an indicative timetable or “roadmap ”, which indicates which parts of the Work Programme will be opened, by calls for proposals, and deadline(s) involved. This provides a means of focusing attention on areas or sub-areas, thereby optimising opportunities for launching collaborative projects and establishing thematic networks.

The Commission will manage the Specific Programmes to ensure that links in thematic content between the programmes are exploited in a synergistic way. This may occasionally require joint or synchronised calls for proposals. Where necessary, co-ordination measures such as these will be indicated in the announcement of the calls for proposals, and in the Work Programme.

I.3.2. Types of actions supported

The Community will contribute financially to the RTD[2] activities, carried out under the Specific Programmes implemented within the Fifth Framework Programme. The general rules[3] are as follows:

(a) Shared-cost actions

· Research and technological development (R&D) projects[4] – projects obtaining new knowledge intended to develop or improve products, processes or services and/or to meet the needs of Community policies (financial participation: 50 % of total eligible costs^4,[5] ).

· Demonstration projects⁴ – projects designed to prove the viability of new technologies offering potential economic advantage but which cannot be commercialised directly (financial participation: 35 % of total eligible costs⁵ ).