The European Parliament,
- having regard to the motion for a resolution tabled by Mr Chiabrando and others on the creation of an effective system for the dissemination and use of the results of Community scientific research (B3-0413/90),
- having regard to Articles 130f and 130g of the EEC Treaty,
- having regard to its opinion of 16 November 1988, and its decision of 24 May 1989, on the VALUE programme for the dissemination and utilization of scientific and technological research results,
- having regard to its opinion of 16 February 1989 on the implementation at Community level of the main phase of the strategic programme for innovation and technology transfer (SPRINT),
- having regard to its opinion of 15 June 1990 on the STRIDE programme concerning regional capacities for research technology and innovation,
- having regard to the special report of the Court of Auditors on the Exploitation of the results of Community Research (2/91)
- having regard to the report of the Committee on Energy, Research and Technology (A3-0188/91),
A. Whereas the objective of improving the competitive position of European industry through research and technological development is enshrined in the EEC Treaty,
B. Whereas research and technological development activities in the Community embody tremendous potential for economic development and reinforcement of the cohesion of the Member States, on condition that all European undertakings participate on as broad a basis as possible, to include participation in the phase of utilisation of the results,
C. Whereas Community research and development activities should contribute ultimately to exploitable technologies for new products, services and manufacturing methods, not all research is necessarily aimed at producing commercial products,
D. Whereas the activities of dissemination and exploitation of research results have a major role to play in improving Europe's competitiveness,
E. Whereas current Community activities are geographically, budgetarily and thematically dispersed,
F. Whereas there is a major imbalance between the amount assigned to the Third Framework Programme for RTD (1990-1994) of 5.7 billion ECU and the 57 million for the centralised action of dissemination,
1. Expresses its concern at the excessive disproportion between the level of Community-sponsored research and development activity and the effort, both substantive and financial, to disseminate and exploit the results of this activity,
2. Exphasises that dissemination and exploitation are integral parts of the R & D chain leading from basic research to product innovation and exploitation,
3. Considers that the goal of ultimate utilisation or commercialisation should be an essential component of the Framework research programme and its planning and implementation,
4. Reiterates the importance of technology transfer as a means of enhancing Community cohesion, and the vital role of dissemination in achieving this,
5. Considers that Community action should be coordinated centrally, including a presence in Brussels; but respecting the principle of subsidiarity by the use of such relay points and technology transfer networks as do exist and by assisting in their formation where these do not yet exist,
6. Considers actions carried out under that dissemination should be carried out through networks which build on those already in existence and linked to the SPRINT or STRIDE programmes, and which would pay particular attention to the requirements of small and medium-sized enterprises,
7. Considers that participants in Community-sponsored research action programmes should have a legal obligation to disseminate programme results, that the obligation to disseminate should be enforced by the Commission, taking into account the legitimate interests of the contractors,
8. Calls on the Commission to implement the recommendations contained in the Court of Auditors' special report, particularly
(i) to accelerate its procedures to avoid excessive time-lapses between results and their exploitation and to remedy other organisational deficiencies,
(ii) to propose the necessary amendments to the Financial Regulation,
9. Finally calls on the Commission to:
(a) urgently prepare for submission to Parliament and Council a strategy paper on dissemination and exploitation which will address both the dispersion and marginalised nature of current activities and the juridical difficulties concerning patenting and intellectual property rights, and propose solutions, which could be incorporated in the forthcoming Centralised Action and in the next Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development,
(b) make proposals where appropriate for the use of marketing and specialised professional agencies with successful experience in marketing technology or with experience in obtaining editorial publicity in technical journals Community wide, for the purposes of dissemination, where appropriate,
(c) review the present geographical location of the services for dissemination and exploitation of Community research results, with a view to optimsing their effectiveness,
(d) bring to a fully operational level the CORDIS data-base, which should be wide in coverage and range and easily usable by industrial companies and participants in Community research,
(e) make proposals for new Community instruments for granting loans and/or venture capital to SMEs, which intend to use the results of Community RTD activities through the acquisition and/or use of patents, the establishment of joint ventures, with preference for the EEIG, the introduction of new products or industrial processes etc.,
(f) in order to measure the impact of Community R & D programmes, put in place a monitoring system to provide quantitative and detailed indicators such as commercial and social impact, market share developments, overall cost-benefit analysis, coverage in technical and trade journals etc., the results of which will be communicated to Parliament and Council on a regular basis,
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council and the Parliaments of the Member States.
