Annexes to COM(2002)306 - JRC Annual Report 2001 - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2002)306 - JRC Annual Report 2001. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2002)306  |
| date | June 26, 2002 |
2.7. Safety of chemicals
The year 2001 was marked by the adoption by the Commission of the White Paper on a future strategy for the safety of chemicals. In addition to supporting the implementation of the current legislation on dangerous substances, the JRC has actively contributed to the drafting of the follow-up legislation by participating to a number of the working groups created by the Environment and Entreprise Directorates General of the Commission. In addition, it produced a report highlighting how alternative (non-animal) tests and testing strategies could be developed and used in support of the future policy on chemicals in the EU. During the year, three in vitro tests for embryotoxicity were endorsed by the Scientific Advisory Committee of the European Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods as scientifically valid and ready for consideration for use in regulation.
2.8. Alpha-immunotherapy
Alpha immunotherapy is a new approach to treating certain types of cancer. It relies on very short length, short-lived radiation given off by an emitter attached to cancer-cell-seeking antibodies. Under financing from the European Commission, the JRC in collaboration with the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg (DKFZ) began a Phase I clinical trial for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other B-cell malignancies in March 2001. The pre-clinical work was carried out in a network of European hospitals in Heidelberg, Düsseldorf, Ghent and Hasselt. The JRC contributed to the development and testing of the chelates used for binding bismuth (213Bi) to antibodies specific to cancer cells, and established the efficacy of the 213Bi -labelled construct on relevant cell lines. In DKFZ the in vivo stability of the radioimmunoconjugate was proven and its toxicity in mice evaluated. The data indicated that radioimmunoconjugates were safe and effective, due to the high cell killing potency of the alpha-emitter.
Since April 2001, nine patients with B-cell-malignancies, coming from three different German hospitals, have been treated in DKFZ at three dose-levels (15, 30 and 45 mCi of Bi-213). Major toxicity has not been observed in the treated patients. A continuation of these trials with a higher dose level is planned and, the trial will be extended to other centres, including the University Hospital in Düsseldorf.
The results obtained in a recent collaboration between the JRC and the Nuclear Medicine Hospital of the Technical University of Munich suggested that 213Bi-radioimmunoconjugates could be effective against diffuse-type gastric carcinomas. The first application in clinical therapeutic trials involving patients with solid gastro-intestinal tumours is expected in the near future.
Actinium-225 (225Ac), the parent nuclide of 213Bi, may be even more efficient in the treatment of certain cancer types. Up to now, the major limitation in evaluating its potency has been the lack of a suitable chelate. During 2001, a JRC team developed a new chelate for 225Ac, and preliminary tests indicate efficient binding. Pre-clinical experiments will commence in the near future, in order to prove the suitability of the new chelate for clinical use.
Another major issue in radioimmunotherapy is the quality of the radionuclide used. The separation of 225Ac from 225Ra or 226Ra using cation exchange is a lengthy process. The longer the Ra/Ac product remains on the resin, the greater the risk of radium contamination in the final product. To overcome these problems and to reduce the separation time and elution volume, the JRC has studied new forms of resin. The newly developed separation process has small elution volumes, short separation time and extremely high purity of the product.
2.9. Nuclear Forensics
Illicit trafficking in nuclear materials and associated environmental issues have led to the development of a new discipline: nuclear forensic science. The JRC Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) is a key contributor to the European effort in nuclear forensics and is recognized as a centre of excellence by Europol in this area. ITU collaborates closely with the German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) federal police office and federal environment ministry (BMU) - it is the laboratory designated by the BMU for investigation of seized nuclear materials. In the affair concerning the theft of nuclear material from the reprocessing plant WAK (Wiederaufarbeitungsanalage Karlsruhe), which is being decommissioned, the ITU was asked by the German authorities during the summer 2001 to analyse the material found in the environment and the private apartments and cars from the suspects in order to establish an expertise about the origin, age, type and composition of material and to find out whether further, not yet detected, highly radioactive material was brought out of the WAK. A combination of techniques was required, from non-destructive analyses (e.g. low-level gamma measurements), through chemical, elemental and isotopic analysis, up to investigations of the remaining parts of the samples and particles by electron microscopy. ITU participated in all the associated meetings with German authorities and compiled a final report for use by law enforcement authorities.
JRC staff serve on the International Technical Working Group (ITWG) on Nuclear Smuggling, and participated in two successful exercises involving 'seized' plutonium and highly enriched uranium. In collaboration with IAEA, the JRC has developed a model action plan for dealing with seized nuclear material that can be used as a framework for developing national response plans. A fully developed version was approved for use recently in the Ukraine and is now being implemented in most of the enlargement countries through dedicated JRC support.
In this area, JRC fosters also close contacts with law enforcement agencies - Europol, Interpol, World Customs Organisation and national police forces - and develops techniques to optimise collaboration between standard forensic techniques and the special requirements of the nuclear scientist: in February 2001, the JRC made the first ever identification of a fingerprint on an alpha-contaminated object. The JRC maintains a team on standby at ITU at all times to respond immediately to a seizure of illicit nuclear material, so that an analysis can be delivered to the appropriate authorities within 24 hours of arrival at the institute.
2.10. Cybersecurity
With the rapid advancement and globalisation of the Information Society, the right to privacy is becoming an increasingly difficult concept to sustain. The nature of 'on-line' business and e-commerce - where personal information can be readily transferred in digital form - has led to a situation where fundamental privacy issues are systematically threatened on a global scale. The EU has responded to the problems of on-line privacy protection by drawing up privacy legislation that places stringent controls on management and processing of personal data by third parties. However, legislation can only offer partial protection; technology has a vital role to play in ensuring appropriate levels of privacy within on-line information management systems.
The JRC provides scientific support to the European Parliament and Commission services including DG INFSO, JAI, MARKT and SANCO, in areas that are crucial for protecting the security of citizens and consumers in cyberspace. These JRC activities focus on privacy- and fraud-related risks to citizens arising from information infrastructure vulnerabilities, and include related prospective and socio-economic impact assessment studies.
During 2001, a benchmark platform for Internet content filtering tools, designed to protect against harmful Internet content, was completed. The 'EU implementation' model of the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C), P3P (platform for privacy preferences) standard was developed and it was adopted as the definitive one for the current P3P specification.
In support of DG Information Society, and in line with the requirements of the Commission's eEurope 2002 action plan, the JRC is investigating the technological requirements for privacy management, and has provided scientific and technical advice on the appropriate steps to be taken to keep the EU at the forefront of e-commerce growth. The JRC has also given scientific advise to the European Parliament on future policy issues relating to privacy and identity in cyberspace.
2.11. The electronic-Payment Systems Observatory
The electronic-Payment Systems Observatory (ePSO), a 24-month project, co-financed under the DG Enterprise-led ISIS-Programme (Information Society Initiatives in Standardisation) reached full maturity in 2001. Electronic payment systems will play a pivotal role in the development of e-commerce in Europe. The primary objective of the Observatory was to enhance the information exchange in this field with a view to promoting commonality of approach, interoperability and eventually standardisation of e-payment systems. ePSO has set up an electronic Forum of relevant actors and experts and facilitates a systematic exchange of strategic opinions - across borders and sectors - in order to assist standardisation and regulatory bodies keep pace with the progress of underlying technologies. A high level Steering Group guides the Observatory. Mrs. Christa Randzio-Plath, MEP, President of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament chairs the Steering Group, while experts from the industry and related Commission services take part in it. The final ePSO conference will take place in February 2002. Further information on the project can be found on the website: http://epso.jrc.es/
3. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JRC INSTITUTES
3.1. Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)
IRMM is the JRC's specialised institute for production, certification and marketing of reference materials and development of measurement methodologies. Its multi-faceted work scope ranges from food quality and safety, in-vitro diagnostics and biometrology to nuclear safety and safeguards. During 2001, the institute has provided the basis for the JRC's rapid response to the BSE crisis and it has produced soybean and maize certified reference materials and genomic DNA reference materials for food borne pathogens. IRMM has brought together the key players in in-vitro diagnostics and biometrology to create global networks aiming at providing reliable and internationally equivalent results in forensic testing, genetics identification, biotechnology product analysis and clinical diagnostic markers. As part of its nuclear safety and safeguards activity, it has certified ten uranium isotopic standards on behalf of the South American Safeguards Organisation. Finally, it has extended its International Measurement Evaluation and Training in Metrology in Chemistry Programmes to over 340 laboratories from candidate countries and awarded more than 300 certificates.
3.2. Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU)
ITU is the JRC institute dedicated to nuclear science and its many applications on nuclear safety and safeguards, radioactive waste management and health. In 2001 it made an important effort towards promoting nuclear research training. It organised the 1st Actinide Science Summer School and started an Actinide User laboratory to allow young researchers and students to obtain hands-on experience in working with transuranium elements. ITU has participated in drawing the European Roadmap for developing Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) for nuclear waste incineration and it has contributed experimentally to the study of the behaviour of irradiated fuel in long-term storage. Finally, the Institute has progressed towards clinical testing of alpha immunotherapy for cancer treatment.
3.3. Institute for Energy (IE)
In the course of 2001, the Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM) was transformed into Institute for Energy (IE), in order to focus on supporting the EU energy policy development. All of its projects were critically reviewed and adjusted to increase their bearing to Community policy-making. Three are the main scientific priorities of the new institute: nuclear safety, non-nuclear energy, and, as a spin-off, nuclear medicine.
IE focuses on operating and providing its services as reference laboratory to major European networks in the energy sector (four on nuclear and two on non-nuclear energy). In trying to consolidate the energy-related activities of the JRC and to provide validated and harmonised information to Community policy-makers, IE set up the Sustainable Energy Technologies Reference and Information System along with the Institute for Environment and Sustainability, the Institute for Prospective Technology Studies and the Institute for Transuranium Elements. In addition, support to enlargement progressed further, in particular, in improving the safety of Eastern-type nuclear reactors. The support of the JRC to the TACIS-Phare programmes increased by 40% this year compared to 2000.
3.4. Institute for Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC)
IPSC came into being in September 2001, as a result of a fusion between the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS) and part of the Space Applications Institute (SAI). The new Institute aims to provide research-based, systems-oriented support to EU policies so as to protect the citizen against economic and technological risk. In preparation for the Sixth Framework Programme its expertise in information, communication, space and engineering technologies has been consolidated and focused in order to provide direct support to Commission Directorates-General and Services through actions in three broad areas. These include the development and assessment of systems to enhance compliance with EU regulations and the application of technologies in fraud identification and prevention; the provision of decision support in economic and technological risk management; and the provision of support in verifying compliance with the Euratom Treaty and other international treaties aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
3.5. Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES)
The Institute for Environment and Sustainability was created by merging the former Environment Institute and parts of the former Space Applications Institute. The goal was to create a multidisciplinary team capable of dealing with the multiple facets of science supporting protection of the environment and the EU sustainable development strategy. The expertise currently available combined experimental sciences, modelling, geomatics and remote sensing. Thematically, IES has taken up an integrated approach to environmental problem-solving. In this context, it played a major role in supporting EU air and water related policies such as the Clean Air for Europe programme and the Water Framework Directive. It also helped set the basis for a new "Reference System for EU greenhouse gas emissions and sinks" - a key issue for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol after the Agreement in Bonn and Marrakech. In 2001, IES continued to support the Commission's Directorate General for Environment (DG ENV) on radioactivity monitoring in the environment and to transfer of policy relevant soil information from the Member States to the relevant Commission DG's (Agriculture, Environment, Development). Finally, the work of IES on renewables will be proactively integrated in the Sustainable Energy Technologies Reference and Information System.
3.6. Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP)
In 2001, the IHCP validated and developed several analytical methods in the food safety and quality area (for example, the detection of central nervous tissue in meat products); it also concluded a co-operation agreement with industry in order to validate methods for detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and to supply materials for the production of certified reference material. This year the European Commission recommended the JRC, together with the European Network of GMO laboratories (ENGL), as the Community Reference Laboratory for GMO detection and identification. In the area of chemicals substances, the IHCP European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) continued its work within the context of the White Paper on a strategy for the future EU Chemicals Policy, and the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) endorsed three in vitro tests for embryotoxicity as scientifically valid and ready to use for regulatory purposes in 2001. The institute continued to provide ÉÔ support to the European Medicine Evaluation Agency for the exchange of authorisation dossiers of medicinal products among Member States under the mutual recognition system through EudraNet (EU Drug Regulatory Authorities' Network), while in the biomedical materials area, the IHCP signed an agreement with the company Amersham Health concerning the setting-up of a plant for production of the radiopharmaceutical drug Flurodeoxyglycose (FDG). Moreover, in a move that will enhance training and technology transfer within the European Research Area, the Commission in 2001 designated the bio-cyclotron, located at IHCP, as an official Marie Curie Training Site for biomedical testing using radiotracers.
3.7. Institute for Prospective Technology Studies (IPTS)
IPTS' foresight activities in 2001 have been largely focused on Enlargement countries and the "Enlargement Futures" project on the techno-economic and societal impact of enlargement was completed. It was based on five thematic reports ("Economic Transformation", "Technology, Knowledge and Learning", "Employment and Societal change", "Sustainability, Environment and Natural Resources", and "Information and Communication Technologies"), the results of which were presented to the Slovenian government's "Bled Forum", on 2-4 December 2001. Furthermore, IPTS, in collaboration with its Enlargement Foresight Network has provided support to the Czech, Hungarian and Slovenian foresight exercises.
IPTS carried out three prospective studies at the request of the European Parliament on: the mobility of academic researchers, future bottlenecks in the information society (both for the ITRE Committee) and the impact of technological and structural change on employment-horizon 2020 (Employment Committee).
The European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau (EIPPCB), hosted by IPTS, finalised the preparation of Best Available Techniques Reference Documents (BREFS) for tanning, large volume organic chemicals, refineries and waste-water and gas in the chemical industry. These BREFS are indispensable if Member States are to meet the requirements of Directive 96/61/EC.
In 2001 the European Science and Technology Observatory (ESTO) network started operating under a new framework contract, which will cover the period 2001-2006. ESTO is a network of 26 research organisations from 15 countries operating as a pool under IPTS leadership. ESTO aims at detecting, at an early stage, scientific or technological breakthroughs, trends and events of potential socio-economic importance, which may require action at a European Union decision-making level.
Moreover, IPTS formally established a joint work programme, covering the period 2001-2002, with the newly established Directorate for technology foresight and socio-economic research of DG Research, and launched preparatory work for the development of joint activities with other JRC Institutes - including IE, IES and ITU for the definition of a proposal for a Sustainable Energy Technologies Reference and Information System; with IPSC on cybersecurity; and with IRMM on genetic testing.
4. SUPPORTING EU POLICY
A key element of the JRC mission is employing JRC scientific and technical competencies directly in support of European policy-making. In this way, the JRC serves the common interest of EU Member States and European citizens, while remaining completely independent of individual, commercial and national influences.
JRC contributed scientific support to both on-going and new EU legislation in addition to providing deliverables to Member State organisations. The JRC also provided representation on international technical committees and working groups, including 11 ISO committees, 14 CEN committees, and 4 OECD working groups.
4.1. Thematic priorities
JRC activities focused on the three key areas: food, chemical products and health; environment and sustainability; and nuclear safety and safeguards, which were underpinned by JRC competencies in: technical foresight; reference materials and measurements; and public security and anti-fraud.
Specific activities addressed a series of major themes, including:
- Climate change - keeping the EU at the forefront of efforts to fight a global threat;
- Combating fraud - from cybersecurity to agriculture;
- Emissions and air quality - avoiding impacts on health and the environment;
- Genetically modified organisms - improving GMO detection and risk assessment;
- Future EU strategy on safety of chemical substances - providing scientific and technical support to both the implementation of the existing Community legislation on chemicals and the drafting of the follow-up legislation to the White Paper on the future chemicals policy of the EU;
- Nuclear safeguards - detecting proliferation of nuclear material, equipment or technology from peaceful applications to military use and combating illicit trafficking;
- Nuclear safety - reducing risks from nuclear operations;
- Nuclear waste - improving management and storage;
- Safety and quality of the food chain - re-establishing confidence in food production;
- Sustainable energy - security and safety of energy supply and renewable energies; and
- Water quality - preventing pollution.
4.2. The Work Programme 2001
The scientific themes highlighted above, were addressed through the projects outlined in the table in appendix 3.
4.3. Contributing to European standardisation
Research contributing to the European standardisation process is an important function associated with the JRC mission. Many JRC activities - including harmonising methods, benchmarking and identification of best practices - contribute to development of the necessary consensus for the establishment of European standards. A co-operation agreement signed in 1998 between the JRC and the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) has strengthened the collaboration between the two organisations in the context of pre-normative and co-normative research (CEN-STAR committee dedicated to Standardisation and Research).
Several activities have emerged as a result of this collaboration in 2001:
- 61 new and renewed certified reference materials have been produced for use in the framework of European standardisation;
- the JRC chairs the CEN working group for test and evaluation of metal detectors in the context of civilian demining, and is also evaluating with CEN and ISO the feasibility of harmonisation in accidental risk management; and
- it contributes to the 'bio-express' study identifying measurement-related barriers (e.g. lack of measurement capability) to the exploitation of emerging technology in key areas of biotechnology, such as medical and agro-food. Options will be proposed to overcome these barriers through pre-normative research.
Moreover, the JRC actively participates in several CEN technical committees for the elaboration of standards in the fields of food (TC275, 174 and 194), air quality (TC 264), pressure vessels, materials (TC 121, 138, 184), electronic commerce (ISSS/WS-EC), etc.
4.4. The Quest for Excellence
Over the past few years, the JRC has taken very structured steps to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency. The quest for excellence and accountability continued in 2001.
4.4.1. A benchmarked organisation
In 2001, a taskforce on benchmarking was formed to undertake a thorough analysis of how the JRC had performed in 2000. Data on 11 key performance indicators, together measuring 25 outputs, were drawn up according to three themes:
- Support to EU policy and improvement in the everyday life of the European citizen (i.e. achieving the JRC mission);
- Demonstration of scientific competence in mission-related areas; and
- Value as a place to invest in research (management of financial and human resources).
The indicators will gauge internal progress. They reflect the specialised nature of the JRC mission and are not readily comparable with those for other research organisations.
4.4.2. Research benchmarking in Europe
A parallel exercise of benchmarking with 17 of Europe's top and most comparable research organisations was also undertaken. Here, indicators were focused on 'scientific productivity' and 'the management of financial & human resources'. Although this was a voluntary and highly time-consuming exercise, the response rate was 100%.
The volume of JRC publications in peer-reviewed journals was, as expected, lower than that of pure research organisations, with an average of 12 per 100 staff against a mean of 28. On the other hand, publications in conference proceedings (normally refereed) were comparatively high, at 33 per 100 staff against a mean of 39.
In a comparison of gender across the organisations, 26% of JRC staff is female - which, although low, compares favourably with the average for the sample, which stands at 23%.
4.5. Total Quality Management
Total Quality Management activities have also been fostering this process of organisational betterment using ISO9001 and EN45001 as well as the EFQM excellence model. In 2001 customer and staff surveys were also performed. The TQM assessments have identified areas of weaknesses on which action was taken in 2001, the progress made in 2001 will be assessed during 2002. The results are also being used to set challenging targets in the JRC's Management Plan and to benchmark with centres of excellence in the Member states.
4.6. Women and Science
The gender perspective in research and the gender equality at the JRC are both being addressed by the "JRC Women and Science Network" which was established in early 2000 and includes representatives from all JRC Institutes and Directorates.
Some of the actions which where carried out in 2001 and which will have a follow-up in 2002 include the production of the "2001 JRC Gender Perspective report", a report on maternity leave survey at the JRC and the drafting of a code of good practice on maternity leave replacement, the launching of the Intranet "JRC Women and Science Network" web site as an information and communication tool, and the integration of the gender issue in the preparation of the JRC specific programmes under the next framework programmes 2003-2006. Moreover, the gender issue will continue to be monitored via the appropriate JRC mechanisms such as in the Total Quality Management self-assessment guidelines and the JRC Taskforce on Benchmarking created in 2001.
The JRC gender mainstreaming activity is done in close collaboration with other Commission services and mainly DG RTD and in particular the Women and Science Unit in charge of the gender mainstreaming in the research policy, DG EMPL and DG ADMIN for their respective areas of competence. During 2001, contacts with the European Institute of Florence took place in order to organise joint activities on gender matters.
5. CONTRIBUTING TO THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA
The development of a real European Research Area, i.e. the co-ordination and integration of research activities at a European level, is the most important policy objective of the Commission in the field of research. The JRC aims to contribute to its establishment within its mission and in its areas of competence. Its strategy encompasses networking, research training and mobility and support to the enlargement process.
5.1. Networking
The JRC has sought to network with Member States, associate states and candidate countries organisations with a view to catalysing and co-ordinating research activities through knowledge sharing and dissemination, particularly where integrated action is needed at EU level.
Through its networking activities in 2001, when it co-ordinated and participated in over150 scientific networks involving 2000 research groups, the JRC has striven to:
- establish or strengthen S&T reference networks for policy making (e.g. GMO detection, emissions, air quality and the sustainable energy technologies reference and information system)
- support the co-ordination of research activities in selected areas (for example nuclear safeguards, nuclear medicine and technology foresight)
- contribute to the integration of research efforts in Europe (e.g. in actinide research and in metrology)
- explore and build up competence in new areas (e.g. authenticity of organic food)
5.2. Research training and mobility
One of the key strategies of the JRC is to stimulate the strongest possible mobility of researchers, as mobile researchers play a key role in the collaboration and networking of European research.
During 2001, full use was made of the different mobility instruments, which the Commission has at its disposal (visiting scientists, grant holders, detached national experts, Marie Curie instruments) in order to integrate the exchange of staff as a key support measure for networking. Ambitious quantitative targets have already been set in that respect for 2002.
Training through research, in particular taking advantage of the large research infrastructure and special research tools of the JRC, has been a key component of research integration, co-ordination and reference. These include, for example, the high flux reactor in Petten, the linear accelerator in Geel, the bio-cyclotron and the reaction wall in Ispra. In 2001, the bio-cyclotron also received the status of an official Marie Curie Training site for research training in biomaterials testing using radiotracers.
6. PROGRESSING SUPPORT TO EU ENLARGEMENT
Enlargement is one of the main dimensions of the ERA. Since mid-1999, 12 applicant countries have joined the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) as associate members and benefit from full participation in all EU research programmes (seven countries have also subscribed to its nuclear part).
In 2001, the JRC implemented a specific action - which had already started in 1999 - to strengthen collaboration with applicant country research organisations. The aims are to achieve full integration of applicant countries by the end of FP6, and support the adoption and implementation of the body of EU law (acquis communautaire").
Support to applicant countries comprises an integrated package of measures and instruments, ranging from individual projects to hosting applicant country scientists at the JRC, as follows:
6.1. Progressive opening up of the JRC programme
In 2001, 18 JRC enlargement projects were initiated. Several applicant country workshops were organised in Ispra and other JRC sites, addressing concerns about environment, nuclear safety and safeguards, harmonisation of measurements, agriculture, food safety and quality, prospective analysis and modelling.
6.1.1. Hosting and training staff from applicant countries
Between August 2000 and September 2001, JRC institutes hosted 33 non-statutory staff from applicant countries as either detached national experts, visiting scientists or grant-holders. It also devised a scheme of short-term stays, tailored to the needs of candidate countries research managers or administrators, for example one to three month visits in combination with ad-hoc training schemes. Integrated training activities in partnership with policy Directorate Generals have also been explored and will be extended in 2002.
6.1.2. Research collaboration
In its fields of core competence, the JRC played a catalysing role in drawing research organisations from applicant countries into European project networks. Since 1999, 41 shared-cost projects have involved over 60 organisations from these partner countries.
6.1.3. Enhancing communication
Information days featuring senior representatives of the research community were organised in Bratislava, Prague Riga and Warsaw to raise awareness of the opportunities offered by collaboration with the JRC. A specific enlargement section (http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/enlargement) has been developed within the JRC corporate website.
7. STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
In fulfilling its mission as a science and technology reference centre, the JRC needs to work with a large network of partner organisations in the European Union, applicant countries and beyond. Consequently, various terms of reference - memoranda of understanding, collaboration agreements and implementing arrangements - are mutually agreed with the international partners. Because the work of the JRC and its partners involves both original research and applied knowledge generation, the attribution of intellectual property rights also has to be regulated to mutual satisfaction.
7.1. Global dimension
In 2001, the Energy and Transport, Research and JRC Directorates General signed an implementing arrangement with the American Department of Energy in the field of non-nuclear energy in the frame of the 1998 science and technology agreement between the EU and the USA.The JRC focus is on finding socio-economic solutions for greenhouse gas mitigation, improved waste- and bio-mass combustion processes, the safe use of alternative fuels such as hydrogen in the context of fuel cells, and optimisation of the integration of decentralised energy generators such as photo-voltaic cells into power grids.
Globalisation therefore encompasses the progressive development of internationally recognised terms of reference, including:
- Regulations relating to environment, trade, risk, etc, which are mutually interconnected; and
- Codes for construction and design, as in earthquake engineering, power generation, car manufacturing and many other areas.
The JRC is also involved in developing air emission standards, for example regarding particles from car exhaust gases and other mobile sources using internal combustion engines. At Commission level, this is done in close co-operation with the Energy and Transport and the Environment DGs. The activity is linked to a world-wide testing cycle, which involves the US Environmental Protection Agency and a number of Japanese institutions. The JRC recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japanese Petroleum Energy Corporation to structure this joint work better.
7.2. Nuclear issues
In the nuclear field scientific co-operation with foreign partners in Argentina, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, the USA and the applicant countries is complemented by direct assistance to Community programmes - either through implementation of a part of such programmes, or support to the DGs in charge of their overall implementation.
The JRC is also directly supporting the Russian authorities in the establishment of a reliable safeguards system in Russia. In the area of nuclear safety, it is acting as the technical expert ensuring the follow-up of the TACIS programme and projects starting from the definition phase.
Finally, the US administration's intention to launch a world-wide exercise called Generation IV, concerning future development of nuclear energy, has initiated interest and expectation in several Member States that the JRC could play a key role.
8. MANAGING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
The year 2001 saw the creation of two spin-off companies, in-depth negotiations on another two, the opening of an incubator facility and participation in the second Descartes competition for innovation. Filed patent applications ranged from improved materials for biomedical implants to sensing systems based on optical fibres. In addition, the Commission formally agreed that, as of 2002, the JRC would assume responsibility for managing its own intellectual property portfolio.
8.1. Spin-offs
Two young brothers, one a former JRC staff member, created the 3D-Veritas enterprise in Italy early in 2001. This already has four employees, and plans to create ten jobs within the next two years. Its innovative technology permits the rapid creation of realistic three-dimensional models of large buildings and structures, with unprecedented visual quality. Potential applications range from safeguarding the architectural heritage, through civil engineering, to the production of films and games.
DYNALAB, another recent JRC spin-off, is an engineering consultancy providing services for construction and use of measurement devices in testing and improving the impact properties of materials, primarily steels. Principal clients will include university research and testing laboratories, steel producers and the automotive industry. Several contracts with major industrial companies are currently under negotiation.
8.2. Descartes finalist
The JRC adaptive brain interface (ABI), a finalist in the prestigious René Descartes EU science competition, was developed to improve the autonomy and quality of life for severely physically handicapped people. Features of the device include:
- Its non-invasive character - the user wears a cap with electrodes for the detection of EEG signals from the brain;
- The exclusive reliance on brain signals; and
- The ability of the system to adapt to individual users' specific brain patterns.
Two participants in the JRC entrepreneurship training programme in 2000 are well advanced in the creation of a spin-off that will license technology from the Commission.
9. THE JRC IN FIGURES (I)
9.1. Statutory Staff
The statutory staff of the JRC (M-male, F-female) is composed of the following categories:
>TABLE POSITION>
Numbers reflect the situation at the end of the year. During the course of the year, the total number of staff (excluding auxiliary agents) fell by around 22, the number of departures exceeding the number of new recruits. The implementation of the Commission policy for staff financed on the research budget (NPPR) was continued. The objective of this policy was to reach 40% of the total statutory staff as officials, 35% of the statutory staff on temporary agents under indefinite 5-year contracts, and 25% of flexible portion on short-term non-statutory and statutory contracts such as grantholders, visiting scientist, national detached experts, auxiliary agents and temporary agents on 3-year contracts.
>TABLE POSITION>
9.2. Collaborative Staff with Member States and Third Countries
Trainees, grant-holders, visiting scientists and seconded national experts.
>TABLE POSITION>
9.3. Equal opportunities
Since the year 2000, the JRC has taken a markedly proactive stance with regard to promoting equal opportunities and, in particular, gender equality in its working environment. It has been operating a JRC-wide network on Women and Science, which includes representatives from all JRC institutes and directorates.
During 2001, the JRC launched a call for applications for JRC training through research grants and within the selected young researchers, the 40% target for JRC female grantholders (post-graduate and post-doctoral) was exceeded.
Moreover, for the first time in 2001 targets for the recruitment and appointment of women were set up for the research budget as it was done for the operating budget. Recruitment of women at the JRC in grades A8/A7/A6 in 2001 was increased to 31%. The most important achievement has been that the pool of women is being increased not only by recruitment but also by promotion; hence, more women would be eligible for access to middle management positions in the near future.
9.4. Budget (budget and expenses -institutional activities)
The available credits to the JRC are sub-divided in staff expenses, means of execution (maintenance of buildings and equipment, electricity, insurance, consumables, etc.), operational credits (direct scientific activities) and decommissioning credits.
The credits come from the institutional budget, made available directly from the European budget to the JRC for FP V. On the institutional budget, the following sums were made available:
>TABLE POSITION>
Additional sources of appropriations are made available through contributions of PECO countries and EEE, and competitive activities.
9.5. Competitive activities
The JRC has concluded 87 new SCA contracts in 2001. Competitive activities outside the Framework Programme were defined through the conclusion of 9 new contracts. Third Party work originates from a range of 57 major clients.
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9.6. Publications
10 THE JRC IN FIGURES (II)
In the context of the administrative and financial reform and the measures adopted by the Commission in the March 2000 White Paper (COM(2000) 200 final), each Director-General is required to present an annual activity report. The first annual report covers the 2001 financial year. To guarantee the uniform presentation of information, the JRC thought it appropriate to give in its annual activity report identical information to that summarised in the annual activity report of the Director-General of the JRC. This information relates to the implementation of the appropriations allocated by the budgetary authority in respect of its institutional activities and information relating to its competitive activities (work for third parties).
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Human resources authorised establishment plan staff 2077
Notes:
- The allocated staff includes visiting scientists, fellows and seconded staff. All staff is allocated to operational tasks.
- The support to the Decommissioning activity belongs to the EAEC programme.
Appendices
Appendix 1
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE OF THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Prof. Fernando ALDANA
Oficina de Innovación y Tecnología Empresarial
E. Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales
E - 28006 Madrid // CHAIRMAN
MEMBERS //
Dr. Jacques WAUTREQUIN
Secrétaire Général Honoraire Services Fédéraux des Affaires Scientifiques,Techniques et Culturelles B - 1170 Bruxelles // BELGIQUE/BELGIË
Dr. Hans Peter JENSEN
Vice Director DK - 2820 Gentofte Replaced Dr. H.B. Møller on 1 September 2001 // DANMARK
Ministerialdirektor Dr. Karsten BRENNER
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung D - 53175 Bonn // DEUTSCHLAND
Prof. Michalis S. SKOURTOS
Director of Postgraduate Studies
University of the Aegean, Department of Environmental Studies
GR - 81 100 Mytilini // ELLAS
Prof. Félix YNDURÁIN
Director General of CIEMAT E - 28040 Madrid // ESPAÑA
Mr. Philippe GARDERET
Directeur de l'Innovation et des Technologies Emergentes AREVA F - 75433 Paris Cédex 09 // FRANCE
Dr. Killian HALPIN
Director Office of Science & Technology - Policy Division Forfás, Wilton Park House IRL - Dublin 2 // IRELAND
Ing. Paolo VENDITTI
Direttore Generale, Consorzio SICN I - 00196 Roma // ITALIA
Mr. Pierre DECKER
Conseiller de Gouvernement 1ère classe Ministère de la Culture, de l' Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche L - 2273 Luxembourg // LUXEMBOURG
Mr. Jan W. WEEHUIZEN
Director of Energy Production - Ministry of Economic Affairs
NL - 2500 EC Den Haag // NEDERLAND
Ministerialrat Dr. Kurt PERSY
Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Verkehr, Gruppe III/A A - 1014 Wien // ÖSTERREICH
Prof. José Carvalho SOARES President
Ministério da Ciência e da Tecnologia, Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear P - 2686-953 Sacavém // PORTUGAL
Prof. Jarl FORSTÉN
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland FIN - 02044 VTT // SUOMI-FINLAND
Prof. Kerstin FREDGA
S - 131 50 Saltsjö-Duvnäs Replaced Prof. J. Carlsson on 20 March 2001 // SVERIGE
Dr. James McQUAID
International Directorate,
Office of Science and Technology
1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EH
GB Replaced Dr. M. Earwicker on 15 June 2001 // UNITED KINGDOM
PARTICIPANTS //
Mrs. Albena VUTSOVA
Director
Ministry of Education and Science
BG - Sofia 1000 // BULGARIA
Dr. Karel AIM ICPF Scientific Board Chair
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals CZ - 165 02 Praha 6 // ESKÁ REPUBLIKA
Dr. Antonis IOULIANOS
Research Promotion Foundation
CY - 1683 Nicosia (As from 4 October 2001) // CYPRUS
Dr. Toivo RÄIM
Ministry of Education of Estonia
Department of Research and High Education EE - Tartu 50088 // ESTONIA
Dr. Axel BJÖRNSSON
Professor in Environmental Sciences, University of Akureyri IS - 600 Akureyri // ISLAND
Prof. Arnon BENTUR
Samuel Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology IL - 32000 Haifa // ISRAËL
Prof. Andrejs SILIUp
Secretary General, Latvian Academy of Sciences LV - 1050 Riga // LATVIA
Ms. Karin ZECH
Amt für Volkswirtschaft FL - 9490 Vaduz // FÜRSTENTUM LIECHTENSTEIN
Dr. Habil. Antanas ENYS
Chairman of Senate (Board), Semiconductor Physics Institute
LT - 2600 Vilnius // LITHUANIA
Dr. Frank PORTELLI
Malta Council for Science and Technology
M - Valletta (As from 6 November 2001) // MALTA
Prof. László KEVICZKY
Member of the Academy Vice-President, Hungarian Academy of Sciences H - 1051 Budapest // MAGYARORSZAG
Mr. Andreas MORTENSEN
Ministry of Trade and Industry N - 0030 Oslo // NORGE
Prof. Michal KLEIBER
Director Institute of Fundamental Technological Research
Polish Academy of Sciences PL - 00-049 Warszawa // POLSKA
Mr. Petru FILIP
National Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation Office for European Integration in R&D Programmes RO - 70168
1 Bucharest // ROMANIA
Dr. Vladimír pUCHA
Associated Professor at Faculty of Sciences
Department of Geology of Mineral Deposits, Comenius University
SK - 842 15 Bratislava // SLOVAKIA
Dr. Milos KOMAC
State Undersecretary - Ministry of Science and Technology SL - 1000 Ljubljana // SLOVENIJA
Appendix 2
JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE - DIRECTORS TODAY
Director General // Barry McSweeney
Deputy Director General
(Acting Director General 01.01.2001 - 31.03.2001) // Hugh Richardson
Science Strategy directorate // Alejandro Herrero Molina
Resources directorate // Jean-Pierre Vandersteen
Institute for Health and Consumer Protection // Kees van Leeuwen
Institute for Environment and Sustainability // Jean-Marie Martin
Institute for Protection and Security of the Citizen // David R. Wilkinson
Institute for Energy // Kari Törrönen
Institute for Transuranium Elements // Roland Schenkel
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements // Manfred Grasserbauer
Institute for Prospective Technological Studies // Jean-Marie Cadiou
Appendix 3
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
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1. Safety of food and chemicals, and health related issues
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2. Environment
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3. Dependability of information systems and services
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4. Nuclear safety and safeguards
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5. Horizontal activities
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