31.12. 94 Official Journal of the European Communities ‘No L 361/101 COUNCIL DECISION of 15 December 1994 adopting a specific programme for the dissemination and optimization of the results of activities in the field of research and technological development, including demonstration (1994 to 1998) (94/917/EC THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130i (4) thereof (1), Having regard to the proposal form the Commission, Having regard the Parliament (2), to opinion of the European Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas, by Decision No 1110/94/EC (4), the European Parliament and the Council adopted a fourth framework programme for Community activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) for the period 1994 to 1998 specifying inter alia the activities to be carried out in the field of dissemination and optimization of results; whereas this Decision takes account of the grounds set out in the preamble to that Decision; Whereas Article 1301 (3) of the Treaty stipulates that the framework programme shall be implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity under the framework programme and that each specific programme shall define the detailed rules for its implementation, fix its duration and provide for the means deemed necessary; Whereas the aims of this programme are to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the results of research, to achieve optimum exploitation by encouraging, with the assistance of the various operators concerned, the conversion of the results obtained into innovations, to promote technology transfer, in particular to small and medium-sized enterprises, and to support the initiatives launched at national and regional level so as to give them a Community dimension; Whereas the innovation process is complex and interactive and involves various types of operators, and the activities for disseminating and exploiting results (1) O] No C 228, 17. 8. 1994, p. 198. (2) O] No C 341, 5. 12. 1994. (3) Opinion delivered on 14 September 1994 (not yet published in the Official Journal). ' (4) O] No L 126, 18. 5. 1994, p. 1. must therefore be combined with those aimed at improving technology transfer; Whereas the creation of an environment favourable to the exploitation of results and the dissemination of technologies in all sectors of industry and in all regions of the Community contributes directly to -adapting the industrial fabric and increasing the competitiveness of undertakings, thereby strengthening the scientific and technological base of European industry (including SMEs) so that it can become more competitive internationally. Whereas the amount deemed necessary for carrying out this programme is ECU 293 million; whereas the appropriations for each financial year shall be laid down by the budgetary authority, subject to the availability of resources within the financial perspectives and the conditions set out in Article 1 (3) of Decision No 1110/94/EC; Whereas the content of the fourth framework programme for Community RTD activities was established in accordance with the subsidiarity principle; whereas this specific programme specifies the content of the activities to be carried out in accordance with this principle in the field of dissemination and optimization of results; Whereas the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres (including the JRC) and universities and the rules governing the dissemination of research results specified in the measures provided for in Article 130j of the Treaty apply to this specific programme; Whereas the Commission’s efforts to simplify and accelerate the application and selection procedures and make them more transparent must be continued in order to promote the implementation of the programme and to facilitate the action which firms, particularly SMEs, research centres and universities have to undertake in order to participate in a Community RTD activity; Whereas the nature of the activities to be undertaken in this programme requires close coordination with activities undertaken under other specific programmes;