This document sets out the terms of reference for the participants to study the
feasibility of entering into international cooperation in research and
development in the field of advanced manufacturing.
WHEREAS, manufacturing is a primary generator of wealth and is critical to
establishing a sound economic basis for economic growth;
WHEREAS, the need for great sophistication in manufacturing operations has
become critical as a result of the establishment of global markets;
WHEREAS, the role of research and development in the field of advanced
manufacturing is increasingly pivotal to manufacturing operations;
WHEREAS, substantial advanced manufacturing research is being carried out
worldwide;
WHEREAS, properly managed international collaboration in advanced manufacturing
research could help improve manufacturing operations; and
WHEREAS, participants to discussions held in Tokyo on November 19 and 20, 1990
shared the view that international collaboration in advanced manufacturing
could only proceed upon the following bases:
- A. Such collaboration should be international.
- B. Contribution to, and benefits from, such collaboration should be
equitable and balanced.
- C. Collaborative projects should have industrial relevance.
- D. Research should be carried out by consortia which should be
interregional, geographically distributed and decentralised.
- E. Research projects should occur throughout the innovation process.
- F. Results of research should be shared through a process of controlled
diffusion that protects and equitably allocates any intellectual property
rights created or furnished during collaborations.
- G. Projects under government sponsorship or utilising government resources
should involve pre-competitive research and development.
- H. A feasibility study on international collaboration in advanced
manufacturing is necessary to define the program and for each participant to
decide whether to participate in such a program.
- I. The six Participants in the feasibility study are:
- Australia
- Canada
- The European Community (EC)
- The EFTA countries (EFTA)
- Japan
- USA
- The EC and EFTA countries will act together as a European Group.
- The Participants will undertake a feasibility study based on these
principles and structured as delineated below to determine if an international
collaborative program in advanced manufacturing can be created that is
equitably and beneficially structured. If such a program is undertaken, there
is a possibility that additional participants might be included.
The feasibility study will consist of two (2) parts:
- A. Study. The following areas will be studied:
- 1. Modalities for international collaboration, including requirements for
participation in a possible future program and the composition and function of
any committees established;
- 2. Technical themes for a future program, including criteria for
evaluating and approving research projects;
- 3. Contribution and funding arrangements for international collaboration;
and
- 4. Guidelines for information sharing and intellectual property rights
(IPR).
- B. R&D Test Cases. In order to design procedures for a possible
future program, the following principles will be followed in carrying out
sufficient (approximately three research and development (R&D) test
cases:
- 1. A sufficient number of (approximately three) research and development
test cases will be carried out to provide adequate information to design a
possible future program.
- 2. Existing international projects may be used as the basis for research
and development test cases in order to expedite the feasibility study if they
meet, or can be modified so as to meet, the criteria for approving a research
and development test case.
- 3. Partners in an approved research and development test case must
delineate acceptable IPR provisions in advance.
- 4. Collaboration in each research and development test case will be
equitable and balanced, in terms of partners, contributions and benefits.
- 5. Any entity can submit a proposal for a research and development test
case to its regional secretariat for consideration by the International
Technical Committee.
A. Funding.
- 1. Each Participant will fund its own participation in the feasibility
study.
- 2. Each Participant will determine the method by which its own
participation will be funded.
B. Committees. The feasibility study
will be carried out through the following committee structure.
- 1. General Principles
- a. Committee members should be comparable and high enough level to enable
the Committees concerned to carry out their responsibilities.
- b. Committee members will need to be knowledgeable about manufacturing.
- c. Committee members will be expected to consult regularly with their
domestic, private sector constituencies.
- 2. International Steering Committee
- a. Composition (30 members). There will be five members each from
Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States. There will be a total of ten
members from the combined delegation of the EC and EFTA. Delegation members may
be from the industrial, academic and/or government sectors of each Participant
and a strong representation from industry is encouraged. The majority of each
delegation should be from industry. Each Participant may be accompanied by two
observers from their designated Secretariat's representative.
- b. Responsibilities. The International Steering Committee will discuss and
make recommendations regarding the establishment of an international
collaborative program for research and development on advanced manufacturing.
Specifically, the Committee will consider and make recommendations on
modalities of international collaboration, IPR Committee recommendations,
contribution and funding. The Committee will also select and begin
implementation of test cases based on the recommendations of the International
Technical Committee. All recommendations will be arrived at unanimously through
a consensus process among the Participants.
- c. Commissioned Independent Study. Experts will be assembled by the
International Steering Committee with costs to be equally shared by the six
Participants to recommend:
- (1) administrative procedures for the program; and
- (2) assessment mechanisms and accounting procedures for non-financial
contributions (e.g., equipment, expertise, personnel, facilities).
- 3. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Committee
- a. Composition. This Committee will be assembled by, and report to, the
International Steering Committee and will only exist during the feasibility
study.
- b. Responsibilities. The IPR Committee will develop:
- (1) guidelines for the creation, protection, and equitable dissemination
of intellectual property created under a Program which program applicants can
use to formulate an IPR agreement, consistent with international agreements,
domestic laws, and generally accepted business practices; and
- (2) rules for the exchange of information, and confidentiality and
conflict of interest rules for Committee members.
- 4. International Technical Committee
- a. Composition (30 members). There will be a delegation of five members
each from Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States. There will be a total
of ten members from the combined delegation of the EC and EFTA. Delegation
members may be from the industrial, academic and/or government sectors of each
Participant and a strong representation from industry is encouraged. The
majority of each delegation should be from industry. Delegations may be
appointed by their respective Participants. Each delegation may be accompanied
by two observers from their designated secretariat's representative.
- b. Responsibilities. The International Technical Committee will discuss
technical themes for an international program, review proposals for research
and development test cases based on such technical themes, develop criteria for
use in evaluating proposals, and make recommendations to the International
Steering Committee which is responsible for all final decisions. As with the
International Steering Committee, all recommendations will be arrived at
unanimously through a consensus process among the Participants.
- c. Technical Themes. Technical themes will be based on the following
principles:
- (1) No manufacturing-related technology should be excluded initially
except where national security concerns preclude cooperation.
- (2) The technical themes will encompass areas in which significant
contributions can be made to world knowledge.
- (3) Technical themes will be chosen which benefit multiple Participants to
the greatest extent possible.
- (4) Technical themes will be discussed after each Participant has had
sufficient opportunity to develop its own suggestions for themes.
- d. Criteria. Criteria for research and development test cases will include
the following principles:
- (1) The proposed research and development test case will have scientific
and technical merit, industrial relevance, and include a high degree of
interregional collaboration and participation.
- (2) An appraisal of the effectiveness of adoption and development
strategies, and proposed methods of technology transfer will be included.
- (3) The IPR provisions will be consistent with IPR guidelines developed by
the International IPR Committee (see Section IV, B, 3).
- (4) The proposing consortia will have sufficient resources and
qualifications to undertake and complete the proposed research and development
test case.
- (5) Collaboration in each research and development test case will be
equitable and balanced, in terms of contributions, benefits and comparable
participants.
C. Secretariat
The Commission of the European Communities Directorate-General XIII (DGXIII),
the US Department of Commerce (USDOC), Japan's Ministry of International Trade
and Industry (MITI), Industry, Science and Technology Canada (ISTC), and
Australia's Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce (DITAC) and an
appropriate governmental agency designated by the European Free Trade
Association will act as the secretariat during the feasibility study to
disseminate programmatic information.
Participants will make every effort to complete selection of members for the
International Steering and Technical Committees within sixty (60) days after
the last intention of each Participant is conveyed to the other Participants.
After the establishment of these Committees, it is expected that the
feasibility study will be deemed completed when research and development test
cases show sufficient results on which the decision concerning the
establishment of an international program in advanced manufacturing should be
based and the International Steering Committee has completed its deliberations.
The aim should be to complete the feasibility study within a reasonable period,
preferably within eighteen (18) to twenty-four (24) months. These Committees
shall be disbanded upon the completion of the feasibility study.
When the feasibility study has been completed, the Participants will decide
whether to establish an international program in advanced manufacturing based
upon experienced from the feasibility study.
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gaines@cpsc.ucalgary.ca 28-Aug-94