Research in measurements and testing: Upcoming call for proposals
To avoid delays in implementing the proposed RTD programme in measurements and testing (a Council Decision is expected shortly), the Commission invites eligible organizations to take note of the following research areas in order to prepare themselves for participation in the programme once an official call for proposals has been launched: - Area 1: Support to Regulations and Directives, including the improvement of methods for: . Analysis of food products; . Analysis of agriculture products for human consumption and for animal feed; . Determination of pollutants in air, water, soil and wastes; . Control of noise at the workplace and in building; . Determination of dangerous substances in the air at the workplace; . Biomedical analysis; - Area 2: Sectoral testing problems (support to Standardization), including support to: . Improving testing methods likely to become European standards; . Improving standardized testing methods where the application thereof presents difficulties; . Comparative studies to facilitate mutual recognition agreements amongst test laboratories; - Area 3: Common means of calibration for the Community, including: . Improvement of transfer standards to establish traceability between metrology laboratories; . Improvement of methods of measurements and calibration in the fields of high frequency communications, temperature, humidity, fine particles; . Development of reference materials in those fields of area 1 when the necessary measurement improvements are achieved; . Development of methods of calibration and quantification of surface analysis spectroscopies; - Area 4: New methods of measurements, preference being given to projects which either: . Address industrially important neasurement/analytical problems for which no suitable direct methods currently exist; . Relate to measurements/analyses under severe or difficult operational conditions or could lead to instrumentation for the monitoring of environmental pollution or at the workplace; . Relate to the development of new methods where the need arises in the course of projects carried out in areas 1, 2 and 3. Research areas 1, 2 and 3 will be carried out mainly as concerted actions and for these the Commission will call for expressions of interest from organizations wishing to take part in the projects. For area 4, the Commission will call for proposals for shared cost projects. For more information please contact: Commission of the European Communities DG XII (BCR) 200 rue de la Loi B-1049 Brussels Tel. +32-2-2358812 (for areas 1, 2, 3) Tel. +32-2-2359313 (for area 4) Fax +32-2-2358072