The beneficial impact of the European communities involvement in scientific research and technology is wide-ranging and pervasive. There are high hopes of major advances in scientific knowledge and technological processes, while the emergence of a genuine tradition of collaborative research holds out great and continuing promise for the future. Close, frequent and long-term cooperation between universities, research centres and industry is already generating new synergies, forging a truly European scientific community. Many of tomorrows industrial developments, destined to be determinant for...