Laser Induced Chemical Vapour Deposition

Abstract

yet a lack of support can rapidly destroy this potential.In order to maintain the necessary continuity of the principal re search efforts, priorities and especially posteriorities should be applied gradually, even though fast action may sometimes be required for priorities having only a short life-span.Research councils dispose of several means for putting research priorities into practice.Depending on specific needs, the following principal instruments are em ployed : co-ordinated cooperation, national research programmes, international cooperation and fellowship programmes. Priority ProgrammesA study of several different priority pro grammes indicates that, in general, three main phases can be distinguished : prepara tion, decision and execution.A fourth step may consist of the evaluation and applica tion of the results.The key question as to who finally decides on a priority program me cannot be clearly answered.Depending on the nature of the programme, the research councils or the government are competent.Not surprisingly their motives are not same.The councils are driven by scientific motives; for the government, political motives are also important.Governmental influence is usually strongest during the preparation of a pro gramme and partly also in connection with the final decision.The other phases, especially the executive stage, are domina ted by the research councils.For most priority programmes, the time elapsing between the initiative and the final decision ranges from six months to over two years.It is essential that ways are found of reducing this relatively long timespan during the preparative phase.A delicate matter concerns the utilization and implementation of the results obtained from priority programmes.Experience shows that the scientific conclusions do not always coincide with the views and ideas of government or parliament.Under these circumstances, mutual confidence and tolerance are indispensable. ConclusionsIn summary, the research councils and analogous bodies in western Europe are in creasingly required to apply priorities in their support of research and to see that well-founded scientific contributions are made to the solution of national problems.They are the guardians of public funds and their activity has to be placed in the framework of a general national policy.Within these boundaries, however, a cer tain degree of autonomy and flexibility must be secured.Only then can the re search councils fulfil the principal task en trusted to them, namely the support of creative basic research which is the cor nerstone of industrial development and also of a nation's welfare.