in Technical Appendix 6.10. FORMATION AND EVALUATION OF PROJECT CONSORTIA AND OTHER COLLABORATIVE INSTRUMENTSThe IMS International Steering Committee shall have the authority to set the procedures for: (i) project consortia and formation, evaluation and review; these procedures are set forth in Technical Appendix 7; and (ii) other collaborative instruments within the scope of these Terms of Reference.11. SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISESThe participants individually and the IMS International Steering Committee will develop mechanisms to enlist SMEs directly and indirectly in the IMS scheme. A representative list of these mechanisms is in Technical Appendix 8.12. DISSEMINATION OF RESULTSDissemination of information is of the utmost importance and is required in the IMS scheme. However, all information dissemination must comply with the intellectual property rights provisions in Technical Appendix 1. This includes the dissemination of interim and final project technical results.Information dissemination will occur at the project, regional and inter-regional levels. This dissemination shall be, but not limited to, written reports, international symposia, and publications by members of the academic sector.Technical Appendix 1Intellectual property rights provisions for research and development projectsOBJECTIVESThese provisions lay down mandatory requirements as well as recommended principles for PARTNERS which wish to participate in a PROJECT conducted within the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Scheme (IMS SCHEME). The objectives of these provisions are to provide adequate protection for intellectual property rights used in and generated during joint research and development PROJECTS under the IMS SCHEME while ensuring:- that contributions and benefits by PARTICIPANTS, from cooperation in such PROJECTS, are equitable and balanced,- that the proper balance is struck between the need for flexibility in PARTNERS' negotiations and the need for uniformity of procedure among PROJECTS and among PARTNERS, and- that the results of the research will be shared by the PARTNERS through a process that protects and equitably allocates any intellectual property rights created or furnished during the cooperation.Article 1Definitions1.1. ACCOUNTING. The sharing of any consideration such as royalties or other license fees by one PARTNER with another PARTNER when the first PARTNER which solely or jointly owns FOREGROUND discloses, licenses or assigns it to a third party.1.2. AFFILIATE. Any legal entity directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or owning or controlling, or under the same ownership or control as, any PARTNER. Common ownership or control through government does not in itself create AFFILIATE status.Ownership or control shall exist through the direct or indirect:- ownership of more than 50 % of the nominal value of the issued equity share capital, or- ownership of more than 50 % of the shares entitling the holders to vote for the election of directors or persons performing similar functions, or right by any other means to elect or appoint directors, or persons performing similar functions, who have a majority vote, or,- ownership of 50 % of the shares, and the right to control management or operation of the company through contractual provisions.1.3. BACKGROUND: All information and INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS except BACKGROUND RIGHTS owned or controlled by a PARTNER or its AFFILIATE and which are not FOREGROUND.1.4. BACKGROUND RIGHTS: Patents for inventions and design and utility models, and applications therefor as soon as made public, owned or controlled by a PARTNER or its AFFILIATES, a license for which is necessary for the work in a PROJECT or for the commercial exploitation of FOREGROUND, and which are not FOREGROUND.1.5. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: All information which is not made generally available and which is only made available in confidence by law or under written confidentiality agreements.1.6. CONSORTIUM: Three or more GROUPS which have agreed to carry out jointly a PROJECT.1.7. COOPERATION AGREEMENT: The one or more signed agreements among all PARTNERS in a CONSORTIUM concerning the conduct of the PROJECT.1.8. FOREGROUND: All information and INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS first created, conceived, invented or developed in the course of work in a PROJECT.1.9. GROUP: All PARTNERS in a given PROJECT from the geographic area of a PART ICIPANT.1.10. IMS SCHEME: The Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Scheme.1.11. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: All rights defined by Article 2(viii) of the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organisation signed at Stockholm on 14 July 1967 (see Technical Appendix 1.A.), excluding trademarks, service marks and commercial names and designations.1.12. NON-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS: Any