FOR INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING SYSTEMSTABLE OF CONTENTS1. PREAMBLE2. PURPOSE3. RATIONALE4. OPERATING PRINCIPLES5. STRUCTURE AND FUNDING6. MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE7. TRANSITION TO AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE IMS SCHEME8. DURATION OF THE IMS SCHEME9. ADMISSION OF NEW PARTICIPANTS10. FORMATION AND EVALUATION OF PROJECT CONSORTIA AND OTHER COLLABORATIVE INSTRUMENTS11. SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES12. DISSEMINATION OF RESULTSTechnical Appendix 1: Intellectual property rights provisions for research and development projectsTechnical Appendix 1.A: Convention establishing the World Intellectual Property Organisation (Stockholm, 14 July 1967)Technical Appendix 2: financial accountability and principles for setting up and executing the IRS budgetTechnical Appendix 3: IMS technical themesTechnical Appendix 4: Responsibilities of the IMS Inter-Regional SecretariatTechnical Appendix 5: Responsibilities of the IMS Regional SecretariatsTechnical Appendix 6: Admission of new participantsTechnical Appendix 7: Project consortia formation and evaluationTechnical Appendix 8: Role Of IMS vis-à-vis small and medium-sised enterprises (SMEs), universities and government research institutes1. PREAMBLEThis document sets forth the terms of reference for the partners of the intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) scheme for international cooperation in research and development in intelligent manufacturing systems. These terms of reference are not intended to create obligations under international or domestic law.2. PURPOSEThe IMS scheme is an international and multilateral cooperation scheme in which Participants work cooperatively to boost industrial competitiveness, solve problems facing manufacturing worldwide, and develop advanced manufacturing technologies and systems to benefit humanity. Its purposes are to:- enhance knowledge-based manufacturing in industry to improve the quality of life and citizens and improve the global environment,- share manufacturing knowledge and to transfer it to future generations,- increase the participation of SMEs in international collaborative activities,- adapt educational and training activities to support the knowledge-based manufacturing industries, and- contribute to establishing common, global norms and standards.3. RATIONALEManufacturing has been and continues to be an important element in the global economy. It remains a primary generator of wealth and is critical to establishing a sound economic basis for economic growth.Properly managed international cooperation in research and development in advanced manufacturing can help improve manufacturing operations [1]. IMS provides the framework within which cooperative research and development activities can flourish. IMS:- provides a structure for global, "forward-thinking" syntheses (e.g. roadmaps, analyses, foresight),- fosters the creation of networks to reinforce interaction and collaborative research and development,- fosters the development of consortia to undertake collaborative research and development projects (including cooperative work on pre-standardisation topics),- provides an intellectual property rights management framework (Technical Appendix 1) for international collaboration and dissemination activities, and- disseminates research results broadly.4. OPERATING PRINCIPLESIMS collaborative activities proceed on the following bases:- contributions to, and benefits from such cooperation, are equitable and balanced,- collaborative projects have industrial relevance,- collaborative project should include where possible academic participation,- collaborative projects are carried out by inter-regional, geographically distributed consortia,- collaborative projects can occur throughout the full innovation cycle,- IMS project activities under government sponsorship or using government resources should not involve competitive research and development,- results of collaborative projects are shared through a process of controlled information diffusion, and- there should be protection for an equitable allocation of any intellectual property right created or furnished during cooperation projects.5. STRUCTURE AND FUNDINGIMS is governed by a management structure that consists of:- an International Steering Committee,- an Inter-Regional Secretariat, and- Regional Secretariats.5.1. Funding for the management structure- Each participant will fund its own participation,- Each participant will determine the method by which its own participation will be funded,- Each participant will contribute in an equitable manner in funding or in kind to defray the costs of operating the Inter-Regional Secretariat,- Each participant will be responsible for supporting its own delegation, and- Each Participant will have the right to audit the operations of the management structure.- Principles for setting up and executing the IRS budget shall be in accordance with Technical Appendix 2.5.2. Funding for the Projects- Each participant will fund its own participation, and- Each participant will determine the method by which its own participation will be funded.6. MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE6.1. IMS International Steering CommitteeThe IMS International Steering Committee will oversee the IMS scheme. Members must be eminent representatives of the participants' industrial, academic, or governmental/public administration sectors who are knowledgeable in manufacturing issues. Members must be willing and able to devote the necessary time and effort involved in guiding the