The rights and obligations concerning the research generated by visiting researchers in respect of intellectual property shall also be addressed in the joint technology management plans.

One of the key areas NSAC is also committed to is enhancing industry partnerships in support of technology transfer and developmental opportunities, as well as our links with program delivery of things such as the environmental farm plan, which I'll talk about in a few seconds, as well as the nutrient management planning training that we offer through NSAC to support the environmental technologies in the region, but also to be innovative and forward-thinking and to be working with industry in identifying new initiatives in the life sc ...[+++]iences and bio-opportunities, and as well as other new technology developments that will support value-added opportunities for the agriculture sector.

In future all joint research projects will be conducted on the basis of Joint Technology Management Plans, which are to be negotiated in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.

More specifically, a Joint Technology Management Plan (JTNP) is drawn up for each cooperation activity.

As I was mentioning before, the focus tends to be very narrow, and yet when companies are looking at making major investments and investing a tremendous amount in terms of cost in technology upgrades and technology assessment, then it has to be part of a company's technology plan, management plan, business plan, and quality plan.

Reform of the JRC The Commission intends to make far-reaching changes in a number of areas in order to adapt the JRC to the tasks it is to perform within the Community's research and technological development strategy: - structure: on the basis of the principle of drawing a clear distinction between programme management and resource management, the JRC will be reorganized into a number of scientific institutes enjoying a large measure of scientific, administrative and financial independence; - management: the existing advisory structures will be streamlined, while the role and powers of the Board of Governors will be strengthened; - st ...[+++]aff: a number of measures will be taken to ensure that the JRC permanently maintains a very high level of expertise coupled with considerable versatility: increased flexibility in the allocation of staff resources to different activities, an increase in the number of fellows and scientists visiting the JRC, an increase in the number of secondments from national centres to the JRC and vice versa, the creation of fixed- duration posts for post-doctoral fellows, etc.