Ministerial
Communiqué

North
Atlantic
Council

Luxembourg
6th-7th April
1967

1. NOTED that:
   1. the discrepancies in the rate of technological progress vary considerably between the different countries and also between one sector and another; they are apparent not only between North America and Europe, but also within Europe, and on a world scale between the more industrialized countries and those which are still developing;

   2. while some disparities are inevitable in dynamic societies, in order to avoid that they become a source of tension, every effort should be made in scientific, technical and industrial areas simultaneously on both national and international levels and special consideration should be given to the problems of the less developed countries of the Alliance;

   3. on the international level, some tasks are particularly suitable for co-operation between a small number of countries while others may necessitate wider co-operation, either on a European scale, an Atlantic scale or in a wider framework.

2. RECOMMENDED as far as efforts on a national level were concerned that the governments of member countries should:
   1. ensure that sufficient resources be devoted to education, to scientific and technical training, and to research and development;

   2. seek to determine and put into practice in a co-ordinated manner the various courses of action liable to contribute to the success of a long-term technological policy which would define both the areas suitable for national realization, and the role which the country concerned could play in international co-operation, it being understood that the less developed members of the Alliance will be helped to the extent possible in the fulfillment of this recommendation.

   3. AS far as co-operation at the European level was concerned:
      1. AGREED that closer co-operation between the European countries was an essential way of reducing the disparities in technology between Europe and North America;

      2. NOTED that various existing organizations were already pursuing studies and implementing certain forms of co-operation between their member countries;

      3. RECOGNIZED that research and development potential, and homogeneity and size of market are essential factors relevant to technical progress;

      4. NOTED that interested governments would benefit from considering together all possible ways and means of facilitating technological co-operation between them.

   4. As far as general co-operation at the Atlantic level or in a wider framework was concerned:
      1. RECOGNIZED that the studies and consultations undertaken in the OECD constituted a most useful starting point and should be continued and intensified without prejudice to the possibility of setting up new procedures if they should prove necessary;

      2. NOTED that member governments should be ready to examine in a constructive spirit, new proposals which may be put forward with a view to arriving at measures for mutual collaboration, including where appropriate specific agreements, in particular between countries which are in advance in certain fields of technology and other countries;

      3. RECOMMENDED that, in the light of studies under way in OECD, further exchanges of views, and negotiations as appropriate, should be undertaken to examine:
         1. schemes for reducing obstacles which hinder technological exchange;

         2. acceptable ways for facilitating access for firms to patents and technological data, including those owned by governments;

         3. whether international co-operation on government research and development contracts can be expanded;

         4. these and other ways for reducing the phenomenon of the "brain drain".

   5. As far as the role of the Alliance itself was concerned:
      1. NOTED with satisfaction that the various scientific and technological activities already undertaken by NATO had contributed, in the spirit of Article II of the North Atlantic Treaty, to the speeding-up of the spread of scientific and technical progress in member countries, while reinforcing the cohesion and military power of the Alliance;

      2. INVITED the Council in Permanent Session to pursue its studies, and to report at the next Ministerial meeting in December on the role which the Alliance could play in the field of technology, including possibly the application of defence technology to civil needs, to encourage co-operation between its members, and to contribute towards narrowing the technological disparities which may exist between them.

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