The CEC Geoscience programme - a multidisciplinary targeted programme in exploration R&D (1990-1993)

The integration of seismic exploration methods and geological understanding is a general theme of research in the geosciences. Several projects already proposed to the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) addressing this topic have been coordinated into a single programme-the GEOSCIENCE Programme. This coordination had several benefits and some costs. The interdisciplinary interaction of participants from different European nations is beneficial: it allows diffusion of scientific information and efficiency, and mutual control to avoid duplication of efforts; it also improves quality of research. However, contracts are more complex and the overheads for meetings and trips are higher. This first experience indicates that the benefits outweigh the costs.