lesaarch Policy Group Setting Ath - Stb September 1996
Present: A.L. leard, E. 91nan, P.M. Deutca, ?.J. Dunn
Z. Esush, R.I. Kohahorst, Z. Rittershaus,
C.?. Siquetra I.I. Thornton
C*-ordination of R&D
The opportunity was taken to review changes agreed last year in
the organiaistion and strategies for Group I&D and to &sees@ the
11 ztent to whitb they bad been successfully Implemented. We now
have agreed common objectives, a database of Croup projects,
11 uccessful Introduction of collaborative projects and a such
higher degree of integration of the Individual R&D Centres. We
still have to resolve the issue of sponsorship of some projects at
Southampton and In formal reporting, particularly by USA.
Concern had been expressed. at the time that Aecentralisation of
Group R&D was introduced, over the willingness of CAC's to support
longer tern fundamental research to Improve products, If faced -
with adverse trading circumstances. This fear Is b*ginuiug to 'be
realised as we are seeing calls for short term economies in the
larger R&D contras despito the fa.ct that there has been
practically no growth in the CAC R&D Centre& folLoviug the
reduction at Southauptoo.
The lack of co-ordination of Group activities on additives
guidance Is causing problems, for Instance, In the dialogue
between different companies and our principal suppliers. A need
for discussion betweou experts from UK, USA. and West Germany was
agreed and this can probably be achieved when SIG seats La UX.
T.G. Kitchell Is to convene this meeting which w1.1l involve Xrs-
The* (BATCY) and Dr. J.G. Esterla (I&V). Co-ordLustion an patents
la dimities Is working well, and the important topic of Smoking
Health coordination La nov such Improved following the
establishment of the SRG.
Reporting
There Is a need for adequate reporting of progress and of
completed projects. It was agreed that project areas will be
reported half yearly by each laboratory and this will Us entered
a the computer database. If further details of work-in-progress
:r* required those can be provided on request. Additionally
11 tatus reviews an business objectives will be produced annually,
these being of particular value to senior management.
ALE will use the project reviews to determine whether any of the
work in progress has reached a stage when a definitive report
ahould be produced. Such an example is the ammonia research which
has been shared extensively at the Group Product Development
Conference and other foruss and Z&V agrees to report their retail
work.
Technology Transfer to NATCo companies
Delegates agreed that they would provide to the Research
Co-ordinator information an product developments as opposed to
bra:ud developments, indeed most 'bad already supplied such for
building the Group I&D Programme. Thor* was considerable
resistance to w1der dissemination of tbkL& sensitive Information.
Concern was expressed that this would make security of Ideas
difficult to Suarantee. Thorn also lay the danger of a small
cospany launching a new product ahead of the company S*nerstlug
the Original Idea. ALE was asked to try to detorulue sp&c1fIc
ZATCc company interests and then to establish a direct link to the
appropriate C&C company.
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Whilat this was eaphanisod for Product Development concepts, it
was felt to be generally true for all technology flow between the
CAC R&D Centres and SATCo companies. All centres agreed to send
to-ALE examples where CACs are currently assisting IATCo
companies, using their research expertise.
Programme Format
Although each laboratory may present its work programme in a
different way for local purposes, It was agreed that a version of
each laboratory's programmes could be produced from a central data
base using a standard format. UK, Souza Cruz and Wills will
operate ezelusively on this format. It is clear that this
documentation has two purposes: detailed information for research
scientists and broad information for management. Some means of
condensing project listings might be helpful for the latter
purpose and will be explored.
Croup Information System
Considerable progress has been made In establishing the database
during the past year and system is proving useful. -Further
development involving a meeting of Information specialists will
take place either late L986 or early 1987, it being advantageous
to hold the seating 'before attempting to put together next year's
programme.
Allocation of R&D effort
Now that we have Group information on projects and related effort,
it is possible to consider priorities. Currently, almost half of
all Group-related activities is concerned with subjective smoke
quality and much less effort Is devoted to the other rea*arch
objectives. This probably correctly reflects the current needs of
the Croup. Although, for instance, effort on cost reduction
currently is only 82, 3 years &So this was a major priority for US
and Germany. They are now benefitting from that work.
Wbilat the need for short term market successes was understood, In
-n was expressed that we have insufficient 'seed
general, coucer
corn' research in the product area and thl a must be discussed both
locally and centrally with senior managers.
The social acceptabllity/emoker behaviour issue was highlighted by
ZATCF as being highly important for the future. These topics were
considered to be an *xr_*u*iou of the overall smoking and health
Issue rather than a separate topic and our I&D effort needs to be
Increased. VbL la for Instance, sidestream reductions represent
one approach and this La being actively pursued in RATUKE, there
exists a wider range of technical Issues to 'be taken Into account
Including beneficial aspect* of smoking. BATCY are developing
some of the thinking in this area. Focussing *Q social concerns
the S&C is the foram for Identifying key areas for research and
development and for recommending an appropriate research programme
and this will form the subject of a meeting of the SIC is the near
future. Its findings will be considered by the &*search Policy
Croup for development of & suitable programme, including the co
Jbi.
setting of clear objectives using existing in-house resources sud
if necessary external expertise
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Product Liability
The topic was briefly reviewed with consideration of the planned
Introduction of product liability legislation In Europe and the
position in the USA. Current opinion indicates a clear duty to be
aware of relevant scientific literature on snake and health
Issues, and, if necessary, to carry out appropriate research on
the product and/or its effects on the sacker.
The sac will recommend to the RPC whether or not research
(internal or external) is required on specific topics.
Scientific Research Group
The first meeting of the group took place in Nice In April 1986
and the draft Teruo of Reference end working practices were
con The Terns of Reference are:-
1. From a scientific view point smoking Issues are defined as the
effects of smoking, if any, on the smoker and non-smoker
particularly claims as to the association between smoking, and
individual sucke components, with specific diseases and/or
normal health.
2. Tb* SRG will identify all available research (both internal
and external) relevant to smoking issues.
3. The SRG will evaluate the results, quality and Implications of
such work.
4. The SRG will identify and recommend any additional research
required, Including, wherever possible, the identification of
research centres where such work could be carried out.
In order to monitor the literature effectively, it has been agreed
that a Senior Scientific Adviser be recruited by BATCo. This
recruitment is currently in bond. The adviser will *can relevant
literature building from existing group abstracting resources.
The SRC will become involved In sponsorship of any external
studies u*c*sssry to supplement Lb* substantial amount of work
currently under way. This meeting proposed a budget of E200,000
for the first year and all Group members agreed that this should
be funded by then. In the future, a higher level of financial
support say ha needed.
Meub*rship of the group as agreed in Nice was confirmed, i.e.:
Dr. R. E. Thornton BATCo London
Dr. S.R. Massey Imperial Tobacco. Montreal
Dr. F. Knabjohann BATCY, Hamburg
Dr. F. Seeboffer ZATCF, Hamburg
Dr. C. Smith DATUM, Southampton
Dr. i.e. Est*rl& Saw, Louisville
It vas stressed that when necessary, consultants should be used to
provide expect advice. The next meeting of the SRC will take
place in the UT. in January 1987 and will discuss 'Other Noxa'.
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Future Research Conference
This will take place in early October in the following locations:-
1987 - USA
1988 - Germany
1989 - C&Dad*
The format of the current meeting will be retained with technical
presentation* followed by a separate two-day meeting of the RPG
during which it in expected that there will be a greater need in
future to respond to the recommendations and the information
coming from the research programmes of the SRG. Whilat the XPG
meeting is held, the uom-RPG members will cover technical Issues
and au appropriate agenda will be produced by the Research Manager
of the host country.
Future Funding of R&D
ALE presented three scenarios to be considered as a basis for
Group funding:-
1. -Pool and Share' - total Group-relevant project costs would be
shared out an a turnover basis.
This was not recommended since it would generate accounting
costs and endless debate over both Z Group effort in each
centre and 'quality' of ruruover.
2. -Costs lie where cbey fall-
On the grounds that In general, although each cestro does
Group-relevant work, practically none Is done for Group
reasons or benefit (it meets the need of the parent company).
This would favour no cross-charging.
3. -Costs lie where they fall with the exception of those
ttributable to Group Strategic mark in UX and Brazi.1'.
:his scenario recognises that there in work at Southampton
(L2m) and Brazil (LO. 5 5u) that is Group Strategic but not
spacifically strategic to SATUKZ/BATCo.
The proposal to that the Brazil work continue to be paid by
Souza Cruz but the t2w Southampton shortfall should be equally
divided between remaining CACs plus NATCo, preferably on an
equal shares basis In order to move towards similar total R&D
expenditure against turnover.
The XPG members were asked to comment on three issues:
1. Did they agree that this particular teas of scientists
doing Group Strategic Fundamental research should be
retained? N-0
cx:@
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2. Were they satisfied with all aspects of their current
programme?
3. Would they be prepared to finance the team accepting
that this must be for a minimum tint period of 3 years?
There was a consensus view that we need to retain this team and
that, in due course, other centres may build up a similar
resource. The projects have been subjected to a critical analysis
and refocussing during the past year by CAC representatives, and
this will be a continuing exercise. A review team of CAC
representation will monitor/steer this work each June.
Delegates would be prepared to recommend funding provided this did
not result in curtailment of their current plans and resources.
(Funding on au equal shares basis was accepted by most delegates,
but Australia found it unacceptable.)
Early Warning y1stem
Last year BATCF proposed to host a Competitive Intelligence
Meeting and subsequently canvassed Group views. In view of mixed
reactions and uncertainties over relationships to non-R&D
functions for example, the meeting was deferred subject to
reconsideration by this conference.
It was concluded that ve should benefit from a more systematic
evaluation of external factors such as competitor activity,
economic trends, international regulatory trends, etc. in so far
as they impact on R&D policy and a meeting was agreed with
specialist members from. each country in Spring 1987 to consider
introducing 'Early Warning Systems' of which competitor
intelligence would be simply one input.
Technical Specialist Meetings
It was agreed that the following meetings will be held in the next
year:
Analytical Research - Louisville
Flavour Workshop - Canada
Product Development - Germany
(to Include Filters and
Sidestream)
Early warning systems - Germany
(If possible, arrange back-to-back
with Information Group meeting) C=)
Southampton Research Roviev - UK %-0
co
(to include Smoke Control)
-J
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