In 1984 the European Economic Community (EEC) launched the European Strategic Programme of Research and Development in Information Technology (ESPRIT). The aim of this program is to provide the European information technology industry with the technology base needed for Europe to remain competitive in information technology in world markets for the next ten years. Over the first five years of the programme more than 7000 man years of research are to be spent on various ESPRIT projects. The entire ESPRIT program is organized into a hierarchy. On the first level of this hierarchy there are five subprograms: 1. Advanced Microelectronics 2. Software Technology 3. Advanced Information Processing 4. Office Systems 5. Computer Integrated Manufacturing Each of these subprograms is further divided into R&D areas; for example, the fourth sub-programme is divided into 4.1 Office Systems Science and Human Factors 4.2 Advanced Workstation and human-machine interfaces 4.3 Communication Systems 4.4 Advanced multi-media storage and retrieval systems 4.5 Integrated Office Information Systems Within each of these R&D areas there are a number of individual projects, each of which involves joint partners from two or more member countries of the EEC, and each project must also have a combination of industrial and academic interests.