The pre-competitive research committee is equipped with a rigorous process for approval of projects in accordance with the following sequence: exploratory studies, followed by opportunity studies and then by the R&D projects themselves. At each stage, the definition of the objectives is further refined and deepened.

COREM also has a scientific committee whose role is to examine the research activities with the goal of guaranteeing quality of execution. This committee is composed of the director technology, his research assistant, and a few COREM's senior researchers. It also calls upon external scientific authorities as needed. It meets regularly to perform a critical review of the project portfolio.

The content of the pre-competitive research program parallels the needs expressed by the members. The project portfolio must be flexible enough to allow for its completion as it adapts to the evolving issues confronting members. The main challenge of the program is to be able to rapidly deploy technology transfer so that its members can profit from the outcomes of COREM R&D.