Commission approves R&D schemes on transport, industrially relevant technologies and electric cars
The European Commission has approved a number of national research and development schemes, including the following: - A French R&D scheme to promote activities that reduce the environmental impact of transport, improve safety and quality of service, and promote the development of intermodal transport systems. The scheme is geared towards funding collaborative projects between industrial enterprises, research centres, universities and local authorities. Budget: ECU 78 million for 1996 to 2000; - A Dutch R&D "cluster project" to bring together industrial enterprises, research centres and universities to set up or strengthen existing projects on industrially relevant technologies. The projects are not sector-specific, covering technologies ranging from biocatalysis to the casting of foundry products. Budget: ECU 12 million for the second half of 1996 and ECU 33 million for 1997; - A French EUREKA project to develop an electric car, specifically for use in the urban environment. The total cost of the project is ECU 73.7 million. In addition, the Commission has decided to investigate a Dutch proposal to provide R&D aid to Philips. Funding of ECU 4 million is proposed for a project on building semiconductor-integrated circuits and system solutions to enable "personal digital assistants" or "personal intelligent communicators" to become truly mass market products. The Commission is particularly concerned about the "incentive" effect of the proposed aid since the subject of the project appears to be a core activity for Philips Semiconductors.