Commission approves research aid for Shell Chemicals
Shell Chemicals BV in The Netherlands is set to receive 11.3 million euro in aid from the Dutch government to stimulate a long-term research programme following approval from the European Commission. The Commission has approved the subsidy to the project, which is expected to cost up to 30 million euro, finding the aid compatible with EU rules. 'It provides an incentive for combining fundamental and industrial research through cooperation between Shell Chemicals and the academic world' says a Commission statement. The research programme is a combined initiative between Shell and the Dutch government, which is keen to stem the decline of R&D investments in the petrochemical industry. The Dutch government also wants to reverse the downward trend in long-term research and promote cooperation with the international academic world. The project will focus on three themes: - Catalysis research - looking at the catalytic activity of homogeneous organi-metal complexes and other heterogeneous or homogeneous catalytic materials. It is hoped that this research will develop new materials; - Pervasive analytical methods - focusing on techniques to improve understanding of the nature and composition of materials and product streams. The research programme will address the development of sophisticated analytical methods and instruments to look at complex process streams; - Molecular toxicology - looking at how certain molecular structures interact with human cells to develop better methods for calculating risks to human health from exposure to certain chemicals. The Commission's decision to fund Shell Chemicals is grounded, it says, in the belief that the research programme will act as a 'catalyst' to intensify cooperation between Shell Chemicals and the academic world.