Highlights of EUREKA Ministerial Conference
On 16 June 1994 Ministers from 22 European countries and Commissioner Ruberti met in Lillehammer for the Twelfth EUREKA Ministerial Conference. The main highlights of the conference were as follows: - 144 new projects were announced, with a financial volume of ECU 870 million, raising the number of ongoing projects to 674 and the total financial commitment to ECU 12,530 million. Finished projects have now reached 181. SME participation in EUREKA projects has increased from 22 to 25%. - The strengthening of ties between EUREKA and the European Union has continued. The European Commission joined two umbrella initiatives, EUROSURF (surface engineering) and MAINE (maintenance). These initiatives constitute a natural forum for cooperation between the Community's programmes and EUREKA, and the Commission now participates in 9 of the 12 umbrella initiatives. Commissioner Ruberti made a statement confirming the willingness for further and better cooperation, in particular on environmental issues, which represent a common horizontal theme for research and economic growth. - The environment was the main focus of the Norwegian Chairmanship. A statement was adopted on the environmental dimension of technological development and a "Lillehammer award" was awarded to a EUREKA project emphasizing environmental impact and benefits. - The Russian Minister for Science and Technology Policy, whose counrty became a member of EUREKA in November 1993, attended the conference for the first time; a comprehensive exhibition of Russian technology was organized. - The Republic of Slovenia became the 23rd member of EUREKA. - About 2,000 people attended the "Vision EUREKA 94" event, grouping together 17 different technological conferences, which took place in Lillehammer during the Ministerial Conference. The next Ministerial Conference, chaired by Switzerland, will take place in Interlaken on 30 June 1995.
Countries
Norway