Commission grants ECU 42 million to first projects under FAIR programme
At the proposal of Commissioner Edith Cresson, Commissioner responsible for research, education and training, the European Commission has decided to allocate ECU 42 million for the support of 42 projects accepted under the first call for proposals for the Community's specific programme in the field of agriculture and fisheries (1994-1998) (FAIR). The proposals accepted include, for example, projects for: - The development of biodegradable plastic; - The development of non-toxic insecticides; - Studies on the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the prevention of heart disease and cancer; - The development of edible vaccinations to be contained in food products (fruit, vegetables, or cereal-based products). A large number of industrial enterprises participated in the call. Of the 265 partners involved in the selected projects, 70 are industrial enterprises. These are divided between 31 projects for which they have provided, on average, funding of 50%. They include both SMEs and larger industrial groups. This high level of industrial participation is in line with the new orientations of the Community's research policy which seeks to promote closer cooperation between the industrial and research sectors.