HL Deb 04 May 1982 vol 429 cc1151-2WA
Lord Chelwood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) Whether they will summarise the proposals made by the European Commission for a four-year Community research and development programme to further microchip technology as part of the suggested common approach to industrial innovation;
  2. (ii) what contribution would be required from the United Kingdom; and
  3. (iii) whether they will give an assurance that they will co-operate fully in this shared research effort aimed at making the EEC more competitive with the United States and Japan.

Viscount Trenchard

The proposals for a European Community programme in microelectronics are contained in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3744/81, which was published as Item No. L376/38 in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 30th December 1981.

The regulation first establishes a system for consultation and exchange of information between member states and the Commission aimed at promoting the diffusion and development of microelectronic technology and its applications. It goes on to provide for financial support from Community funds for joint projects in five areas of technology:

  1. (a) direct step and repeat on wafer optical lithography;
  2. (b) direct write electron beam lithography;
  3. (c) plasma etching and deposition;
  4. (d) integrated circuit test equipment;
  5. (e) computer-aided design for very large scale integrated circuits.

Support would normally be at 30 per cent. of project costs, but could go up to 50 per cent. At least two industrial users from different member states must be involved in each project. In computer-aided design projects, normal R & D activities are envisaged. However, for the others, the regulation aims at a major advance in the development and manufacture of semiconductor production equipment in Europe by encouraging manufacturers and users to work together to expedite the development of a new generation of equipment.

The funds provided for in the regulation come from the Community budget and do not require any direct contribution from the United Kingdom.

The assurance can be given that the United Kingdom is co-operating fully in implementing the requirements of the regulation and will continue to do so.