§ 40. Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the objectives of the EUREKA programme; and whether he is satisfied with its progress.
§ Mr. PattieThe objective of EUREKA is to improve the competitiveness of European industry on world markets for civil applications of new technologies. EUREKA provides a framework to encourage collaboration on cross-frontier projects whose aim is to produce high technology goods, processes and services with a worldwide sales potential. EUREKA is currently under United Kingdom chairmanship and the United Kingdom will be hosting the next EUREKA ministerial conference on 30 June. Since the initiative was launched in July 1985, 26 projects have been agreed, and some 50 more are under discussion. United Kingdom firms are involved in seven of the agreed projects and in over half of the projects under discussion. In the Government's view, although EUREKA is still at a formative stage, it is progressing satisfactorily and is now developing real momentum.