HC Deb 18 July 1986 vol 101 cc639-40W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why Yugoslavia was excluded from the EUREKA programme; and what are the criteria for EUREKA membership.

Mr. Pattie

EUREKA is a framework to encourage commercial collaboration between European firms on market-oriented high technology projects. The EUREK.A members have agreed that membership of EUREKA will not be increased for the present, but participation in projects by firms from non-EUREKA countries at the invitation of the participating companies is not excluded.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what alterations have been made to the support for innovation scheme to allow EUREKA projects to become eligible for support.

Mr. Pattie

Under the support for innovation scheme, United Kingdom firms participating in EUREKA are eligible for support of up to 50 per cent. of their share of the applied research costs and up to 25 per cent. of their share of development costs. For the purpose of participating in EUREKA, only one United Kingdom firm (as opposed to three) need be involved in a project to qualify for assistance at the higher level. In other respects, the terms of assistance in each case will be determined under the normal SFI criteria.