§ 31. Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the average time taken from originating application to final go-ahead to approve applications for funding under the Eureka programme.
§ Mr. ButcherIt has taken, on average, six months, from date of receipt to date of formal offer for my Department to process applications for funding Eureka projects.
§ 78. Mr. BrazierTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many United Kingdom firms and research 263W institutes are associated with Eureka projects; how many projects now have full United Kingdom participation; and what is the total value of these projects.
§ Mr. ButcherAbout 140 firms and research organisations from the United Kingdom are currently associated with Eureka projects: 74 Eureka projects—with a total value of £1.2 billion—now have full United Kingdom participation.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many projects are currently being researched in the United Kingdom under the auspices of the Eureka programme; if he will list those projects in theOfficial Report; and if he will make a statement relating to their progress.
§ Mr. Butcher[holding answer 12 July 1988]: As detailed, firms and research organisations from the United Kingdom are currently participating in 74 agreed projects and 13 EUREKA proposals. In addition, there are formal expressions of interest from United Kingdom industry in a further 22 EUREKA projects. I am placing in the Library of the House a synopsis of all EUREKA projects and proposals.
The indications are that projects are progressing satisfactorily. However, EUREKA is a comparatively new initiative with projects tending to come to fruition some three to four years after they start. Therefore, the majority of these projects are just beginning to get under way, are in their definition phases, or are in the very early stages of their implementation phases.