Brussels-Capital region allocates 13 million euro to industrial research

Public spending on scientific research in the Brussels-Capital region is to rise to nearly 13 million euro for 2003, the regional government has announced.

A total of 35 enterprises in the region will benefit in the coming months from the increase in funding. Some 34 per cent of the funds will be allocated to health research centres, 21 per cent will go towards funding research in the chemical sector, while 17 per cent of the budget is to be set aside to develop applications in the electronics and the information and communication technologies (ICT) sectors.

The government's objective is to make Brussels the 'European capital of knowledge', said Daniel Ducarme, head of the Brussels-Capital regional government and minister responsible for research. 'In this context, it is essential that the region fosters and gives financial backing to research initiatives which are of added social and economic value to Brussels,' he added.

Investing more in research is also in keeping with Europe's goal of raising investment in research to three per cent of GDP by 2010. Committed to this objective, Mr Ducarme said his government will continue in its effort to help industrial research flourish in the region.

For further information on research in the Brussels-Capital region, please consult the following web address:
http:///www.cordis.lu/belgium/rd_bxl_cap. htm

CORDIS RTD-NEWS / © European Communities