MICROELECTRONICS: EUROPEAN RESEARCH PROGRAMME MEDEA+ WORRIED ABOUT FUNDING.

"STMicroelectronics and Philips Semiconductors are very much competitors and yet we have learned to work together at the very early stages of research to the advantage of both groups", explained Alain Dutheil, Director General of STMicroelectronics.

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The MEDEA+ programme (Micro-Electronics Developments for European Applications) is a co-operative industrial R&D programme under the EUREKA framework that aims to stimulate the European microelectronics industry and client industries. The programme acquired the EUREKA seal in June 2000 for two four-year periods with provision for a mid-term review after four years in order to prepare the next four years. The aim of MEDEA+ is to keep the European microelectronics industry competitive and to maintain the independence of client industries by pooling the strengths of the sector in Europe and thus enable the European industry to gain critical mass on the global stage and become the leader in system-on-chip technology. This programme follows on the heels of a series of European R&D co-operation programmes in microelectronics the last of which, MEDEA (1997-2000), ended with particularly positive results. It encourages both vertical ad horizontal co-operation and welcomes large groups, SMEs and public research laboratories.

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French Industry Minister Patrick Devedjian paid tribute at the Forum to the success of preceding...