"Monaco is convinced innovation through European co-operation is essential to its future industrial development – both economically and to generate jobs," observes Vieillefosse. "Monaco sees EUREKA as one of the most effective tools to reach its objectives."
After the Vatican, Monaco is the smallest country in the world, with a population of 32,000. Over 25,000 people commute into Monaco every day, mainly from France, making it one of the most important employment areas for the French Alpes-Maritimes region. Key activities include light manufacturing, biotechnology and marine R&D.
It became a full member of EUREKA in January 2005, together with San Marino, following an announcement at the EUREKA Ministerial Conference in Paris in June 2004. Despite its small size, Monaco is keen to co-operate internationally and is setting up EUREKA structures to support research and development (R&D). Monaco is establishing a dedicated €2 million fund for EUREKA projects.
More information:
François-Xavier Le Clerc,
National Project Coordinator, EUREKA Monaco,
12 quai Antoine I,
98000 Monaco.
Phone: +377 93 15 19 20;
fax: +377 93 26 84 26;
Email: fleclerc@gouv.mc
NOTE TO EDITORS
The EUREKA Initiative aims to strengthen European competitiveness by promoting cross-border, market-oriented, collaborative R&D. It enables industry and research institutes from 35 member countries and the EU to collaborate in a bottom-up approach to developing and exploiting innovative technologies.
EUREKA is marking 20 years of pan-European innovation in 2005. Since 1985, substantial public and private funding has been deployed through this intergovernmental network to support leading edge R&D. More information about EUREKA may be found at: www.eureka.be, while additional information about 20 years of EUREKA can be found at: www.eureka-20years.net