Industry: France thinks big

The French research minister, Elisabeth Dufourcq, has called for a return to big technology projects in Eureka, the programme that encourages collaboration between European companies developing advanced technologies for civilian applications. Big projects are needed, she says, to "open up high growth markets and better equip European companies for the competition of the 21st century." She was speaking at a meeting held to celebrate 10 years of Eureka. The initiative currently involves 24 countries.