EU-DIGEST

Europe's €200bn recovery plan targets energy-efficiency - by Richard Wilson

A €200bn recovery plan announced by the European Commission will include a major economic stimulus to the European technology sector including energy-efficient electronic systems. One aspect of the recovery plan is a bid to boost efforts to tackle climate change while creating much-needed jobs at the same time, through for example strategic investment in energy efficient buildings and technologies."The Recovery Plan can keep millions in work in the short-term. It can turn the crisis into an opportunity to create clean growth and more and better jobs in the future,” said Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The plan includes short-term measures to boost demand, save jobs and help restore confidence. A further strategy for what the EC calls “smart investment" will look to generate loner term growth.

According to Brian Halla, CEO of National Semiconductor this spells a re-birth for the semiconductor industry. “I'm wildly optimistic about the future of our industry."

Labels: Economy, Electronics, EU, recovery plan

Travelers' Laptops May Be Detained At US Border - by Ellen Nakashima

US Federal agents may take a traveler's laptop computer or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing, as part of border search policies the Department of Homeland Security recently disclosed. Also, US officials may share copies of the laptop's contents with other agencies and private entities for language translation, data decryption or other reasons, according to the policies, dated July 16 and issued by two DHS agencies, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Labels: border controls, Electronics, homeland security, US

Europe beats US in collaboration between Industries and Universities

ndustry and universities in Europe collaborate better than their US counterparts, according to a recently published Europe wide survey. The survey, conducted by ProTon Europe and funded by the EU’s Gate2Growth initiative, found the volume of contract research in Europe in 2005 to be €2.8billion, compared to €2.1bn in the US.

The report found, however, that this advantage was offset by the US’ more advanced knowledge transfer, based on patents and licences.

Labels: Electronics, Europe, USA