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BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
DSM GOES WEBWIDE
[BIZ: Heerlen, August 29]
DSM has started the first phase of an
important project to create an overall
e-business infrastructure. The
project includes an integration platform for DSM's own ERP systems and other back-end
systems, an online store and system-to-system connectivity linking directly into customer
or supplier internal systems. This includes virtual collaboration rooms for product
development, communication with customers, as well as online technical service.
The first phase of the project covers the
basic infrastructure and the sell side, providing online ordering and transaction
options; either via web browser (Asera technology) or system-to-system connectivity
(webMethods technology). The platform will also connect directly to e-marketplaces like
Elemica.
The DSM group is active worldwide in the
field of life science products, performance materials, polymers and industrial chemicals,
with annual sales of EUR 8.1 bn employing about 22,000 people (year-end 2000) at more than
200 sites worldwide.
DSM envisions that a significant percentage
of activities will be conducted and supported through web-enabled tools in 2003. By 2005
DSM aims to rank among the world’s leading players in the field of specialties
characterized by a high added value, strong growth and stable profit levels, with group
sales of EUR 10 bn. At least 80% of this should be generated by specialties in which DSM
holds global leadership positions.
http://www.dsm.com
TELECONFERENCING IN HEERLEN
[BIZ: Heerlen, August 29]
ACT Teleconferencing, Inc. is a full-service provider of
high quality audio, video and
data conferencing over the public switched telephone
network and over the Internet.It is to set up a call center in Heerlen, starting
October 1, to employ 15 with an annual staffing increase of 30%. The company is active
in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Singapore and
Hong Kong. ACT's revenue has grown from $19 million in 1998 to $37.7 million in
2000. ACT was named in the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500 program in
1997, 1998 and 1999. The Fast 500 is a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology
companies in the U.S. and Canada. Selection is based on companies’ five-year
percentage revenue growth. Five-year percentage revenue growth for 1994-1999 was
719%. ACT was also ranked 86th in the Bloomberg Tech 100 fastest growing U.S.
technology companies in 1998, and 16th in Deloitte & Touche’s Fast 50 program for
Colorado in 1999.
http://www.acctel.com
EUREGIONALE 2008 EXHIBITION
[BIZ: Aachen, August 27]
As reported on previous occasions, Meuse-Rhine is in the
running as the location for the EuRegionale 2008, which would attract major funding
from North Rhine Westphalia to this area. It would also mean turning the area into a
laboratory for transfrontier European developments up to the year 2008 with the support of
North Rhine Westphalia. Another step has been taken with an exhibition to be held in the
Sparkasse Aachen from Monday next. It will also be held in Eupen (September 3-7), in
Heerlen (September 10-14), Dueren (September 17-21), Schleiden-Gemuend (September 24-29),
Ubach (October 1-5), Aachen (October 8-12) and Maastricht and Mergelland and the area near
Vaals (October 15-19). Aachen's University and the German Architects Association have
cooperated on the exhibition and there is a photography exhibition on crossing borders
held in cooperation with the Aachener Zeitung.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
NEDCAR PROVIDER FOR DAIMLERCHRYSLER
[IND: Born, August 25]
NedCar will be producing major steel
parts for DaimlerChrysler's new models, including the smaller parts it is already
making for Smart car. This will fill the gap brought about by the end of Mitsubishi
Carisma production in 2004, when NedCar moves to producing the Z-car. NedCar needs the
business, because no start has yet been made on the development of the Swentibold
industrial park. Two percent of the suppliers are now under contract and the intention is
that they should locate as close to the Z-car line as possible. DaimlerChrysler is also
moving into the online second-hand (or pre-used) car market in Germany
http://www.limburger.nl
STOLBERG COINS THE EURO
[IND: Stolberg, August 23]
The Stolberg company Schwermetall will be producing
40,000 tons of the new Euro coinage annually. This is around 13 percent of the total
European production.
Germany is forecast to be in the lead in terms of coin
usage with 17 billion coins next year. Schwermetall makes all the coins, except for the
1,2 and 5 cent ones. This means that they are making the nickelfree alloy coins for the
10, 20 and 50 cent pieces. Two hundred trucks arrive at the company daily, delivering
material and carrying away the coins for further processing. This report comes from
Michaela Schreiber of the Aachener Zeitung. Incidentally, it's something of a relief that
these things are on the heavy side, since the 1kg package carrying the high security
hologram plate for the new Euro bills was stolen on the way from Paris to Munich in
1998.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
LOGISTICS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
NO TO THE IRON RHINE
[INFRA: Maastricht, August 30]
The members of the Limburg Provincial
Parliament in Maastricht today resolved to reject the historic route of the Iron Rhine via
Weert, Roermond and the nature reserves of de Weerter-Budelerbergen and De Meinweg
both as a temporary and long-term solution to an Antwerp-Ruhr link via Limburg/NL.
They propose short-term use of the existing Montzen route and the A67 route as a long-term
solution. The latter has already been rejected elsewhere, see below. A ministerial
decision is awaited this autumn.
http://www.limburg.nl
FLYING FISH AT LIEGE
[LOG:Liège,
August 30]
Iceland Air Cargo, a newcomer to Liège Airport, flies in 10-15 tons of fresh fish a day among
other cargo, including computer parts. Arriving at Liège Airport as a client of TNT,
Iceland Air's activities are developing apace and it has recently concluded an agreement
with GSA Aerotrans in Duesseldorf for door-to-door deliveries in the Euroregion.
http://www.icelandaircargo.is
GLOBAL LOGISTICS IN LIEGE
[LOG: Liège, August 28]
ProLogis, the leading global provider of integrated
distribution facilities and services, is moving to an important 4,000 m2 distribution
center at the Hauts-Sarts industrial park on the E313 Liège-Antwerp highway. The Spi+
sponsored investment of close to EUR 12.5m gives the company a valuable logistic platform
at the heart of the European Union. ProLogis has 1,709 distribution facilities operating
and under development throughout North America and Europe and has built the industry's
first and only global network of distribution facilities. ProLogis owns, manages or has
under development a total of 18.6 million square meters of distribution facilities in 99
global markets. The new building is being built by Wust from Malmedy.
http://www.prologis.com
http://www.spi.be
HEERLEN AND KERKRADE AGREE
[INFRA: Heerlen, August 28]
The cities of Heerlen and Kerkrade are going to
cooperate to ensure optimal agreement on business and leisure developments on the westside
of Parkstad Limburg. The municipalities regard it as important that the economic
infrastructure of Parkstad Limburg will be reinforced. The agreement has ensued from
negotations that have been going on for some time and which were accelerated by the issue
of the location of the large-scale cinema complex and a request from the Province of
Limburg for the municipalities to bring their planning into line with one another. Issues
involved also relate to peripheral retail operations and large-scale retail operations,
where the areas around the Parkstad Limburg stadium and De Beitel-Locht businesspark were
concerned. Another issue is the possible location of a large-scale food provider in De
Beitel-Locht businesspark.
http://www.heerlen.nl
TROUBLE AT HOME?
[INFRA: Tilburg, August 27]
Limburgs Dagblad reports that Essent Kabelcom,
the cable company belonging to the Essent power company, which is the energy utility for
South Limburg, has stopped laying fiber-optic cables. Considerations of efficiency had
led to this decision to mark time while taking another look at the investment plan. Around
one million of Essent's 1.7 million clients are on this cable network. The online media
has been full of stories of the demise or possible bankruptcy of Excite@home in the US
over the past couple of weeks and longer. Apparently this should not effect South Limburg
cable services which fall under the @home label, because @home Benelux has Essent as its
major shareholder and the US Excite@home operation only retains a minority holding in the
operation. Excite@home is currently being dunned by investor/creditors for around USD 50m.
The company is scrambling for cash now by selling off its media assets, but there are not
many people looking for internet media property and, although the cable access business is
doing well, the company's outlook is very grim indeed.
http://www.ld.nl
http://www.limburger.nl
IRON RHINE, THE PROVINCES SPEAK
[INFRA: Maastricht, August 22]
The provinces of Limburg and North Brabant will be handing
a document to the Minister of Transport and Waterways at the beginning of September which
is a feasibility study on the rail line to parallel the A67 in the
Antwerp-Eindhoven-Helmond-Venlo-Duisburg trajectory. The study was carried out on behalf
of the provinces with cooperation of the Ministry and the parties conclude that in the
short term the trajectory paralleling the A67 highway via
Antwerp-Eindhoven-Helmond-Venlo-Duisburg will play no role in decisions at government
level. Traffic development and environmental consideration played a role here. Within
15-20 years, this trajectory might be a possibility in the view of the provinces. Deputy
Vestjens is of the opinion that the trajectory via Weert-Roermond and the Meinweg does not
provide a structural solution and urged the Ministry of Transport to encourage Belgian
authorities to focus on the Montzen line via Liège and Aachen.
http://www.ld.nl
http://www.limburg.nl
GERMAN QUALITY DAILY MOVES NORTH
[INFRA: Germany, August 20]
Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung is expanding its
horizons, targeting the populous state of North Rhine Westphalia for its next
invasion, while at the same time, revamping its weekend supplement. The weekend section,
which editor-in-chief Hans Werner Kilz
describes as "a mixture of Vanity Fair and The New
Yorker' features personality portraits, news stories and essays on a variety of topics,
including science, economics, literature and politics, as well as travel, fashion and
design. SZ does not see its strength in trying to localize itself for readers, but is
planning to market itself as a second newspaper for North Rhine Westphalia readers who
already subscribe to one of the regional papers. 'The SZ reader in NRW is less interested
in local news than in information on the whole region', says Kilz. He is optimistic that
future circulation could reach up to 50,000 in NRW. This story comes from the INFRA Trend
Report No.108 and in turn from MediumMagazin.
http://www.mediummagazin.de
http://www.ifra.com
BIG BROTHER AT THE LIGHTS
[INFRA: Hasselt/Brussels, August 15]
Flemish Minister of Transport, Mayor of Hasselt, Steve
Stevaert, wants to install CTV surveillance cameras at 350 sets of traffic lights in
Flanders over the next three years. By 2002 there will be 100 in place. This amounts
to a quarter of all the traffic lights in Flanders. With the 24 cameras already installed
over the last year it has been possible to detect 34,000 traffic infringements. The idea
of the lights is to monitor the traffic behaviour at black spots. There is some opposition
to this plan at national level.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
EASY JET AT MAASTRICHT?
[INFRA: Maastricht, August]
In an interview in Maastricht Aachen Airport Magazine with
chairman Mr Godfried Prieckaerts he talks about the potential growth in passenger
numbers from the current figure of 360,000 to 649,000 in 2005 and 830,000 by 2010. He
says that in addition to the expansion of the existing scheduled and charter traffic,
growth will come from the expected arrival at MAA of a low-fare carrier, such as Easy Jet
or Virgin Express. The absence of a longer runway excludes Maastricht from large-scale
cargo activities.
http://www.maa.nl
GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION
INTERREG III TREATY
[GOV: Maastricht, August 29]
Mr Juergen Roters, Chairman of the Cologne
Presidency and of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregional Foundation, will be in Maastricht for the
signing of the Interreg III Treaty with the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion on Tuesday September 4,
2001 at 15.00 hrs at Government House in Maastricht. The signatories to the Treaty
will be the Dutch State, the German states of North Rhine Westphalia and the Rhineland
Palatinate, the Flemish Community, the Walloon region, Belgium's French Community,
Belgium's German Community, the Dutch and Belgian provinces of Limburg, the Province of Liège, the
Aachen region and the Meuse-Rhine Euroregional foundation.
http://www.euregio-mr.org
POLITICS IN MAASTRICHT
[GOV: Maastricht, August 28]
Now that everyone has returned from their
summer holidays, speculation about who is to be the new mayor of Maastricht is rife.
The Dutch system requires candidates for the mayoralty to apply for the job to the
Provincial Governor and indeed to the Council, whereupon the application is compared with
a established job profile. Those receiving the application then make their recommendation
to Central Government and the appointment is by Royal Decree. The party entitlement to a
city is usually established beforehand on the basis of a division of spoils at national
level and Maastricht would be regarded as a major prize. Current expectation is that the
successful candidate will be a member of the CDA, the Christian Democrat Party, although
whispers offstage have suggested a possible VVD, i.e. Liberal Party candidate. Names
mentioned thus far have included Yvonne Van Rooy, the daughter of a former governor of the
province, who, rumour has it, is not interested; Ria Oomen, a member of the European
Parliament; Maria van der Hoeven, member of the Second Chamber, who maintains a strong
relationship with the city, and the dynamic alderman responsible for Economic Affairs,
Theo Bovens.
http://www.limburger.nl
NAMIBIAN PM AT MsM GRADUATION
[EDU:Maastricht, August 28]
The Prime Minister of Namibia, the Right
Honorable Hage G. Geingob, will attend Maastricht School of Management's graduation
ceremony at the MECC in Maastricht on August 30, 2001. MBAs go to 315 Dutch-based
program graduates and to outreach graduates from China, Cyprus, Egypt, India, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Malta, Namibia, Poland, Singapore and Vietnam. PhDs and DBAs will also be
awarded. The convocation will also be addressed by MsM Director, Dean Luc Soete, one of
the architect's of Europe's Information Society (Lisbon 2000) and by Board Chairman,
veteran Limburg politician, René van der Linden.
http://www.msm.nl
PROCEDURAL CHANGES
[GOV: Maastricht, August 22]
The changes in the appointment procedure
for mayors, as mentioned above, is intended to give the municipal councils more influence.
In the past, the municipal council had a merely advisory role in their relationship with
the governor, who passed his recommendation on to the minister. Now the municipality has
itself acquired the right of recommendation. The procedure is that the council first
consults the governor on the profile of the candidate and then this is taken up in the
profile sketch itself. The council can then decide if it wants an advisory referendum, a
special committee is established and the governor passes on a list of candidates with his
recommendations to which the council may add candidates. After this, the governor gives
his opinion of them. The committee makes a written report of its findings about the
candidates to the municipality and the governor and sends a recommendation to the Home
Minister, at the latest four months after the application procedure has commenced and
within one month of the referendum. The new mayor is appointed by the Crown.
http://www.limburg.nl
ELSA TO GIVE SEMINARS
[EDU: Aachen, August 21]
Elsa, a leading provider of internet access
and computer graphics applications for the PC market, is to give seminars for the
trade on 'DSL Broadband Trends 2002 - Prognoses, Programs, Products' which will
be held in five major German cities, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Munich, Berlin and Hamburg.
They start in September and discuss internet-based network linkage for the next
generation. Information is available at the link below.
http://www.else.de/produkte/netzwerk/trends2002/index.htm
EXPORTING WALLOONS
[EDU: Liège,
August 17]
The Chambers of Commerce in the Walloon region in
collaboration with the Walloon Export Agency have decided to help the under 30s into the
export business. The project called 'Jeunes Exportateurs Wallons' is directed
at people who have completed their university or higher educational studies and would like
to have complementary practical experience. In concrete terms, the project which will
start in October 2001 running through February 2002, allows a period of two months of
business experience, immersion in the Walloon economic environment, after which the young
exporter will have the option of spending two months in a European country of which he
speaks the language: Spain, The UK, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal or Sweden. The
mission is concerned to discover new markets and to ensure the promotion of Walloon
products and services. Participation is without charge and the organizers also pay for
expenses abroad. Those interested should contact Bernard Piette at the Chamber of Commerce
in Liège. Tel. 00.32.4.343.92.92 e-mail bpiette@ccilg.be
http://www.ccilg.be
MAJOR EUROPEAN CONFERENCE
[GOV: Maastricht, August]
There will be a major conference on 'Cross-border
Cooperation between Regions, Cities and Municipalities producing a blueprint for a new
European policy'. The conference to be held at Government House in Maastricht
September 13 and 14, 2001 is sponsored by the European Committee of the Regions, the
Province of Limburg and the Council of Europe. Visitors will be welcomed by Baron van
Voorst tot Voorst, the governor of the Province of Limburg and vice-chairman of the CLRAE
(Congress of Local and Regional Authorities) . The Dutch Minister of Home Affairs, Mr de
Vries will be present as will the chairman of Meuse-Rhine Mr Juergen Roters, Mrs Myller, a
member of the European Parliament's Commission on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism
and Mr Chabert, chairman of the Committee of the Regions. Improvements of cross-border
cooperation will be discussed by Mrs Klasnic, Governor of Stiermarken, Austria, Mr
Olbrycht, chairman of the Silezian (Polish) region, Mr Roters of Meuse-Rhine, Mr Kennedy
from Ireland, Mr Karbaum, Mayor of Goerlitz (Germany) where a lot of cross-border activity
takes place, Mr Fiedorowics, Mayor of Zgorzelec (Poland), Mr Kaltchev, Mayor of Rousse
(Bulgaria) and Mr Papademetriou, program director of Nestos-Mesta Euroregion (Greece) -
all in all, a suitably European grouping.
http://www.limburg.nl
EUROREGIONAL SPORTSDAY IN ROERMOND
[EDU: Roermond, August 9]
Limburgs Dagblad reports that in September the first
schools sportsday for the Meuse-Rhine North region will be held in Roermond for about 500
schoolchildren. This will be on September 19 and include children from Roermond, Swalmen,
Venlo, Nettental, Neuss, Dormagen, Straelen, Krefeld, Brueggen and Moenchengladbach.
http://www.ld.nl
EUROREGIONAL ROADSHOW IN LICHTENBUSCH
[GOV: Lichtenbusch, August]
The roadshow which has been held in most of the principal
centers of the Euroregion has now reached the Belgian/German border at Lichtenbusch where
it will be open on weekdays from 09.00 - 16.00 hrs. Entrance is free of charge.
http://www.euregio-mr.org
AN OVERVIEW OF CROSS-BORDER
COOPERATION
[GOV: Maastricht, August]
An attractive brochure on cross-border cooperation among
the kingdom of the Netherlands, the German states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine Westphalia,
Rhineland Palatinate and the regions and communities of Belgium within the framework of
the EU Interreg community initiative, bringing the balance and current phase of Interreg
III A, has been published under the auspices of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs,
the European Union and the Ministry of Economics, Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises,
Energy and Transport in North Rhine Westphalia. It deals with planning, economics,
technology and innovation, the environment, the labour market and social-cultural
integration with the projects concerned.
http://www.euregio.de
LIEGE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
[GOV: Liège, August 17]
The city of Liège has taken part in a program of
professional transition designed to move the long-term unemployed back into employment
since 1998. This allowed some of the long-term unemployed people to be employed by the
city looking after public buildings and giving technical and administrative support to the
housing department, etc. A success thus far, the city has decided to ask the Walloon
region to extend the program until the end of November 2001.
LIFE SCIENCE AND SCI-TECH
LIEGE AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
[SCI-TECH: Liège, August 29]
In the context of the Belgian EU Presidency, the Belgian
Minister of Economic Affairs is organizing a conference on economic and social cohesion
within the information society in Bruges on September 13 and 14.
http://www.mineco.fgov.be/Presidency/Conferences/conferences
fr.htm
There is also a new face for SPI+'s Forum Telecom five
years after its birth with a new system of affiliation, a monthly transmission of
information online and conferences. Check at the following links
http://www.liegeonline.be/tic/forum/pv/index.html
http://www.liegeonline.be/tic/forum/agenda.html
http://www.liegeonline.be/tic/forum/conf/010920.html
THE BONE PEOPLE MOVE TO AVANTIS
[LIFE-SCI: Aachen/Heerlen, August 28]
The Biomedical company IsoTis N.V., a leader in the field
of substitution medicine, will soon be setting up a branch at the transfrontier science
and business park Avantis. The company is purchasing 6,000 m2 with an optional extension
to one ha. Their production facility commencing one modular building will have an area of
2,500 m2 on two floors and will employ 35 in the first instance. The level of investment
is at the lower end of the EUR 10 - 15 million range. IsoTis specializes in tissue
engineered bone, cartilage and skin and also in biomedical devices, including the
SynPlug cement restrictor and other small medical devices. The company's first half
results at June 30, 2001 were EUR 1.17m as against EUR 1.03m for the same period in 2000.
HQ is at Bilthoven, where they employ 138. There are 15 firms in the same field working
worldwide and IsoTis is the biggest in Europe.
http://www.isotis.com
http://www.internetnews.com/intl-news/article/0,,6_132851,00.htm
PCR ALTERNATIVE
[LIFE-SCI: Verviers, August 27]
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
manufactures millions of copies of a desired piece of DNA. Its discovery led to a Nobel prize. An alternative to the current PCR
system, which is strongly defended by patents, is the isothermal and
chimeric-primer-initiated amplification of nucleic acids. This amplification, as the
name suggests, can be carried out at a constant temperature. According to announcements by
the BioWhittaker associate
company Takara, the method developed using this
system is far better than the run of the mill PCR. BioWhittaker is currently the world's leading supplier of normal human cell
systems. The primary products that they manufacture at their Verviers facility or import
and distribute in Europe include cell culture and endotoxin detection products. This topic is covered at the coming trade fair Biotechnica at Hanover
from October 9 through 11.
http://www.biowhittaker.be
A STAKE IN PRINTER EXPANSION
[SCI-TECH: Maastricht, August 27]
Limburg development company LIOF has
taken a 24% stake in XPS, Xerographic Print Service BV in Venray. Set up in 1994 by
Jan van der Steen, a former manager at Xerox, it is one of the largest suppliers to the
printer and copying industry in Europe. Specializing in the development, production and
distribution of used toner cartridges and other parts of printers and copiers, it has
branches in the Netherlands, Slovakia and Rumania and employs 290, including 40 at the
head office in Venray. In view of the competitive prices that XPS can offer due to its
location in Eastern Europe and the high quality levels, it is planning for increased
growth and in order to develop the production and assembly processes it required an
injection of venture capital which is duly received from LIOF.
http://www.liof.nl
NETWORKING SOLUTIONS
[SCI-TECH: Aachen, Berlin, August 27]
Elsa has presented a new product at the
international wireless exhibition in Berlin. This is a compact and easy-to-use Elsa
LogBoard, a mobile solution in book format. It has a touch-sensitive, high resolution
8.4 inch screen and is equipped with a wireless connection to the Vianect WLAN AP access
point. It can be used all over the house as well as outside in the garden to surf the
internet or access a local network. It has a range of up to 50 m inside and up to 400 m
outside. With a data transmission rate of 11 Mbps, it is not only 170 times faster than
ISDN, but also 14 times faster than DSL. Elsa has also moved into large-scale SDSL
marketing. Its LANCOM 1630 SDSL line is available at the end of September.
http://www.elsa.com
EVS PROVISIONAL RESULTS
[SCI-TECH, Liège, August 27]
The provisional results for the Liège-based EVS company,
specialists in slow motion replay of sporting events, are up 19% at EUR 19m over the first
half of 2000 and 146% up over the first half of 1999. The results will be presented at the
Paris bourse on September 6, 2001.
http://www.evs-broadcast.com
MONEY FOR FRESH AIR
[SCI-TECH: Maastricht, August 27]
Limburg development company LIOF has
recently taken a 30% stake in Airtechnic Holding BV in Venray. This is a holding
company which draws together the activities of Airtechnic BV and APPI BV. Airtechnic is
concerned with the engineering and development of air-technical installations for
industry. It also represents a number of foreign producers of air-technical systems in the
Netherlands. The new holding company is concerned with the development by the two
companies of an automatic, vacuum-driven, filtering installation for powders, granulates
and other products. This unique filtering installation, to which the North Limburg company
Hotraco has contributed, offers the user considerable quality and efficiency improvements
in filtering and separating coarse or fine products and the classification of powders.
Further developments in this highly innovative field requires investments for testing
installations and control systems, which is why LIOF has placed venture capital at their
disposal.
http://www.liof.nl
CYCOS PARTNERS SIEMENS
[SCI-TECH: Aachen, August 24]
Cycos and Siemens announce their worldwide
strategic partnership. Cycos develops unified message components for Siemens product lines
HiPath Xpressions and HiPath AllServe. Sales volume of EUR 50m over a period of five years
is envisioned. This strategic partnership is the result of long-term cooperation between
Cycos and Siemens which has been ongoing since 1998. The most recent alliance strengthens
the market position of Cycos as provider and accelerates its planned entry into global
business.
Cycos also recently announced that it is
starting to campaign to recruit prospective engineering talent from universties in the
Aachen region.
http://www.cycos.com
AGIT IT PROMOTION
[SCI-TECH: Aachen, August 24]
On August 23 there was an information
meeting on EU funding options for development in IT at the Technology Center in Aachen,
organized by AGIT in cooperation with the EU-Buero of the Aachen RWTH University. 75
Participants from business and research and from across the border received important
information and had the opportunity to speak with specialists. In addition to ongoing EU
projects, the participants received information on the effective management of EU
projects. A further meeting on the EU promotion for quality of life in the context of the
5 and 6 research framework programs is planned for the end of October at the Klinikum in
Aachen. This is intended for companies and researchers in medical technology and
biotechnology in the life sciences.
http://www.agit.de
TELE2 AB FIRST DUTCH MVNO
[TECH: New York and Stockholm, August 24]
Tele2 AB (formerly NetCom AB, “Tele2”, “the Group”), the leading
alternative pan-European telecommunications company, today announced that it had become
the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in the Netherlands. Tele2
has signed an agreement with Telfort, a GSM operator in the Netherlands, which is fully
owned by British Telecom. The agreement will enable Tele2 to offer mobile telephony
services in the country in addition to the existing wireline offering.
Lars-Johan Jarnheimer President and CEO
of Tele2 stated, “This agreement enables us to gain cost-effective, efficient and
flexible access to the mobile network. As a result, we will be able to offer our
current subscriber base, of approximately 1 million fixed line customers in the
Netherlands, cheap access to mobile telephony services from September.”
http://www.tele2.com/
SAPHIR: ANOTHER JUELICH FIRST
[SCI-TECH: JUELICH, August 21]
A simulation chamber for atmospheric
conditions has been built in Juelich. This chamber allows the investigation of current
and future composition of the air to be simulated and scientists can then determine on the
type of air that they want to investigate. The construction of the chamber started in
1996. It is 20 meters long, five meters wide and is pipe-shaped and contains 370,000
liters of air. It is sealed by teflon foil and allows the amount UV radiation through that
is required for the chemical reaction in the chamber. Researchers were interested in the
highly reactive hydroxyl-radical which binds oxygen and hydrogen. This gas only arises in
small amounts of the atmosphere and is important for the cleaning of the atmosphere. The
chamber is designed to discover more about the hydroxyl-radical. The chamber became
operational on August 28 and cost EUR .75 to get started. This development costs about EUR
25m, and is the world's first.
http://www.fz-juelich.de
AIXTRON TO LIGHT UP HONG KONG
[SCI-TECH: Aachen, August 17]
State-of-the-art technology for the manufacture of high-brightness inorganic blue/green
light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is to be developed by researchers at the Hong Kong
University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to help the local optoelectronics industry
sharpen their edge in a fast-growing world market. The 3-year project has been awarded HK$
15 million by the Innovation and Technology Fund with a matching sponsorship of HK$ 1.5
million by three local LED companies: COTCO, Lighthouse Technology Limited and Strong Base
Investment Ltd.
The project is also supported by an
equipment grant from the Aachen Region's flagship high-tech company AIXTRON AG - a
potential candidate for a move to Avantis- worldwide leading supplier of MOCVD
equipment, essential for the production of reliable, large-quantity and highly efficient
LED structures. HKUST purchased an AIX 2000 HT reactor with a capacity of 6x2"
wafers. AIXTRON will also collaborate with HKUST on technology transfer for the
system application. Another company, EpiChem Inc, provides support of the high-purity
metalorganics needed for the MOCVD process.
http://www.aixtron.com/press/0822e2001.htm
FUEL CELL PAVILION
[SCI-TECH: Essen, August 17]
After a short period of nine months the RWE fuel cell
pavilion at the Meteorite site on the RWE park has opened. This demonstration site can be
visited and it is possible to observe the fuel cell which has a 100kW performance
producing power and heat. The fuel cell pavilion is open Tuesday through Sundays from
10.00 - 18.00 hours. Special trips are available for schools.
http://www.rwe.com
AGIT REPORT FOR 2000
[SCI-TECH: Aachen, August 17]
The Aachen Society for Innovation and Technology transfer
AGIT has presented its annual report for 2000. The report published in German and English
covers a range of AGIT activities, including marketing and communication which is detailed
for the region. The focus of activity was in the reinforcement and development of areas
already identified both from an entrepreneurial and research point of view as important.
These are medical/technology devices, biotechnology, automotive sector, IT, innovative
production systems and new materials. There was particular emphasis on cooperation with
Euroregional partners in life sciences. In spite of considerable restructuring and the
expenditure that this entailed, the results improved moving from ca. EUR 5.2m to ca. EUR
5.38. In the year 2001, AGIT will be concentrating on Euroregional cooperation and on
projects within the context of Interreg III. This is in keeping with the position taken by
LIOF and ETIL in South Limburg.
http://www.agit.de
AACHEN INNOVATION PRIZE
[SCI-TECH: Aachen, August 15]
The innovation prize of the city of Aachen was awarded
this year to the Herzogenrath company Meta Motoren- und Energie-Technik GmbH. Managing
partners are three engineers Dr. Peter Kreuter, Dr. Joachim Reinicke-Murmann and Dr. Peter
Heuser. The announcement was made on August 15. The prize will be awarded on Saturday
October 27 at 11.00 a.m. in the Coronation Hall of the Aachen City Hall. Meta Motoren und
Energie-Technik GmbH was established in Herzogenrath in the Herzogenrath Technologiepark.
They design and develop technologies for combustion engines with a view to improving
the consumption of gasoline or diesel and reducing the environmental impact of these
fuels. The company is growing and recognized worldwide by the automotive industry as
a development partner for new technologies and employs 130. It has 70 patents registered
both at home and abroad. The prize is worth EUR 5,000, half of which is provided by the
city and half by the district.
http://www.aachen.de
HANOVER BIOTECHNICA
[LIFE-SCI: Hanover, August 3]
The life sciences biotechnology fair in Hanover will be
held from October 9 through 11 and covers areas, including international cooperation and
technology, regenerative medicine, start-ups for life science companies, life science
clusters, bio supply Europe and biotech location in Germany covering the various German
states.
http://www.messe.de
CARIM REPORT
[LIFE-SCI: Maastricht, August]
The Cardiovascular Research Institute at
Maastricht University, CARIM, has produced its annual progress report for the year
2000. The report covers thrombosis and haemostasis, cardiac function and adaptation
and vascular biology. The projects discussed are molecular imaging of cell death in the
heart, acute regulation of myocardial fatty acid uptake, mechanisms of flow-induced
arterial remodeling and genetic dissection of complex cardiovascular disease.
http://www.carim.unimaas.nl
LEISURE
LIEGE TO LEND ART WORKS
[LEI: Liège August 30]
The Liège City Councillor responsible for the
Arts, Hector Magotte, received the assent of the Council today to his proposal to lend works
from the Museums of Archeology, the
Decorative Arts and the Musée de l’Art wallon to Brussels and Maastricht for
exhibitions in those cities.
http://www.liege.be
INTERNET ROMANCE
[LEI: Aachen, August 29]
The Grenzlandtheater in Aachen is starting the season with
a Hindi Brooks' comedy 'Internet Romance'. The premier was already held on August 25 and
it runs to October 1. It deals with romance in a the chatroom between an elderly lady and
a rather young chap.
http://www.grenzlandtheater.de
NEW SHOW AT THE BONNEFANTEN
[LEI: Maastricht, August 29]
There will be an exhibition of the work of Patrick Van
Caeckenbergh, entitled 'Silent Happiness', from September 16 through January 13,
2002, opening on Sunday at 15.00 hrs. It is a selection of his work from 1980-2001.
An introduction will be given by Professor Clem Neutjens, who has written on this artist
and a musical interlude will be provided by the brass section of the Limburg Symphony
Orchestra.
http://www.bonnefanten.nl
EAST BELGIUM IN HAINAULT
[LEI: Eupen, August 28]
An exhibition of works of art from the German community
of Belgium will be held on Saturday September 1 at 18.30 hrs in the Batiment
Provincial Solvay, Boulevard Solvay, 6000 Charleroi at the university. It is called
'Position a la Peripherie II'. The President of the German community, Karl-Heinz Lambertz
and Minister of Culture, Bernd Gentges, President of the Gallery IKOB, Walter Miessen, and
Francis Feidler, Artistic Director of IKOB, will be present, as will be dignitaries of the
Province of Hainault.
http://www.
eastbelgium.be
CARNAVAL DU JAZZ IS BACK
[LEI: Heerlen, August 27]
Carnaval du Jazz proudly presents the start of a new season
on Monday September 3 at 21.00 hrs. The opening event is 'Raise the Roof' in the jazz
cellar in restaurant Massimo at the Wilhelminaplein 20 in Heerlen. It will open at 20.00
hrs. According to the club's publicity, Raise the Roof will make you move to the Funky
groove. This Dutch band is inspired by funk, hiphop, jazz, rock and up to date dance
music. They are the winners of the Grand Prix of Holland, the most important Dutch band
competition in Paradiso in Amsterdam.
http://www.carnavaldujazz.com
INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL IN
AACHEN
[LEI: Aachen, August 27]
The international guitar festival in Aachen will feature
Pepe Romero, the famous Spanish guitarist and the American Sinfonietta. The concerts
under the name AquisGranGuitarra take place in November and December in the Aachen
Eurogress with the American Sinfonietta conducted by Michael Palmer. The program includes
the famous Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo, the Orchestral suite Ma Mère et l'oye by
Ravel and Beethoven's 3rd Symphony.
http://www.aachen.de
BATS AT COMBLAIN-AU-PONT
[LEI: Comblain-au-Pont, August 24]
In the former quarry of Grand Blanc in the heights of
Geromont, a strange building has taken shape. It is a center for the study of bats and
will be opening at the end of October 2001. The project is funded by Walloon and
European development funds and Comblain-au-Pont money. It is a sort of drystone
building, a product of Cornil&Hermans architects and will be devoted to the study of
bats. There will be no bat cave or batmobile available but the whole thing will clearly
appeal to bat fanciers.
http://www.lalibre.be
STARTART SECOND ROUND
[LEI: Aachen, August 24]
Further efforts are to be made to turn artists into
businessmen and women. See last issue's story on the promotion of women artists. The
long-term success of business in the art depends, according to the sponsors of this
project, on the quality of the product, the service, the market demand, the qualifications
of the entrepreneur and a sound financial basis. Artists and those active in the cultural
landscape who want to start their own business, can participate in the StartArt
competition up to September 28. Information can be found at the site below.
http://www.gib.nrw.de
HOLIDAY FAIR IN HASSELT
[LEI: Hasselt, August 20]
There will be a major trade fair on tourism in the
Meuse-Rhine to be held at the Grenslandhallen Hasselt on January 18, 19 and 20, 2002.
Information from touristiek@pandora.be.
http://www.touristiek.com
ROMAN TONGRES
[LEI: Tongres, August 18]
La Libre Belgique reminds us that there are a number
of Roman remains or attributes reminiscent of the Roman period at Tongres worth taking a
look at: The statue of Ambiorix, not of course Roman, is in itself worth a visit; the
aquaduct of Widooie, which is still visible; Pliny's well which was actually described by
Pliny the Elder in the first century AD; the excellent Provincial Gallo-Roman Museum; the
Basilica, including the 1479 statue of the Virgin and the Roman cloisters; the marble
mausoleum in the St-Jacques hospital of the wife of the Lord de Betho, attributed to Jean
Del Cour; the béguinage of St.Catherine and the church.
http://www.lalibre.be
IMC-UNESCO PRIZE FOR MUSIC
[LEI: Aachen, August 17]
The IMC music prize awarded since 1975 by Unesco and the
International Music Council (IMC) was awarded initially every two years in various places.
Since 1994, it has been awarded annually in Aachen. This year it went to the Latvian
violinist Gidon Kremer and the singer from Mali, Oumou Sangaré. Kremer is the most
important violinist of our time and in 1997 founded Kremerata Baltica, a chamber orchestra
which comprises young talent from the Baltic states. Ms Sangaré was born in Bamako, Mali
in 1968. She composes music and writes the text herself. Her texts often address important
social issues, including polygamy and female circumcision.
http://www.aachen.de
SUGAR AND SPICE AND ALL THINGS NICE
[LEI: Maaseik, August 15]
Andrea Schneider writing in the Aachener Zeitung
points out that the regional archeological museum at Maaseik has a lot more to
offer than ruins. In front of the museum there is a herb garden with thyme, lavender,
rosemary and 150 herb varieties in the old walled garden and then there is the oldest
pharmacy in Belgium. The museum also has interactive components. Computers allow you to
select items you want to see from its coin collection and an apothecary's shop shows you
medicines being prepared and afterwards there is the museum bakery.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
ROYAL SYMPHONY OF LIGHT
[LEI: Aachen, August 13]
A royal symphony of light will be performed on the
Katschhof between Aachen's great cathedral and city hall, September 14 through 23 each
evening at 21.30 hrs for 45 minutes and there is no charge. Music, words and light, son
and lumière, tell the story of the city where 32 German kings were crowned between
813 AD and 1531 AD. The artistic director of the project comes from Aachen's partner city
Rheims and is its famous artist in light, Jacques Darolles.
http://www.aachen.de
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