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BUSINESS
AND INDUSTRY
FLANDERS DRIVE
LAUNCHES
[IND: Brussels/Lommel,
September 28]
Flanders Drive, a co-operative association for the automotive industry in
Flanders, will be launched on October 2 in Brussels. Major players from the automotive
sector are bundling their activities near to the Ford test track in Lommel. There are
analogous aspects in this development to the CAR initiative in Aachen and there has also
been contact between the two bodies. Up to launch time, 14 members had joined Flanders
Drive; this number is expected to grow rapidly. Their mission is the strategic
reinforcement of the production development capacity of Flemish suppliers in the
automotive industry and to improve its competitive position in Europe and worldwide.
Founder members include LMS International B.V., Bekaret N.V., Bosal Research N.V., Tenneco
Automotive Europe N.V., Monroe Engineering & Technical Center, Robert Bosch Productie
N.V., WTCM Vlaanderen, Epiq-Sensor-nite, Hevrox EMC/Safety Services N.V., IMEC, KULeuven,
LUC, Spicer Off Highway Products, VCST Industrial Products N.V. and VITO. Activities will
encourage innovation, provide technological advice and develop cluster projects. Flanders
Drive's director is a woman, Renilde Craps, a graduate engineer from Louvain, with
10 years experience in the automotive sector on both the management and commercial
side.
http://www.flandersdrive.be
EXTORTIONATE CHARGES
[BIZ: Brussels, September 28]
The Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reports that the Netherlands is resisting the
proposal of European Commissioner Frits Bolkestein (internal market) to lower bank charges
for cross border financial transactions in the Euro zone [essential in cross-border SME
trade. ed.] Bolkestein's proposal is that internal and cross border transfers should
be charged at the same rate. An investigation by the European Commission has revealed
average charges of EUR 24 on transfers of EUR 100 in the Euro zone.
http://www.nrc.nl
BELCOMPANY EXPANDS
[BIZ: Maastricht, September 28]
In the near future Belcompany will be opening 70 new telephone retail outlets. This will
bring them up to a total of 200 in Belgium and the Netherlands. The development will also
produce 200 new jobs. Belcompany is a subsidiary of Macintosh the international retail
company which has its head office in Maastricht.
http://www.limburger.nl
http://www.belcompany.nl
40 YEARS SERVICE TO
BUSINESS
[BIZ: Liège, September 28]
On Friday October 5 at 16:00 hrs, SPI+ is going to celebrate its 40 years of service to
business and the community in the Province of Liège and the official opening of their new
Vertbois Atrium building. Over these 40 years SPI+ has been occupied with
developing infrastructure for business and municipalities throughout the province. It has
also initiated and coordinated promotion, information, consultancy services and economic
support. It is the partner of first choice for 65,000 companies in the province and a 138
associates, including the Province of Liège and 79 municipalities.
http://www.spi.be
EUREGIONALE 2008 BID
[BIZ: Aachen, September 27]
Meuse-Rhine's bid to obtain the Euregionale 2008, the major regional promotional event,
worth between EUR 125m and 150m, from the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia
begins October 15 at 17:00 hrs at the Drielandenpunt, where Parkstad Limburg,
Heuvelland (the hill country), Maastricht and the German-speaking community of Belgium
will put their case forward.
http://www.euregionale2008.de/nl/index.htm
RECORD RESULTS FOR RWE
[BIZ: Essen, September 26]
The Essen-based RWE power utility, which serves North Rhine-Westphalia, announced its
operating result for the fiscal year 2000/2001(July 1, 2000-June 30, 2001) had increased
by 41% to just under EUR 4bn on a year over year basis. The sharp rise was primarily
due to the first time consolidation of VEW and Thames Water as well as the result
generated by the groups petroleum and chemicals division. The company recorded a
successful turnaround in the energy business and achieved its cost cutting target. The
water business has contributed significantly to its earnings and it now aims to double its
absolute value contribution by 2003.
http://www.cs.rwe.com
NEDCAR CAR ENGINE PLANT
[IND: Born, September 25]
Just-Auto.com passes on a report from the Associated Press that Daimler-Chrysler has
announced that it will choose between two locations for the engine plant for its Z-car in
December. The plant will be located either in Koelleda, East Germany, or near
Nyergesuifalu in Hungary. The plant according to the report will be producing engines
for the 4-seater Z-car to be built at NedCar's plant in Born in the Netherlands. NedCar's
production performance is currently subject to increased scrutiny by Daimler-Chrysler.
http://www.just-auto.com
CREAM
TOPPING
[BIZ: Maastricht, September
25]
LIOF has taken a 13.75% stake in Swenty Holding BV with its registered office at Born. The
company focuses on dairy products to customers specifications. LIOF's stake holding is
intended to give the company the financial muscle to develop its technology and meet the
growing market demand.
http://www.liof.nl
http://www.swenty.nl
KEEPING THE TANKS CLEAN
[BIZ: Liège, September 22]
ECLA S.A. a subsidiary of the Portier Industry's Group, has established a new company
at the Liège logistics site close to Liège airport. The establishment of this
company represents an investment of EUR 3.95m a third of which is devoted to the water
purification system. The operation will specialize in cleaning tankers and tanks for which
there is real demand in the Liège region. A four-line operation allows the company to
clean 50 to 60 tanks each day. The industrial and chemical lines are separated from those
concerned with food products. In addition to tank cleaning, ECLA has warehousing space for
hazardous products on a 7500m² site.
http://www.lameuse.be
AACHEN
CHAMBER IN JAPANESE
[BIZ: Aachen, September 21]
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Aachen offers information on its internet site in
eight languages and it has just added Japanese. The internet site, in five
languages, provides information about 13,000 companies in the Aachen region. Chamber
manager, Frank Malis, says, 'We've got to increase the supply of information in foreign
languages on our website to attract foreign interest.'
http://www.regioblick.de
TENTH
AACHEN AUTOMOTIVE COLLOQUIUM
[BIZ: Aachen, September 20]
October 8 to October 10 will see the Tenth Aachen Colloquium on the automotive industry.
Run by the automotive institutes at the University, the conference combines scholarly
contributions and debates with an exhibition by 82 companies from the automotive and the
automotive supply industries. This makes it the largest exhibition of its type in Europe.
150 participants from 20 countries are expected to attend. Topics to be covered include
electronic steering and braking, steel or aluminum and those relating to petrol injection.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
KEEPING
OUTLET MALLS IN CHECK
[BIZ: Maastricht, September 19]
Limburg's provincial government has set up a number of test criteria for the establishment
of outlet malls in Limburg following the recommendation of the trade working group. The
group is targeting international coordination in the Belgian, German, Dutch frontier area
so that these large scale retail outlets are sited at the right places. In its
conclusion, the working group says that a five per cent loss of turnover forecast to be
the result of the establishment of the outlet malls is negligible. Where the loss of
turnover arises to between 5 and 15%, the spin-off effects should be investigated; where
the loss rises above 15%, establishment should be restricted. Currently Verviers,
Maasmechelen and Roermond either have, or are in the process of establishing, this type of
retail outlet.
http://www.limburg.nl
NEW
MERCEDES APPOINTMENT
[BIZ: Maastricht, September 19]
Jean (JJJ) Theuns, Executive Director Business Development Benelux TMP. Worldwide left the
company on September 1. He was then appointed general manager of the Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Center (MBCAC) in Maastricht. He was replaced by Tibert Lagarde, who
will be Associate Director of TMP.Worldwide's office in Maastricht.
http://www.eresourcing.tmp.com
BELGIAN
HR GROUP TO GO DUTCH...
[BIZ: Hasselt, September 17]
The Limburg Reconversiemaatschappij (LRM) has invested EUR 2.5m in the A & SAP
group. This gives LRM a 30% stake in the group which includes ASAP Interim, SAP Werving
en Selectie, and SAP Personeelsdiensten, all in the HR recruiting
sector. A & SAP are going to open at least five new offices and are looking for take
over options in the Netherlands and Germany. The company, founded in 1981, acquired
partners in 1988 and grew from an initial turnover of EUR 25,000 to EUR 32.2m and
from a staff of one to 90. A&SAP is also looking to raise its group turnover to EUR
72m within five years and to double its staff to 200.
http://www.vkwlimburg.be
UNITED BICYCLES IN
MAASMECHELEN
[BIZ: Maasmechelen, September 14]
The bicycle manufacturer United Bicycles is going to take over production from its Dutch
associated union. Both companies are setting up a joint venture in which they will have
50% stake. Sales offices of both United Bicycles and Union will remain independent. When
the merger has taken place, Union will close its factory in the Netherlands in Niewleusen
in Overijssel. This month United is also building bikes for the French retail chain
Decathlon. Both orders mean that production will be raised from last year's total of
200,000 to 300,000 this year. 200 people are employed by United Bicycles.
http://www.vkwlimburg.be
NEW
PLASTER FROM BELGIUM
[BIZ: Hasselt, September 12]
This autumn, the Knaepen company from Hasselt is introducing a new system of plastering in
the South Netherlands and Limburg market. The system can be used in new construction and
in refurbishment. The advantages of the system are primarily its favorable price/quality
relation, rapid construction time and the ensuing savings. Additional benefits are the
choice of color and range of structural finishes. Knaepen exclusively uses plastering made
by the French manufacturer Lafarge under the Parex brand.
http://www.knaepen.be
PLATO IN LIEGE
[BIZ: Liège, September 11]
The Walloon Chambers of Commerce have set up a system of training for SME management
based on an exchange of experience and case studies. The program is called 'Plato' and has
been operational in the Walloon provinces since 1999. The current program of this
interesting peer-to-peer educational experiment includes topics such as: defining and
developing business strategy, financial management, human resources, communications
management and commercial management. An additional meeting will be held on October 2 at
the Palais des Congrès in Liège.
http://www.cilg.be
BUSINESS LUNCHES
[BIZ: Liège, September 11]
The Liège Chamber has been running business lunches for 12 years now on a monthly basis.
This provides an interesting opportunity for networking in the city and province of
Liège. The next one will be on October 17.
http://www.cilg.be
NEW WAREHOUSING IN LOMMEL
[BIZ: Lommel, September 5]
The Dutch De Meeuw group is going to establish a storage and production facility for
office modules at the Lommel-Maatheide business park. In the long term there will be an
international rental facility. Initial investment is EUR 2.5m which should lead to 100-150
jobs within a few years.
http://www.vkwlimburg.be
LOGISTICS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
MEDIA IN
MEUSE-RHINE
[INFRA: Eijsden, September 28]
For authentic well written, rather chatty news about Liège one cannot recommend
Proxi-Liège too strongly. They produce a weekly newsletter each Thursday and are
currently running Henry Carton de Wiart's historical romance about Liège, La Cité
Ardente, which is generally rather difficult to get hold of. The Aachener
Zeitung's Euroregional column remains a good source of news, although it understandably
leans a little heavily on German-sourced news. Regioblick, entirely dependable, appears
every day in the e-mail in-tray and is also a useful source of information. In Limburg, on
the glossy front, a new edition of Chapeau magazine has appeared. Now funded
by the De Telegraaf-backed Limburger, the magazine is well-produced and has
clearly been spurred on to greater efforts by its new competitor Niveau (with which
this editor is associated).
http://www.webcontentnow.nl
http://www.proxiliege.be
http://www.regioblick.de
MORE MOVES AT BUSINESS PARKS
[INFRA: Aachen, September 28]
Rumor has it that Aachen's flagship company Aixtron will not be moving to Avantis,
but to the Aachener Kreuz site.
http://www.aixtron.de
KOEPFCHEN: EURODE MK II?
[INFRA: Aachen, September 28]
There is current interest in a new-cross border business facility giving clients the
option of using the infrastructure of either country. This is at the Koepfchen on
the Eupenerstrasse in Eynatten, straddling the border between Germany and Belgium. This
site which is 300 m from the highway exit and in an attractive setting will target the
soft sector, including marketing companies and law firms.
http://www.agit.de
LAST WORD ON THE IRON RHINE?
[INFRA: Maastricht, September 25]
On September 21, the Ministers of Transport for Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany
agreed on the route to be taken by the Iron Rhine, the rail link across Limburg on the
trajectory from Antwerp to the German Ruhr. The route to be taken will be the one
established in the 19th century and guaranteed by an international treaty. In Roermond,
Netherlands' Limburg, there will be a deviation with a tunnel going under the Meinweg
national park and a covered line through the Weerter and Budeler Bergen nature park.
Construction will be completed as quickly as possible and the division of costs has yet to
be determined. There is, as we have reported, considerable dismay about this development
in the Netherlands Limburg. On the environmental side it is, however, only fair to say
that five trains a day passing through this area is equivalent to one thousand trucks off
the road in the same period.
http://www.hbvl.be
http://www.limburg.nl
AIR ROAD
TERMINAL
[LOG: Maastricht, September 25]
Plans for an air road terminal (ART) at Maastricht Aachen Airport have been ongoing since
1995. Luc Speck of the South Limburg Chamber expects a go ahead in 2002, according to the
Chamber of Commerce's own paper.
http://www.kamerkrantzuidlimburg.nl
BUSINESS PARK SUCCESS STORY
[INFRA: Liège, September 22]
The Zénobe Gramme business park adjacent to the commercial center of Belle-Ile in Liège
representing an investment of EUR 26.4m, has attracted 17 companies to its location and
offers employment to 500. 15,000 m² of rental space close to the E40/E25 intersection and
the Angleur railway station seem to be the recipe for success. The park is named
after Zénobe Gramme, the inventor of the dynamo and a Liégois. Current site residents
include Air Liquide, Cockerill Mechanical Industries, Gras Savoye Belgium, Sd Works,
Fortis Assurances, la Mutualité Professionnelle, Mutuelles Assistances, Service de
Conservations des Hypothèques, la Banque de Groof and Zurich Assurance.
http://www.lameuse.be
MEDTRONIC FIRST AT TRILANDIS
[INFRA: Heerlen, September 21]
Medtronic is going to set up a facility at the Trilandis business park in Heerlen, next to
Avantis. Medtronic, a world leader in medical technology, will be building a new
distribution center and office facility by the end of 2002. It has taken a 6 ha site, 1.5
ha of which will be built in the first phase for the logistical and service activities.
600 will be employed there. Activity had been delayed at the business park, but the
company now has the definite go ahead and permits for its new building. Trilandis has a
surface area of 53 ha, 42 of which can be used and it is focusing on major international
companies in industry, logistics and distribution.
http://www.medtronic.nl
NEW RAIL PLANS FOR LIMBURG/B
[INFRA: Hasselt, September 12]
Loek Pluijmen in Dagblad de Limburger reports on rail development plans for Belgian
Limburg. The master plan deals with the passenger transport between Maasmechelen,
Maastricht and Weert with connections to Dutch public transport, fast connections to
Brussels and the position of Hasselt as the railroad center in the province. Currently the
master plan envisages the expenditure of EUR 63.5m out of an investment budget of more
than EUR 4bn. Flemish Prime Minister Patrick DeWael will investigate the possibility of
funding part of the rail development from the Limburg Reconversiemaatschappij (LRM)
funds. Four more connections are envisaged Hasselt-Maastricht, Hasselt-Maasmechelen and
Hasselt-Houthalen-Neerpelt and the Iron Rhine to Weert. The line to Maastricht can expect
1000 passengers a day, not counting students going to the new tUL University.
Hasselt-Maasmechelen can count on 2500 passengers a day. The Flemish government also has a
reserve of EUR 197.7m for co-financing rail projects. New regional connections for
Hasselt-Sint Truiden and Tongres via the TGV from Liège to Brussels are also
proposed. Hasselt is intended to be the focus of this operation.
http://www.limburger.nl
BUSINESS PARKS IN MEUSE-RHINE 1
[INFRA: Maastricht, September]
The University-based research consultancy ETIL has produced a survey of business parks in
the Netherlands Limburg. The 60-page survey gives locations throughout the Dutch province
of Limburg and the precise allocation of land indicating what remains to be sold. It also
notes the use of the site in terms of industrial categories. Despite the considerable
detail, it retains a certain level of abstraction, in the sense that it does not give
details of actual companies locating at the business sites, except in the occasional
passing reference. ETIL notes that there is a shift towards the private ownership and
development of business parks; 61% being in the hands of private individuals or project
developers. This figure was 42% in the year 2000. Traditionally these sites have been
owned by municipalities.
http://www.etil.nl
MAJOR OP AT LIEGE
AIRPORT
[INFRA: Liège, September]
The Bedek Aviation Group is
developing a cutting-edge, full service maintenance operation at Liège Airport. The
package includes line maintenance, transit service and repairs by licensed engineers.
Aircraft types covered by the maintenance agreement include B-747, B-757, DC-8, and DC-10.
The current annual business volume under this agreement is running at USD 300,000; growth
potential would allow this figure to double by next year. The Bedek Group is part of
Israel Aircraft Industries, the country’s premier aerospace corporation and largest
industrial conglomerate, with annual sales exceeding USD 1.5bn.
http://www.iai.co.il/dows/dows/Serve/level/English/1.1.2.1.html
BUSINESS PARKS IN MEUSE-RHINE 2
[INFRA: Liège/Hasselt July and September]
The business park directory produced annually by SPI+ in Liège, which appeared on July 2
gives precisely the type of commercial information lacking in the ETIL study in four
languages, with contact details of the companies. Clearly the surveys could learn from one
another, although they doubtless have different objectives and targets readerships. On the
same topic, from Wednesday October 31, the Belgian paper Het Belang van Limburg
will be producing six weekly supplements, each Wednesday, covering the economic activities
on all of the business parks in Belgian Limburg. The supplements will be called 'Made
in Limburg' and will come out on October 31 for North Limburg; November 8 for East
Limburg; November 15 for South Limburg; November 22 for West Limburg; November 29 for the
Genk region and December 6 for the Hasselt region.
http://www.spi.be
http://www.hbvl.be
GOVERNMENT
AND EDUCATION
BELGIAN MILLIONS
FOR tUL
[EDU: Maastricht, September 28]
The Flemish government is making EUR 53.8m available for the Transnational University in
Limburg(tUL) on condition that the Dutch government makes a proportional contribution. The
business plan of the university for the next ten years shows a requirement for EUR 118.6m.
This does not include the normal financing per student. On the Dutch side the province has
kicked in almost EUR 4.5m, Maastricht around EUR 2.5m and EUR 907,852 came from the
ministry. The Ministry of Economic Affairs will be spending the same as Maastricht (EUR
2.5m) for an incubator building for tUL which will focus on life science companies. A
consortium, including Limburg Development Company LIOF and the University Hospital AzM
will be adding another EUR 4.5m. The government has also agreed to make up deficits in
research funding, which means that from the year 2003 the University of Maastricht will
get EUR 4.5m to EUR 7m extra and will pass on EUR 2.7m to tUL.
http://www.limburger.nl
OTTO ESCHWEILER
BOWS OUT
[GOV: Aachen, September 27]
Manfred Kistermann writing in the Aachener Zeitung reports on the resignation of Professor
Otto Eschweiler from his position as consul general for the Netherlands in Aachen after 12
years of distinguished service. Dr. Eschweiler, approaching his 70th birthday, brings to
an end an unrivalled period of service to Meuse-Rhine as consul general for the
Netherlands, general manager at the Aachen Chamber (41 years service) and a professor at
the university. There are few people who can have a better claim to be called Mr
Meuse-Rhine than this gentleman. He repeatedly emphasized that the economic survival of
Meuse-Rhine, in the long, term, will only be assured when the neighboring regions of
Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands join forces in building a mini European community
within the EU. Meuse-Rhine can show Europe the way. With the departure of this
distinguished pilot from the ship, it is to be hoped that a successor can be found to
guide the vessel through troubled waters. Fortunately, a highly suitable candidate has
been tipped as his successor in the person of Professor Helmut Breuer, the eminent
economic geographer from the university.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
http://www.webcontentnow.com
A DIVISION OF THE
SPOILS
[GOV: Heerlen, September 26]
Heerlen 's City Council has published the division of responsibilities among the
council, some of which we will record here. Mayor Alexander Sakkers will be
responsible for public order and safety, including communications and European affairs;
Councilor Frans Hol is responsible for the finances, information and facilities, HR, and
the Glaspaleis project; he is also the deputy mayor; Jos Zuidgeest is responsible for a
range of matters, including welfare, big city policy, the Parkstad Limburg project and the
Centrum Noord project; Thei Vrolings for public works; Jo Peeters for city
development, economic and town planning, construction, housing, listed buildings, the
environment, etc.; Frans Walkowiak for education, culture, youth and Karel Scholtissen for
social affairs.
http://www.heerlen.nl
BELGIAN CENSUS
[GOV: Eupen/Brussels, September 25]
There is to be a census in Belgium on October 1. The last to take place was in 1991. This
provides important data for government policy and society at large. This will be the last
census of this type. In future, the national statistical service will source the data
required from existing administrative sources with the help of databanks, as yet to be
established.
http://www.statbel.fgov.be/census/home_de.htm
http://www.regioblick.de
GERMAN TAX REFORM
[GOV: Frankfurt, September 25]
At the beginning of 2001, the Tax Reduction Act of 23 October 2000 (Steuersenkungsgesetz)
Germany implemented sweeping tax changes to improve the international competitiveness
of its industry. The tax reform not only reduces income tax rates, but also
fundamentally changes the tax regime for German corporations and the treatment of
dividends received from corporations. When it passed the tax reform package 2001, the
Federal Parliament requested the Federal Government to submit a report on (i) tax
treatment of corporate reorganization, (ii) group taxation principles and (iii) the
controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") rules to the Finance Committee of the
Federal Parliament. The Federal Ministry of Finance submitted this report at the end of
March 2001. As a follow-up the German Government endorsed another tax package continuing
the reform of company taxation on August 15, 2001, in most cases to become
effective January 1, 2002, though not without some significant exemptions. This is
now going as a bill to parliament. The paper linked below provides an overview of where
German tax reform activities currently stand and where they may be going in the near
future.
http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=13577
http://www.hhp.de
HEALTH RISKS TO
YOUTH
[GOV: Aachen, September 24]
60,000 High school students at levels 8 and 10 in Meuse-Rhine are to be sent a
questionnaire from the health authorities in which they will be asked about their
personal habits, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, the use of narcotics, sleeping
tablets and tranquilizers, gambling, misbehavior, petty crime and unprotected sex. The
questionnaire, which is the first of its sort to take place across borders, is a joint
effort by the health authorities of Limburg, Eindhoven, the districts of Dueren,
Heinsberg and Euskirchen, the city of Aachen and in Belgium, the province of Limburg and
the German-speaking community.
http://www.aachen.de
THE TOBIN
TAX
[GOV: Alken/Liège,
September 24]
Steve Stevaert, the Flemish minister and mayor of Hasselt, has announced his intention to
levy a Tobin tax. In the meantime, during the Liège Ecofin conference, Minister of Finance, Didier Reynders, a power in
Liège, and even tipped to succeed to the directorship of the Central European Bank, did
not accept the Tobin tax as a topic for discussion during the ministerial meeting.
Minister Reynders said that he did not think the tax was a solution in itself. He looked
upon it as a schematic solution. In la Libre Belgique, he conjectured that it was
the sort of thing that might have been dreamt up by Robin Hood himself.
The Tobin Tax is a small tax on international currency transactions. USD 2
trillions a day is exchanged on world financial markets, 95% of which is speculative. When
markets crashed in East Asia in 1998, ten million people were thrown into poverty. A Tobin
Tax of 0.25% would make most such transactions unprofitable and thus calm markets. It
would also generate revenue of $250 billion for global priorities in basic environmental
and human needs. Such taxes will help tame currency market volatility and restore national
economic sovereignty. (named after James Tobin, Nobel Prize winning Yale
economist)
http://www.hbvl.be
http://www.lalibre.be
NEW DUTCH
REQUIREMENTS
[GOV: Aachen, September 21]
The citizens of the Netherlands, resident abroad, will have to follow new regulations
in their request for passports, traveling documents and registration of their children
from October 1. Requests for passports must be submitted three weeks in advance. The
data must be entered by a central authority. It will no longer be possible to obtain a
passport on the day of the request. The applicants must also have up-to-date passport
photographs. There are also changes for the registration of children. They must be present
during the application and passport photos of the children are also required.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
PARKSTAD LIMBURG
STRIKES GOLD
[GOV: Heerlen, September 21]
Parkstad Limburg recently discovered that it had a reserve of EUR 3.9m. It was
probably intended for the promotion of employment in the region. It was unclear at the
time of discovery as to how much of this funding was already earmarked for ongoing
projects. The accountants will need three months to find out discover the current status
of the sum.
http://www.ld.nl
LIEGE EU FOCUS
[GOV: Liège, September 18]
The Gala dinner planned for the European Ministers of Finance in the Palace of the
Prince bishops in Liège had unfortunately
to be relocated to the city of Verviers, a one time center of the cloth trade and, in
its day, one of the most prosperous cities in the region. This prosperity reflected in the
location chosen for the dinner at Chateau Peltzer. A chateau of 19th century vintage, set
in splendidly landscaped gardens with a sweeping staircase and a great deal of polished
marble. The European summit meetings in Liège passed without any disturbance. There was
one demonstration march of some 12,000 participants, but it went off without
incident.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
THE BUDGET EMPHASIZES REGIONS
[GOV: Maastricht, September 18]
The national budget is placing the emphasis on policy making by the regions. This
is especially the case in the matter of transport and infrastructure to tackle the
particular regional problems. This will lead to further decentralization and there will be
sufficient funding to enable an active policy. Provincial government sees this change as a
recognition of the importance of provincial level decision making and highly appropriate
when regional authorities have to approach regional problems. The province of Limburg,
together with North Brabant and Zeeland, has decided to get together in the Netherlands
southern alliance. The question remains as to whether Limburg will actually receive the
facilities to solve major infrastructural problems, such as the development of the A2/A76
highways and the problem with the A2 that goes through Maastricht.
http://www.limburg.nl
NO BAC FOR ULG
[EDU: Liège, September 18]
The rector of the University of Liège, Willy Legros, says no to the introduction of the
university entrance exam, known as the BAC. It is regarded as being contrary to the
democratization of education.
http://www.lalibre.be
AUTONOMY IN EUPEN
[GOV: Eupen, September 18]
In a statement issued on September 18, Karl Heinz Lambertz, the president of the
German-speaking community, sketched the main issues of his policy which focused on the
issue of autonomy in the context of the Lambermont accord. Although the
agreement does not specifically transfer many powers, it does allow East Belgium to wring
some concessions from the Walloon region, so that the community will be able to exercise
supervision over the municipalities and then the door to negotiations with the region will
be much wider open. What is important for the autonomy is the proposed legislation on the
second refinancing of the community that adds almost EUR 10m to the account annually, so
that the total refinancing of the community through 2011 will be over EUR 23m annually.
This is of vital importance; as, without this increase in funding, autonomy would be
increasingly diminished. The new funding gives more scope for the community's policies and
would allow them to get out of debt and finance an ambitious infrastructural program. The
community also wants to develop its contacts with EU authorities, to develop its external
relations, set up a permanent representation in Brussels and increase popular
participation in the democratic process.
http://www.dglive.be/index.html
LIFE SCIENCE AND SCI-TECH
RHEIN BIOTECH TOPS FAST 50
[LIFE-SCI: Maastricht September 26]
Rhein Biotech, specialist in the development and marketing of
vaccines and immune modulators, is the Netherlands' fastest growing technology company.
Rhein Biotech has emerged as the winner of this year's Deloitte
& Touche Fast 50 award. This program ranks the 50 fastest growing technology companies
in the Netherlands, based on percentage revenue growth over a three-year period. Rhein
Biotech recorded growth in revenues of 1577% from 1998 to 2000. The company generated
sales of EUR 60.4m in 2000 compared with EUR 3.6m in 1998 and closed the year 2000
profitably with a net income of EUR 8m compared with a loss of EUR 0.6m in 1998. Rhein
Biotech currently employs 315 people.
http://www.rheinbiotech.com/
SIOUX
COMES TO SITTARD
[TECH: Sittard, September 25]
Sioux, another member of the top 50 companies rated 33 this year by Deloitte and Touche,
starts operations October 1 in Sittard. Sioux is targeting the Euroregion and developing
innovative technical software to be embedded into medical and telecommunication systems,
audio and video equipment and copying and production machinery. The company started up
five years ago in Eindhoven and is currently an independent operation with 100
members of staff. Two years ago Sioux opened its Antwerp branch and later a branch in
Rotterdam and now they are in Sittard with an eye on the German market.
http://www.sioux.nl
JUELICH MILLENNIUM REPORT
[TECH: Juelich, September 25]
The first annual report of this millennium from Juelich, Germany's largest
interdisciplinary research center is attractive, compact and intelligible and in 52 pages
covers the principal areas of research in matter, energy, information, life and the
environment. Among the research highlights of recent years, topics covered are the
discovery of the first anti-matter atom and the technology prize for the discovery and use
of Giant Magneto Resistive effects which has produced the increase in storage density and
the resulting higher capacities of PC hard disks. Further, there is the development of a
bioreactor to increase the production of blood stem cells and the understanding of
important neurological functions. A concomitant is the quadrupling of patent applications
and the resulting grants of licenses. The year of physics 2000 and the year of the life
sciences 2001 were also influenced by scientists at Juelich. The giant number
crunchers and the proton accelerator, COSY Juelich, are discussed as are the biotechnicum
and the planned European spallation neutron source. Matters such as funding committees,
cooperation, patents and staff are also reviewed.
http://www.fz-juelich.de
REGITEL AT FIVE
[TECH: Roermond, September 25]
The LIOF-sponsored Regitel, association of IT companies in Limburg, has celebrated its
fifth anniversary at the Oranjerie Hotel in Roermond. Among the speakers was the
chairman André Jurres, director of KPN Mobile, Maastricht's own guru, Dean Luc
Soete, Mrs Suzanne Ekel, MD of Monsterboard.nl and Mr Jaap Favier, European
Research Director of Forrester Research. In an informal and relaxed atmosphere, an
audience of 120 listened to the speakers and reflected on the five years of their
existence as an organization. The organization probably represents 80 per cent of IT
turnover in Limburg. Mr Jurres points to five years of success and growth from 15 to
80 members. By way of comparison Aachen's Regina has 80 members out of a constituency of
some 300. Liège's Forum Telecom has 400 members. In the speeches that followed Mr Jurres'
introduction, Dean Soete pointed to speed, extending horizons and broadening perspectives
and also to the concomitant phenomenon of glocalization. There was an important role for
IT in uncovering potential networks among SMEs in Meuse-Rhine (of which there are
248,000). +€+@ will be the consumer benchmark. Forrester's Favier talked about the
consumers take over and concluded 'don't try to reinvent the wheel yourself, but
outsource and make sure that the price is right'.
http://www.regitel.nl
NETSPACE
IN LIEGE
[TECH: Liège, September 21]
Forum Telecom is organizing two conferences in the context of the Netscape exhibition
running in Liège at the Halles des Foires de Coronmeuse from October 17 to
19. The program which is devoted to e-business, focuses on directors of SMEs and
public organizations who want to be clear about the IT objectives of their business.
E-business day is Thursday, October 18. Registration is free. See the link below.
http://www.liegeonline.be/netspace
E-BUSINESS
INCENTIVES
[TECH: Liège, September 21]
Incentives are to paid to companies who integrate
e-business into their operations by the Walloon Government. The amounts concerned will be
between EUR 2,500 and EUR 15,000 to assist in the integration of new information and
communication systems during a period of three months to a year. Assistance is limited to
EUR 5,000 monthly carried to a maximum of 80% by the Walloon Region.
http://www.liegeonline.be/tic/init/aiderw.html
LASER CAPACITY
EXPANSION
[TECH: Aachen, September 20]
Japans Furukawa's FITEL products division will produce high quality lasers with wave
lengths between 980 nm and 1550 nm using the AIXTRON AIX 2400 planetary
reactor system for 8x2" and 8x3" wafer configuration. Furukawa has successfully
tested the extremely high uniformity of thickness, composition and doping of the wafers
grown in the planetary reactor. The AIX 2400 looks like being the optimum mass production
tool for long wave length laser devices with low cost ownership operation.
http://www.aixtron.com
TRANSDERMAL TECH AT
GRUENENTHAL
[LIFE-SCI: Aachen, September 17]
Gruenenthal GmbH, with its headquarters in Stolberg, near Aachen, is a special case as
a pharmaceutical multinational. This family business achieved sales of EUR 716m in the
year 2000 and is well on its way to break the billion barrier. The company employs more
than 5,000 world-wide and specializes in pain relief, anti-infectants and gynecological
products. Transtec its new transdermal anti-pain agent has recently been launched. The
product took six years to develop at a cost of EUR 50m. Transdermal administration of
medication is non-invasive, and does not upset the stomach or risk being diminished in its
effect by the patient's metabolism. Michael Wirtz, the managing partner of the company and
'chief boffin' Dr Eric-Paul Pâques gave a presentation of the company's activities at a
recent forum at Aachen's Chamber of Commerce, on September 17. Mr Wirtz pointed out
the advantages of a family company and referred to its history, to the important role
played by Great-grandmother Apollonia in 1884, to Grandmother Josephine in 1946, and to
the fact that since there are no shareholders, the partners can take decisions rapidly.
Fifteen per cent of Gruenenthal's budget goes on research.
http://www.aachen.ihk.de
http://www.gruenenthal.de
WIRELESS SURFING IN DOWNTOWN AACHEN
[TECH: Aachen, September 17]
ELSA and Accom, the Aachen telco, have developed public internet access via Wireless LAN.
This wireless data communication in the city center, using the Accom LWL regional network
access points (public spots), allows public wireless internet access via a notebook, PC or
organizer with a Wi-Fi compatible card. In the introductory period, till the end of this
year, this internet access is free of charge. It is based on the ELSA LANCOM wireless
station with public access functionality and has a range of 500 m in the open and up to 50
m in buildings. Public spot locations are given at the link below.
http://www.elsa.de/go-wireless
LINEAR OPTICAL AMPLIFIER
[TECH: Aachen, September 17]
Aixtron has announced that a next generation optical semiconductor company based in
Fremont, California, called Genoa Corporation, has selected and installed two AIX 2000
Planetary Reactors® for use in the production of its recently launched 'linear optical
amplifier' (LOA). The linear optical amplifier is the first chip-based amplifier capable
of simultaneously amplifying multiple wavelengths of light in today's fiber optic
communications networks. This solves a number of problems that have precluded the use of
semiconductors for amplifying light in optical networks.
http://www.aixtron.com
LEISURE
CAPPELLA SANCTI SERVATII
[LEI: Maastricht, October 28]
On Sunday, October 7, the Cappella Sancti Servatii, the choir of the St.Servatius Basilica
in Maastricht, will be participating in a unique double concert at the Grote Kerk in
Edam. With Peter Serpenti conducting, Joseph Haydn's Theresienmesse will be
performed by the Cappella with the Amsterdam Philharmonia. The concert is being put
on with the Zang Edam choir, at their invitation. That choir will sing
Handel's Dettingen Te Deum under the direction of their conductor Henk
Trommel . Both choirs, approx. 130 singers, will also perform the Vivaldi Magnificat.
The Cappella is traveling from Maastricht with four soloists and organist Marcel
Verheggen. The soloists are soprano Claudia Couwenbergh, contralto Mirjam Schreur, tenor
Hans Timmermans and bass Peter Nievelstein.
http://www.maastricht.nl
ROUSSEAU SUCCESS
[LEI: Maastricht, September 28]
The Chrit Rousseau exhibition in the Dominicanerkerk in Maastricht: Een schilder op
reis has been a great success. The first weekend drew 2,350 visitors and since then
the numbers have risen to 8,200, as of September 26. The regional interest has been
considerable with many visitors from Germany and Belgium visiting the exhibition.
http://www.maastricht.nl
BASKETBALL IN LIEGE
[LEI: Liège, September 26]
The Belgian national basketball team has solicited the partnership of the city of Liège
in organizing the qualifying rounds of the European Basketball Competition 2003 which will
be taking place in Sweden. The campaign starts on November 16, 2001 and ends January 25,
2003. Other competitors are Greece, Spain and Israel and also Romania and Denmark. The
partnership between the city and the team would give the city a good club and the club the
best of audiences, turning Liège into a center of basketball in Belgium - no doubt the
mayor, as a former player would also be pleased.
http://www.liege.be
A VIEW OF BELGIUM
[LEI: Eupen, September 26]
The complexity of the Belgian state with its various linguistic and political communities
is presented in an exhibition called 'Blickpunkt Belgien', everything you wanted to
know about Belgium's federal state, runs from September 28 till November 18 in the
BRF-Funkhaus, Kehweg 11 in Eupen from 08.30 - 17.00 hrs from Mondays to Fridays and on
Sundays from 14.00 - 18.00 hrs. Information at the link below. Entry is free of charge.
http://www.dglive.be/blickpuntbelgien.htm
NAKED FLAME
[LEI: Liège, September 26]
The men of the Liège Fire Brigade have taken off their uniforms and posed for a special
nude photo for their 2002 calendar - all 25 of them. Apparently, heavily nozzled hoses are
located at strategic positions. Whether this will compete with the Pirelli Calendar
remains to be seen, but it should become a collector's item. ''It is all a bit of fun'',
says Jean-Claude Thonard of the Liège Fire Brigade, reported in the Belgian paper Het
Laatste Nieuws, quoted by the Aachener Zeitung. And all the proceeds go to a good cause.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
APRES-CHARBON IN WINTERSLAG
[LEI: Winterslag, September 24]
Jan Hoet opened the après-charbon exhibition at the former Winterslag coal mine.
This is part of the celebrations to mark 100 years of coal mining in Belgian Limburg.
Artists from all over the world will be making their contribution to the exhibition
through mid October.
http://www.hbvl.be
MODERN MUSIC FROM AACHEN
[LEI: Aachen, September]
Strava, a concert and a presentation of the Stravaganza CD with music of Ruediger Bloemer
will take place on Sunday October 7 at 20.00 hrs at the Klangbruecke. Ruediger
Bloemer is a composer who lives in Aachen and produces very modern music. You can expect
whistles, vibrations, knocks, ponticello effects, pizzicati, flageoletts and some natural
sounds. Let's hope they're not too natural.
http://www.klangbruecke.de
ANATOLI GOLOLOBOW
[LEI: Aachen, September]
A piano recital will be held by Anatoli Gololobow on October 29 at 20.00 hrs at
Klangbruecke. The solist from Rostow will perform works by Schuman, Schubert, Paganini,
Scriabin, Mussorgsky and Rachmaninov.
http://www.klangbruecke.de
BLOOD
[LEI: Frankfurt, September]
An extremely unusual exhibition is being held in Frankfurt which is why it is worthy of
notice at the center of the universe in Meuse-Rhine. Blood is an extremely powerful
symbol. An exhibition dealing with it is being presented in four sections. At
mak.frankfurt, the focus is on sacrificial blood, redeeming blood and dynamic blood. The
Schirn Kunsthalle investigates dynastic and pathological blood. Through compelling images
in a wide variety of media, from illuminated manuscripts, engravings, sculptures, drawings
and paintings, to photographs, videos and installations, visitors encounter some of the
ways that blood has been perceived in various cultures from early Maya civilization to the
present day, culminating with the discovery of the genome. Works exhibited include those
by Abramovic, Bernini, Beuys, Duerer, Nitsch and Serrano among the 160 items in this
exhibition.
http://www.mak.frankfurt.de
http://www.schirn.de
ANTIQUES IN NAMUR
[LEI: Liège, September]
A major exhibition of antiques
is to be held in the Palais des Expositions in Namur from November 3 through 11,
2001. Earthenware and porcelain, glass in autumn colors, decorated knives, used in the
chase, are all part of this exhibition. Objects come from England, Luxembourg, France and
the Netherlands. There will also be paintings and sculpture.
http://www.artexis.com
GOTHIC IMAGES FROM MEUSE-RHINE
[LEI: Maastricht, August 29]
350 Gothic images, sculptures from churches, museums and private collections in
Meuse-Rhine are now available on a CD Rom, which was presented September 10 in Heinsberg.
Art historians U.Schaefer from Muenster and Peter te Poel from Maastricht collected the
materials.
http://www.limburger.nl
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