France launches 'Quaero' search engine project

The “Homes” project, being developed by Schneider Electric, in collaboration with EDF, Radiall, Somfi, STMicroelectronics, Philips, TAC, and Wieland, is aimed at reducing energy consumption within buildings by 20 percent. The AII intends to invest 39 million euros (about $50 million) over a period of five years.

The third project "TVMSL", which stands for Mobile TV Without Limits, is being set up to develop a standard for the delivery of television onto mobile phones. Companies such as Sagem Communications, Aliena Space Philips as well as the French national center for scientific research (CNRS) have agreed to collaborate on this 98 million euro project (about $120 million). It is being co-financed by the AII for a total amount of 38 million euros (about $47 million).

“NeoVal” is a project to develop a light metropolitan train that is getting 26 million euros (about $32 million) from the AII over five years. “Bio-Hub”, concerns refineries powered by agricultural products in which the AII will spend less than half of the total investment of 98 millions euros (about $120 million) over a period of seven years. The “VHD” project concerning the production of hybrid diesel-electric cars was started by French car manufacturer PSA-Peugeot Citroen and includes French and German companies such as Valeo, Michelin, Saft, Robert Bosch, and Osram.

The AII is expected to examine another thirty projects by the end of the year.