Structural funds awarded

Four regions of France have been granted €2.9 billion in structural funds from the EU.

Corina Crețu, the European commissioner for regional development, approved the funding on 10 November. The regions of Aquitaine, Auvergne, Franche-Comté and Languedoc-Roussillon will receive the money over the next 7 years.

The funding should be used to improve research facilities and universities, thus contributing to the regions’ R&D and innovation performance, Crețu said. “The regions’ young people will also benefit greatly from the planned investments in education, vocational training and entrepreneurship.”