BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
VISION PRIZE
[BIZ: Aachen, December 5]
The first Vision Prize for women entrepreneurs was awarded
to Andera Gadeib of Dialego Online Market Research GmbH. The prize of EUR 2,556 is given
by the Regional Network for Start-ups and Aachen Founder Region. Andera Gadeib's company
has developed a special system of analysis for market research online. Products include
web site tests, advertising pre-tests, product concepts/concept tests, virtual test
markets, customer satisfaction studies, staff surveys, trend research and user profiles.
The Aachen Chamber's general manager Juergen Drewes pointed out in his address that women
entrepreneurs are producing interesting results. The six leading contenders for the Vision
Prize created 85 jobs and had total sales in 1999 of EUR 1.8m.
http://www.dialego.de
http://www.ihk-aachen.de/Wn/wn000291.htm
GREAT PEAR TREE HEIST
[BADBIZ: St Truiden, December 5, 2000]
Fruit growers are experiencing serious losses as the result
of the disappearance of their pear trees. Almost 7,000 pear trees have been stolen
recently in the Sint-Truiden area. Experts say that the pear is now popular, because of
the fall in apple prices. They are bringing in four times as much as the average apple. It
has nothing to do with the new fashion for reading Proust, who praised the pears of the
Herve plateau on the other side of the Meuse - unless they are disappearing too.
http://www.hbvl.be
UBS LEAVES MAASTRICHT
[BIZ: Eijsden, December 4]
Sarah Small, spokesperson for UBS Warburg in London,
informed the Meuse-Rhine Journal that the premature closure of the UBS Call Center in
Maastricht was due to UPS Warburg's merger with PaineWebber and their adoption of
PaineWebber's business model for target clients. UBS is to become advisor-centric aiming
at affluent high network clients instead of the mass affluent clientele which was to have
been the target of the UBS Maastricht Call Center. This, being interpreted, probably means
kid-gloved treatment for the well heeled and no unsolicited calls at dinner time.
http://www.ubs.com
BATTERY POWERED
[BIZ: Heerlen, December 4]
The Heitkamp & Thumann Group (HUT) is coming to Heerlen
to set up a production facility for metal products and semi-fabrications at the Beitel
Industrial Park. HUT has five product divisions, specializing in battery components,
airduct connectors, metal parts, special connectors and plastics technology. In Heerlen,
the HUT group will be producing battery parts. This is expected to provide 60 jobs
initially and to grow to as many as 200. Initial investment in land and refurbishment of
buildings will be worth around EUR 17,300. The company intends to start production in
2001. HUT is based in Duesseldorf and operates in the US, UK, France, China, Singapore and
the Czech Republic, employing 2,000 worldwide.
http://www.hut-group.com
SAFETY FIRST IN ECHT
[BIZ: Echt, December 4]
The US Tyco International Corporation is to establish a
plant and distribution center in Echt. Tyco specializes in fire and security services. It
manufactures, distributes, stores and services fire protection and security systems and
products. Tyco, with plants in Munich and elsewhere in the Netherlands, is expected to
concentrate its European activities in Echt and will start with a staff of 75 and
forecasts rapid growth within five years to as many as 500. Tyco is a diversified
manufacturing and service company and the world's largest manufacturer of smaller fire and
safety systems. The company operates in more than 80 countries worldwide. Fiscal 2000
sales have risen to a record USD 28.9 bn.
http://www.tyco.com
TURKISH TEXTILES
[BIZ: Aachen, December 4]
The Aachen Chamber of Commerce hosted a presentation by the
Sahinler Group last week. Despite its Turkish connections, the Sahinler Group started
business in 1982 in Aachen. It now is part of a network of 27 businesses in seven
countries. Its products are sold in 20 wholesale and 35 retail outlets and it employs
10,000. Last year's turnover was EUR 920m. European activities are run from the
headquarters in Aachen.
http://www.ihk-aachen.de
CABLEMAKERS
[BIZ: Eupen, November 29]
East Belgium's business promotion company WFG included the
presentation by Eupen Cable in their recent seminar. The Cable Company, a local business
that has been going since 1880, currently employs close to 2,000 worldwide and is proud to
announce that its cables are used at 3,000 airports for runway lighting. Eupen is
currently cabling mobile antennas so it clearly has a lot of work left to do. A new - or
revived - WFG cross border project is also proceeding at Lichtenbusch
http://www.eupencable.com
http://www.wfg.be
EUROBC AT 35
[BIZ: Maastricht, November 24]
Euro Business Centers provide inbound business with a
home-away-from-home with fully equiped office facilities in Amsterdam, Hilversum, Utrecht
and Maastricht. It recently celebrated its 35th anniversary. At its Maastricht
headquarters in the MECC office building, area manager, Marilène den Exter Blokland,
hosted the press and clients at a celebratory party to mark the occasion. Sushis were
combined with lively conversation and introductions to inbound new economy investors, like
Sopheon, Lewis and Combustion Tec, Europe.
http://www.eurobc.nl/EBC/EBC_Maastricht/ebc_maastricht.html
LOGISTICS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
MEUSE-RHINE WOMEN 25
[INFRA: Aachen, December 7]
The Association of Women in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion
celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Association, founded in 1975, has 300 members and has
been active in political and societal areas. The honorary president Professor Waltraud
Kruse said that the Association had made itself felt in families, schools, social services
and among students and in business. The rescue services in the Euroregional areas of
Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany were initiated by the group, concluded Professor
Kruse.
http://www.aachenerzeitung.de
NRW ON CD
[INFRA: Aachen, December 6]
New topographical maps of North Rhine Westphalia are
available on a CD scale 1: 50,000 for the price of approx. EUR 40. The CD is useful
for laymen as well as professionals and allows you to plan country walks on the basis of
information in 3D.
http://www.lverma.new.de.
TGV DELAY
[INFRA: Liège, December]
Construction of the new TGV station is underway in Liège.
It is, however, expected to take somewhat longer than had orginally been planned and the
scheduled completion date is now end 2005, or the beginning of 2006. The cost of the
station has also risen to EUR 2.48bn from an initial forecast of EUR 1.61bn. Those
impatient to see recent work by the station's architect, Santiago Calatrava, can however
travel to France where he recently completed a bridge over the river Loire, if they missed
the Calatrava show at the Strozzi Palace in Florence.
http://www.thalys.com
http://www.calatrava.com/indexflash.html
CO-GENERATION IN WOOD
[INFRA: Houthalen, December]
Echo, a manufacturer of flooring elements in Houthalen,
demonstrated its co-generation facility recently. This enables the company to save 30 per
cent on energy by providing 1.5 MW of its own green energy to the net. Even more
independence has been shown by ISPs in California and London which are purchasing their
own gas turbine generators, making them independent of local power companies. In the
Netherlands, the lines are being drawn and attempts are being made in parliament to
restrict the amount of electricity that can be imported.
http://www.hbvl.be
PANASONIC AT LIEGE AIRPORT
[LOG: Liège, December]
Panasonic, Matsushita Electric's global brand, with
operations in 40 countries and over 265,000 employees is to set up its European
Distribution Center at Liège Airport. This will represent an investment of around EUR
12.4m and 100 new jobs. Panasonic package cargo is flown into Liège by Kintetsu World
Express which will be building a new 20,000 m² warehouse for its client next July.
Kintetsu expects other shippers to follow Panasonic's example in Liège.
http://www.panasonic.com
PORT BOSS HON. CONSUL
[LOG: Liège, November 29]
Marie-Dominique Simonet, MD of PAL, Liège's thrusting
autonomous port, has become the British Honorary Consul in Liège. The ceremony was held
at the Provincial Palace in the presence of Governor Bolland of Liège and British
Ambassador to Belgium, David Colvin. Madame Simonet has a strong interest in UK-Belgian
relations, particularly in the river traffic and British coasters travelling by river to
Liège. Liège is already twinned with British ports and Madame Simonet is intending to
upgrade Liège in London. It is interesting to recall that records of a merchant community
from Liège and Huy in London date back to 991-1002 A.D.
http://www.liege.port-autonome.be
GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION
THE AACHEN MEMORANDUM
[GOV: Aachen, December 7]
A joint declaration by the Dutch and Germany governments
and the States of Lower Saxony and North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) has been signed at Aachen
City Hall. The document was a Declaration of Intent regarding a 5-phase plan for close
cooperation on cross-border business parks. Dutch Home Affairs Minister De Vries signed
the declaration with his German counterpart, State Secretary Zypries, and representatives
of North-Rhine Westphalia and Lower Saxony. Following the ceremony, a further agreement
between the Province of Limburg, the Cologne Presidency, the Municipality of Heerlen and
the City of Aachen was signed to establish a cross-border working group based at the
Avantis Science and Business Park. The group's practical experience will contribute to
reducing legislative conflict in cross border cooperation.
http://www.presse.de
GERMAN IN VAALS
[EDU: Maastricht, December 7]
The project for the introduction of German as a second
language, known as 'kick-off', starts in Vaals on Monday December 11. The project will be
opened by Mrs Quint, mayor of Vaals and responsible for education. Three Vaals schools,
St.Aloysius, St.Jozefschool and OBS De Robbedoes will be cooperating closely with the
Annaschule from Aachen. Teachers will be exchanged among the schools to provide a native
speaker input for the various classes. This is important in the Dutch municipality of
Vaals which borders on the city of Aachen where many Germans live side by side with their
fellow Dutch citizens.
http://www.vaals.net/nl_index.htm
MAASTRICHT U AT 25
[EDU: Maastricht, November 30]
The University of Maastricht will be celebrating its 25th
anniversary in 2001. A number of activities will be organized for staff, former staff and
students and also for business contacts and those living in the region between January and
June. The program will range from the grants of Honorary Doctorates to a conference on the
characteristics of the Maastricht 'problem-based' teaching system to a festival of music,
theatre and cabaret and an open air concert on the Vrijthof with a well-known
popgroup.
http://www.unimaas.nl
S.LIMBURG TOWNS MERGE
[GOV: Sittard Geleen, November 28]
On January 1, 2001 the Dutch South Limburg municipalities
of Sittard, Geleen and Born will merge. The provincial designation for the merger is
Sittard-Geleen. In contrast to the development of Parkstad Limburg, which is a free
association of municipalities, the merger between Sittard, Geleen and Born was the out
come of a decision taken by the Dutch Parliament in The Hague. The change is expected to
produce a more efficient organizational structure.
http://www.limburg.nl
EUR 1,500 FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
[EDU: Duesseldorf, November 27]
The Ministry for Education, Science and Research of North
Rhine Westphalia is making available EUR 1500 per school and school year for projects
carried out in partnership with Dutch schools. Since the project began at the beginning of
the school year, 35 projects have been approved and 1600 schoolchildren from NRW have
taken part in the project.
http://www.mswf.nrw.de/miak/presse/mwfpress_lang.php3?kennung=31
JOBS FOR THE GIRLS
[EDU: Maastricht, November 27]
The Meuse-Rhine Authority is providing support for women
wishing to re-enter the labor market. Its ITB (Integral Trajectory Guidance) project helps
with the orientation, education and integration of women, uniting the five regions. The
organizations involved are the Frauenliga in East Belgium, Route Trainings Center in
Belgian Limburg, AW-Fortschritte in the Aachen Region, PITT in Netherlands' Limburg and
Alter Form in Liège. In addition to providing information, knowledge and experience, the
partners will also develop a Euroregional approach to education and integration in the
labour market. They will also approach the business community to inform it of the value of
these new entries into the market.
http://www.euregio-mr.org/
AFNORTH'S CZECH GENERAL
[GOV: Brunssum, November 24]
NATO's North European headquarters AFNORTH in Brunssum now
rejoices in a Czech Assistant Chief of Staff in the Resources Division. Josef Prokes, a
Brigadier General in the Czech army gives a short introduction to the Czech role at
headquarters in Northern Star, the AFNORTH magazine vol.1 #9.
http://w3ace.shape.army.mil/AFCENT/Default.htm
WHAT NICE MEANS?
[EDU: Maastricht, November]
The European Institute of Public Administration is holding
a seminar in Maastricht on January 29-30, 2001 entitled 'Very Intergovernmental
Conference?' which will deal with the Treaty of Nice and what it will mean for Europe.
http://www.eipa.nl
MEDICINE AND TECHNOLOGY
MAD COW OR NOT?
[TECH: Juelich, December 8]
Researchers at Juelich Isotope Lab have developed a system
of isotope analysis which allows them to determine where beef cattle have come from and
what they have been eating. Analysis of isotopes in tissue fluids reveals the origin and,
for example, whether they have been fed corn [maize]. Organically reared cattle are not
fed maize, or bonemeal.
http://www.kfa-juelich.de
NEW MERCEDES PORTAL
[TECH: Maastricht, December 7]
DaimlerChrysler (which has its Mercedes-Benz Customer
Assistance Center in Maastricht) and T-Online are planning a German language automotive
portal. The plan is to have a new Mercedes-Benz portal ready for existing clients. A Smart
version would follow and then a general automotive portal. Possible applications are files
storage, travel plans, and an agenda. The web sites should be accessible via PC, WAP and
interactive TV, though no mention is made of virtual agents. The joint operation will be
funded with EUR 20m start-up capital and must be producing revenues within three years.
The other DaimlerChrysler marques will get their portals later. T-Online is the biggest
Internet access provider in Europe with seven million clients.
http://www.mercedes-benz.com
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.tonline.com/
http://www.smart.com
WORLD'S SMALLEST
[TECH: Aachen, December 1]
Philips Research Group in electronics and ceramics in
Aachen has succeeded in developing the smallest antenna in the world for mobile
communications. This is eight times smaller than those currently in use and is equally
efficient. This is an important step towards development of video wristwatch phones etc.
In addition to its use in mobile phones, there is the growing market for wireless modules
for data transmission between telephones and computers or computers in local network areas
- something that Philips is working on with Bluetooth. The new ceramic antennas are an
example of successful interdisciplinary cooperation between chemists, physicists and
electronic engineers.
http://www.philips.de
CARDIAC SURGERY PRIZE
[MED: Liège, December]
The second Jacqueline Bernheim Prize for Science of around
EUR 8,676 was awarded recently by the Cardiac Surgery Foundation to Dr Olivier Detry of
the University of Liège for his work entitled, "Pulmonary transplantation and
mitochondrial respiratory function". The prize is awarded annually to a researcher,
working in cardiac surgery, cardiology or thoracic organ transplants at a Belgian
University. The candidate must be under 40.
http://www.ulb.ac.be/ulbinfo/dec99/16-12-99.html
MORE IT INPUT
[TECH: Maastricht, December]
Plans are afoot to develop a new graduating program in the
Information Science at the University of Maastricht to meet the demands of the labour
market. The proposal is to include this in the program of the Transnational
University, a joint project with the University of Maastricht and the Limburg University
Center at Diepenbeek, Belgian Limburg. The project is due to start in 2002.
http://www.observant.unimaas.nl
AEROSPACE LIEGE
[TECH: Liège, November]
Airbus Industrie's affiliate Airbus Military Company (AMC)
has selected the TP400 engine to power the emerging A400M European transport aircraft,
better known in Belgium as the FLA, Future Large Aircraft. The joint venture set up to
manage the design, development and production of this new engine is a European première
as six engine manufacturers are associated in the program. Among them the Belgian company
Techspace Aero located in Herstal, north of Liège. Participation in the project will
allow Techspace Aero to reinforce its leading position worldwide in lubrication systems
and its strategy to develop and produce major turbo engine components. Techspace Aero is
the only Belgian aircraft and space engine manufacturer and one of ten in Europe. With
total annual sales of EUR 260m, more than 90% of which goes for export. The company
employs 1,250 in its modern facilities and its capital is held by the engine manufacturers
Snecma (51%), Pratt & Whitney (19%) and the Walloon region of Belgium (30%).
http://www.techspace-aero.be
LEISURE
A TRENCHERMAN'S NOTES
[LEI: Eijsden, December 9]
Our trencherman's recent culinary adventures led him to Fines
Claires in Maastricht.There, he was suitably impressed by the gushing staff, the
liberal flow of excellent vintages, in fact, by everything except for a partridge that was
so rare a bird, it seemed to have almost completely escaped contact with the pan. Luncheon
at Manjefiek was made especially memorable by the local Herve cheeses specially
selected by Wiel Rekko. And at the Place St Lambert Brasserie in Lanaken, the
décor, a blend of the Student Prince and Dr Finlay's Casebook, was intriguing and
encouragement could be drawn from Latin apothegms on the walls, such as audaces juvat
fortuna. The grilled tuna on black pasta entwined with seaweed would, however, have put
courage into the most fainthearted of diners. Another interesting place was Vier
Jahreszeiten in Eupen. Lunch was good, despite some residual granulation on the crème
brûlée. It was also a good place to overhear other people's conversations in Swedish
accented German about things like cables and antennae… happy birthday father.
http://www.webcontentnow.com/
AACHEN PRIZE TO CALIFORNIAN
[LEI: Aachen, December 7]
Dr Ingrid Jung of the Ludwig Forum presented the Aachen
Prize for Art worth around EUR 9,915 to Michael Asher, a Californian artist. Mr Asher, the
ninth artist to have won this prize, was born in Los Angeles and lives in California. He
has been well known in Europe since 1968. He caused a sensation with his white box, a room
half in white and half in black. Mr Asher is in the forefront of the avant-garde and
recent works have pointed to political developments, with the transport of waste from West
Germany to East Germany, the refurbishment of a city district and its social consequences
and other jolly topics
http://www.germangalleries.com/Ludwig-Forum/Ueber.das.Ludwig.Forum.html
WORK IN PROGRESS
[LEI: Aachen, December 5]
A symposium will be held on cross-border cultural
cooperation in Meuse-Rhine at the Ludwig Forum in Aachen on December 14, 200, entitled
'Work in Progress'. The symposium will draw up a balance of what has been done, presenting
projects that have taken place in the Euroregion. Presenters will look at the conditions
and factors that have led to success. The projects have not always been an undivided
success. Among the topics to be dealt with will be 'Time travel in Meuse-Rhine', 'Network
for Euroregional Child and Youth Culture', 'the Euroregional Media Projects', 'Continental
Shift Project' and a discussion, entitled ' Cultural Cooperation between Pragmatism and
Vision'. There will also be a dance performance, perhaps to add a lighter touch.
http://www.germangalleries.com/Ludwig-Forum/Ueber.das.Ludwig.Forum.html
AMATEUR MUSICIANS
[LEI: Maastricht, December 5]
On Saturday 20 and Sunday January 21, 2001 in the Kumulus
Center for the Arts, at St.Maartenspoort 2 in Maastricht, the Henri Hermans Concours for
amateur musicians will be held. This is an important Meuse-Rhine competition which this
year will focus on the piano. There are four categories: up to 10 years of age, from 11 to
14, 15 to 18 and 19 years and above. The participants present a program of three works.
The prizes are the Matthy Niel prize for a contemporary composition, an extra prize from
the City of Maastricht and prizes for the first and second place in the various
categories.
http://www.maastrichtnet.nl/kom/kumulus.htm
NEW TV CHANNEL IN LIMBURG
[LEI: Maastricht, December 4]
Limburg's familiar teletext program TV Gazet is to be
replaced by a regional TV channel, which will retain the name of TV Gazet, but will
transmit moving pictures on a 24-hour basis. Programs are expected to include music,
business, job vacancies, lifestyle and sports programs. They will be broadcast in
20-minute periods and generally sourced from by external producers. The program will be
funded on a commercial basis, but is not expected to compete with the public channel
L1.
http://www.tvgazet.nl
ARCHITECTURE PRIZE
[LEI: Liège, December 4]
Aachen students of architectures were the big winners in
the Euroregional architecture prize held in Liège. The main prize was won by Wibke
Braeunlich (Applied Science University FHA) for her contribution 'a bathhouse in Sweden'.
She received EUR 2,500. Second prize, EUR 1,250, went to Thomas Neumann (University of
Aachen RWTH) for his new design for the ring road around the old city in Prague. The third
prize of EUR 500 went to Katja Bernert (RWTH) for plans for a therapy center.
http://www.eap-pea.org
WOODCARVING
[LEI: Maastricht, November 11]
Maastricht's Bonnefanten Museum is holding an exhibition of
the glorious medireview woodcarving of Jan van Steffeswert from November 11 through
February 11, 2001. The exhibition gives a survey of the artist's work in the revolutionary
period of the first quarter of the 16th century. In what was to become the age of Holy
Roman Emperor Charles V, Erasmus and Erard de la Marck, Van Steffeswert made his mark and
was one of the first artists to actually sign his work. His surviving oeuvre proves him to
be one of the most important artists that Limburg has ever produced. In addition to his
great Marianum in the cathedral at Aachen, his work is to be seen in the British Museum,
at Oscott College near Birmingham, at the Museum for Art and History in Brussels, the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Kanhenko museum in Kiev.
http://www.bonnefanten.nl
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