February 20, 2009: The European Commission approved $606 million in government aid to a nanotechnology program led by STMicroelectronics, according to a Reuters report.
The money will help pay for Europe’s Nano2012 strategic investment program aimed at producing the next generation of integrated circuits.
“The Nano2012 program to develop new technologies for the manufacture of semiconductors in Europe is in line with the EU’s major research objectives,” EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement. “Its positive effects will far outweigh any distortion of competition that may result from the aid.”