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Helsinki, 19 October 2006

Finland has decided to make a strong commitment to the ARTEMIS Joint Technology Initiative. The objective of the ARTEMIS initiative is to promote the implementation of embedded information technology applications. As the country currently holding the EU Presidency, Finland is seeking to promote European competitiveness through this commitment.

The estimated cost of the ARTEMIS initiative for the EU framework programme covering the period 2007-2013 is around EUR 5.4 billion. Approximately half of the costs will be financed by industry and the other half by the EU member countries and the European Commission. In the preparatory stage the project involved some 30 European companies, including Nokia from Finland.

Preparations for the ARTEMIS (Advanced Research and Technology for Embedded Intelligence and Systems) joint initiative were launched in 2002 by the European Commission. The decision to launch the ARTEMIS joint initiative will be made by the EU Ministerial Council. EU member countries interested in the initiative are preparing a letter of intent, which will be signed by the end of the year. Upon its signature, the countries will agree on the method of implementing the joint initiative.

On 16 October 2006, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy supported Finland's participation in the ARTEMIS joint initiative in 2007-2013. The funding for the Finnish Government's participation will be provided through Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation. For this reason, Tekes' authorisation to grant funding will be increased by EUR 6 million in 2007. In other respects, further appropriation investments will be decided on at a later date. Tekes has also made provisions to fund the ARTEMIS project from its own framework.

ARTEMIS will benefit industry and commerce

According to the ARTEMIS community, the use of embedded electronic systems is increasing rapidly. Software-intensive embedded systems will enhance the intelligence of products and therefore their usability and competitiveness. Through the initiative, research and development work will be carried out on software and electronic systems for applications in, for example, telecommunications, health care, transport facilities and the process industry.

Finland is strongly committed to the ARTEMIS initiative due to its major significance to industry and commerce. Participation in ARTEMIS is expected to improve Finnish companies' competitiveness on an international scale, as well as their standard of research. New and strengthening co-operation partnerships are important from industry's point of view. ARTEMIS will provide Finnish companies with an opportunity to act in co-operation with European clients and companies.