The European Commission (Brussels, Belgium) announced that it will substantially boost research into hydrogen fuel cell technology to catch up with the US and Japan. The European Commission will soon name a panel of experts that is to report in mid-2003 on prospects for greater use of hydrogen fuel cells in the European Union.
"Hydrogen technology will not only reduce our energy dependency and gas emissions but also create new opportunities for poor countries," stated European Commission President Romano Prodi. "It is envisaged that the budget for research on fuel cells will be increased substantially in the 2003 to 2006 period."
Overall funding for hydrogen fuel cell research in the 15 European Union nations is estimated at $50.0 million to $60.0 million a year, or one-third of US funding and one-quarter of Japan's. European Union funding for fuel cell research in the 1997 to 2002 period was $120.0 million.
