Is European microelectronics R&D on the breadline? Money is the key thing European microelectronics firms want from their governments to keep Europe in the lead in microelectronics and nanotechnology research. Innovation requires funding, and the EU is not injecting enough money into microelectronics R&D, including programmes such as MEDEA+ (Microelectronics Development of European Applications). That's not to say that EU member-states do not invest at all. They do, just not in the areas that offer long and sustained returns on investment, such as electronics and energy, claim MEDEA+ board members. MEDEA+ is a pan-European microelectronics R&D programme. All the funding MEDEA+ receives is seen as a very important EU collaborative project that will keep Europe in the lead in the microelectronics and nanotechnology fields.