Duff calls for Cambridge HQ for European Institute of Technology

9.00.00am GMT Mon 17th Mar 2008

Following the decision by the European Parliament last week to set up the European Institute of Technology, East of England Liberal Democrat MEP Andrew Duff has called for its HQ to be sited in Cambridge.

In a statement today, DUFF says:

"The EIT is a project which I have supported very strongly. Its purpose is to boost Europe's science effort and to build better links between academia and industry.

"It is my job as a Euro MP representing the East of England to promote the interests of the University and City of Cambridge and our large community of science-based industry. Cambridge has spawned some of the best examples in Europe of the eclectic integration of scientific research and technological development.

"Although other cities are bidding to host the EIT, none comes from Britain. Yet the EIT itself would most benefit from being located in the middle of Europe's leading cluster of scientific excellence."

Mr DUFF has written to prime minister Gordon Brown to renew his efforts to get the government to make a quick bid to host the EIT.