Brussels, 29/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - In 2004, the Commission chose 19 new projects involving 117 establishments which will take part in the 9th EU/United States and EU/Canada cooperation programmes in the fields of higher education, education and vocational training. The objective of these projects, financed by the EU and American and Canadian authorities over three years, is to set up institutional cooperation at second or third tier level, stressing international study programmes and student mobility. 13 projects were chosen by the American Minister for Education, and 6 by the Canadian authorities, in partnership with the Commission, which will devote a 2.6 million EUR envelope to them (1.8 million for EU/United States projects and 0.8 million for EU/Canada projects). Among the major themes will be renewable energy sources and clean technologies in the context of sustainable economic development, on-line learning, developing precision agricultural technologies, etc. No fewer than 750 students will be able to take part in the exchange programmes. Demand has increased 35% on 2003. Since the programme was launched in 1995, over 150 projects have been paid for, involving around 450 European universities and vocational training organisations and the same number of American and Canadian establishments. Over 6,000 students have benefited from the programme, under bilateral exchanges.