14/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The new regional innovation strategy and the current cohesion programme for 2007-2013 were at the heart of discussions between European Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner, the Regional Prefect Henri-Michel Comet and the Regional President Claude Gewerc during the commissioner's visit to Picardy, France. During her stay, Hübner visited the EU-backed “Plant Alternatives” project at the Jules Verne University. Picardy's “regional competitiveness” programme receives €201.5 million from the ERDF. It should lead to the creation of 600 direct jobs, a 10% increase in the annual number of patents submitted, funding for 100 information and communication technology projects, an 8% reduction in regional CO2 emissions and a doubling of the number of businesses involved in the environmental management system. For more information, go to: http: //http://www.picardie-europe.fr (G.B./transl.rt)