EU launches RFID research program

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 8/1/2006

The European Union has invested roughly $9.5 million (7.5 million) in a three-year initiative to study and develop RFID technology based on EPCglobal standards. Coordinated by the global data standards body GS1, the project involves a consortium of 31 global organizations, including universities, RFID technology companies and end-users such as mega-retailer Carrefour.

The project, known as BRIDGE (Building Radio frequency IDentification solutions for the Global Environment), launched last month in Brussels.

BRIDGE will focus on all aspects of RFID applications—from establishing the business case for implementing RFID, to developing hardware and software, to conducting pilot programs, to issuing training manuals for the use of RFID in various business sectors.