A group of 15 European firms in a range of businesses have come together to create the European Software Institute to improve skills in developing computer software: the Institute, to be based in Bilbao, Spain, will work with customers on software processes and methodology, according to Compagnie des Machines Bull SA vice-president Georges Grunberg, who is the acting chairman; the other founders are Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa SA, GMD SA, Eritel SA, Finsiel SA and Iberdrola SA from Spain, British Aerospace Plc, the Electricity Supply Board, Lloyd’s Register and Logica Plc, Sema Group Plc, Cap Gemini Sogeti SA, Telecom Ireland, Siemens-Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG and Ing C Olivetti & Co SpA; each of the founders will pay $118,000 a year for three to five years to fund the Institute, which will have a staff of about 50; it hopes to build its membership up to between 100 and 300 companies in the medium term.
