Abstract
IN a pamphlet on the National Foundation for Scientific Research and Industry, the contribution of this body to industry and agriculture in Belgium during the last ten years is reviewed by P. Beghin, the secretary of the Foundation (Pp. ix+408. Bruxelles: Fonds National de la Recherche scientifique). Since the Foundation gave its first grant in July 1928, 252 persons have received grants, 75 of whom are still receiving thorn, while 35 fresh grants are made each year. In subsidies of all kinds, 25,000,000 francs has been distributed amongst 1,350 research workers. The annual budget of the Department of Industrial Science of the Foundation is limited to 1,000,000 francs. Taken by industries, the distribution of research effort is concentrated mainly in agriculture and horticulture (1,532,400 francs), metallurgy (1,299,000 francs), electrical engineering (1,209,400 francs), out of a total of 7,166,810 francs, chemistry coming next with 730,750 francs and civil engineering with 030,100 francs. The report includes more or less detailed accounts of work in progress in metallurgy, welding, the thermodynamics of heavy-oil motors, electrical apparatus, including incandescent electric lamps, radio reception, civil engineering, including the action of wind on buildings, chemistry, including synthetic lubricating oils, copal gum, synthetic resins for the electrical industry, vulcanization of rubber, the charcoal industry, glass industry, cement industry, optical industry, as well as in agriculture, including the disinfection of plants and the cultivation of the beetroot, the brewing industry and the tanning of leather.
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Industry and Agriculture in Belgium. Nature 144, 188 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/144188b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/144188b0