The French government has chosen 170 information superhighway projects, out of 635, as important to the public interest, according to a report in Les Echos. Of those, 48, due to their innovative research and development character, will be eligible for about $10m in aid this year and $60m next year. The government is also setting aside about $6m for aid to multimedia publishing in 1996 to 1997. The total financial aid package represents a reduction from the $102m promised by the Balladur government. Details as to which projects would receive which proportion of the funds were not available.