The PTT's present research and development policy is based on the company policy guidelines and directives. It centers around own activities in application-oriented and economically motivated projects based on results of basic research. Knowing the importance of assured basic knowledge the PTT highly values good relations with the universities. It supports and furthers coordination of research activities of the universities and industry and places contracts of a goal-oriented specific nature. The research assignments to universities increased from originally 0.35 million francs (1977) to the present 1.3 million francs this year. A list of current projects is shown. The total expenditures for these projects come up to about 2.8 million francs. This corresponds to about 50 p.c. of the total expenditure for outside research and development projects