The Agfa-Gevaert group whose activity consists of medical and graphic imagery techniques has been in difficulties for several years. It needs to innovate, since it has fallen behind the competition with the introduction of digital technology and has also been ill-equipped to absorb raw material price increases. The Agfa-Gevaert group wants to save 250 million euros per year between now and 2008. So, they are planning to make 2,000 people redundant worldwide, which is 15% of the total workforce, in the hope of getting the company onto a sound footing from where growth will be possible. Employees in Belgium will be particularly affected (at least 945 job losses). Agfa Gevaert employs 15,000 people worldwide.