With the deadline for the first round of applications having expired, representatives from the Nordic Game Program, now in its 2nd year, have announced that the total amount of grant applications has exceeded DKK 23 million ($4.2 mil). Part of the cultural co-operation funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordic Game Program has set aside DKK 5 million ($913k) in funds to help local developers both finish and make their games more accessible to consumers. The foundation has said it has not yet decided how many companies will split the DKK 5 million, but the 2006 grants, as previously reported, were split amongst five teams. The recipients of this year's grants will be announced at the May 15th-16th Nordic Game 2007 conference, which in March announced some 40 speakers, including Sony SingStar producer Paulina Bozek, Greg LoPiccolo and Ryan Lesser from Guitar Hero creators Harmonix, Parappa the Rapper developer Masaya Matsuura, and LocoRoco producer Tsutomu Kouno. Said Nordic Game Program director Erik Robertson, "The number of applicants comes as no real surprise to me. Plenty of applications were received last year too. On the other hand it is pleasing to note that the vast majority now seem to come from companies devoted solely to electronic games, companies that are already established or are in the process of getting there. This is clearly an industry making rapid progress."