£20 million Government investment will stimulate growth-creating technology innovation
Innovation in a broad range of growth-creating technology areas, from biosciences to advanced materials and from nanotechnology to electronics and ICT, is to benefit from over £20 million of new Government investment.
Grant funding totalling over £18 million, from the Technology Strategy Board, Scottish Enterprise and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will be invested in over 40 major business-led collaborative research and development projects that will lead to the creation of new products and processes to be used across a variety of different application areas. Over 120 UK businesses and institutions and 20 universities will share this funding and take part in the R&D projects.
In addition, over 80 small and micro businesses from across the country are to receive grants of up to £25,000 each from the Technology Strategy Board to carry out smaller-scale feasibility studies to test out new ideas.
The research and development projects and feasibility studies fall within five key enabling technology areas – advanced materials; biosciences; electronics, photonics and electrical systems; information and communications technology; and nanoscale technologies.
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said: “Developing and adopting new technologies can be a significant driver of economic growth and create new jobs. These exciting research and development projects will translate technically feasible ideas into more developed and advanced innovations that could be applied across a range of areas – such as in healthcare, transport, food, environmental sustainability and construction – stimulating growth, keeping the UK at the forefront of modern technology and providing solutions to significant technical challenges.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said: “Scotland is recognised for its contribution to shaping the modern world through innovation and research. The Scottish Government works closely with universities, research institutes and industry to ensure the country continues to be a competitive hotbed of ideas - this additional funding from the Technology Strategy Board will provide a welcome boost to the sector.
“Scotland has excellent business and research capabilities within the enabling technologies sector and this additional investment - co-funded by Scottish Enterprise - will help to develop the innovative technologies, products and processes we need to meet the economic and societal challenges ahead.”
Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, added: “The aim of these funding competitions is to stimulate projects inspired by new discoveries and break-throughs, including ideas that are yet to find specific applications in a recognised market or business sector. We were delighted with the quality of proposals, are excited about the research work that lies ahead and look forward to seeing the development of some valuable new technology products and processes.”
Paul Lewis, managing director of operations at Scottish Enterprise, commented: “Enabling technologies is a sector where Scotland has real competitive advantage, and one which has the potential to drive Scotland’s economy forward. This competition has resulted in more successful awards for Scotland than previously, which shows the strength and competitiveness of the sector in Scotland.
“This funding will allow our Scottish companies to continue to invest in their innovation, and bring new commercially-focused products and processes to market more quickly, as well as encouraging collaborative working to develop new supply chains.”
Professor Douglas Kell, BBSRC Chief Executive said: “In the 21st century a growing bioeconomy will deliver innovations that will shape all of our lives. By harnessing our strengths in bioscience we can help drive the growth of a competitive economy while also placing the UK at the forefront of efforts to meet some of the most pressing challenges we face as a society.”
The major research and development projects will lead, for example, to the development of:
• New filtration technologies to remove antibodies from donated blood components;
• Printable organic semi-conductors for highly enhanced displays;
• Innovative sensors to monitor the health of farm livestock;
• New ways to enhance the performance of aerospace coatings using functional nanoparticles;
• An optical navigation system for the visually impaired;
• A collision avoidance system for the rail network.
The Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org) will invest £15m in 41 of the collaborative R&D projects while Scottish Enterprise (www.scottish-enterprise.com) has offered support totalling £2.68m to 12 projects and BBSRC (www.bbsrc.ac.uk) has offered grants to two projects, totalling £434,000. In addition, the Technology Strategy Board will invest £2m in the 82 feasibility studies.
The Technology Strategy Board is the UK’s innovation agency and works to create economic growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visit: Technology Strategy Board website.
The vision of the Technology Strategy Board is for the UK to be a global leader in innovation and a magnet for innovative businesses, where technology is applied rapidly, effectively and sustainably to create wealth and enhance quality of life. Our approach to accelerating the pace of innovation in the UK is captured in our strategy document, Concept to Commercialisation, published in May 2011. This builds on our first strategy, developed in 2008, and sets out new directions, taking into account the challenges and exciting opportunities that lie ahead. To see the new strategy please visit: Concept to Commercialisation.
The Technology Strategy Board’s _connect platform provides an effective and powerful way to collaborate online, network and share knowledge with other innovators. It provides a place to work together securely and share information & knowledge. Users can utilise the online tools to work collaboratively, discuss ideas and find events. The networks offer up-to-the minute news on funding, events, articles and publications, plus information about all 15 Knowledge Transfer Networks. Through the networks, users can find potential business partners, entrepreneurs, collaborators, other innovators, researchers and academics.
BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond. Funded by Government, and with an annual budget of around £445M, we support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk.
The offers of grant funding follow proposals made to the Technology-Inspired Innovation competition for collaborative research and development funding and the Technology-Inspired Innovation competition for feasibility funding. For further information please visit: TechInsp CRD and TechInsp FS.
The companies leading the 43 research and development projects are:
Advanced Materials: Glass Technology Services, Jaguar Land Rover, MAST Carbon International Ltd, Menzolit UK Ltd, Microsemi Corporation, Moog Controls Ltd, Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute Ltd, Orthox Ltd, Rolls Royce Goodrich Engine Control Systems Ltd, Smith & Nephew Medical, Tata Steel.
Biosciences: AvantiCell Science Ltd, Biolauncher Ltd, H&H Duncalfe, Ingenza Ltd – 2 projects, Innovis Ltd.
Electronics, Photonics & Electrical Systems: Avanti Communications Ltd, Coherent Scotland Ltd, GE Aviation Systems Ltd, M Squared Lasers Ltd, NXP Semiconductors UK Ltd, Plastic Logic Limited – 2 projects, Raytheon UK, Thales Optronics Ltd, The Centre for Process Innovation, The Solar Press UK Ltd.
ICT: Avonwood Developments Ltd, British Telecommunications Ltd, EADS UK Ltd, IceRobotics Ltd, Ishida Europe Ltd, Oxford Instruments Magnetic Resonance, SciSys UK Ltd, Touch Emas Ltd.
Nanotechnology: Energenics Europe Ltd, Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd, Intrinsiq Materials Ltd, Naneum Ltd, NetComposites Ltd, PpTek Ltd, Teer Coatings Ltd – Miba Coating Group.
The SMEs leading the 82 feasibility studies are:
Advanced Materials and Nanoscale Technologies: 3T RPD Ltd, Advanced Hall Sensors, Anaxsys Ltd, Archer Technicoat Ltd, Biomer Technology Ltd, Composites Evolution Ltd, Deliverics Ltd, DZP Technologies Ltd, Engineered Capabilities Ltd, Intrinsiq Materials Ltd, Liquids Research Ltd, M Wright and Sons (2 studies), mLED Ltd, Neotherix Ltd, NetComposites Ltd (2 studies), Oxsensis Ltd, Promimetic Ltd, RoboFold Ltd, Tisics Ltd (2 studies), Zeeko Ltd.
Biosciences: AvantiCell Science Ltd, Cambimune Ltd, Cambridge Protein Arrays Ltd, Celbius Ltd, deltaDOT Ltd, DestiNA Genomics Ltd, Forsite Diagnostics Ltd, Geoff Hale Developments, Green Biologics Ltd (2 studies), IdentiGEN, Inova Design Solutions Ltd, M Squared Lasers Ltd, Plasticell Ltd, Protein Technologies Ltd, Q Chip Ltd (2 studies), Reinnervate Ltd, Solus Technologies Ltd (2 studies), Tecrea Ltd.
Electronics, Photonics & Electrical Systems: Alterix Ltd, Applied Nanodetectors Ltd, Bluefrog Design, D4 Technology Ltd, Evance Wind Turbines Ltd, Generic Robotics Ltd, Holoxica Ltd, IS-Instruments Ltd (2 studies), M Squared Lasers Ltd (3 studies), Oxsensis Ltd, Paramita lt, Polyphotonix Ltd, PPA Energy, Precision Acoustics Ltd, Ruskinn Technology Ltd, Spiral Scratch Ltd.
ICT: Accentiva Ltd, Audio Analytic Ltd, Aimes Grid Services (2 studies), AnSmart Ltd (2 studies), Barnard Microsystems Ltd, Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd, BMSHOME Ltd, Citeseeing Ltd, Clinical Informatics Ltd, Functional Technologies Ltd, HW Communications Ltd, Icona Solutions Ltd, Industrial Tomography Systems plc, Metrarc Ltd, OptoSignal Ltd, Well Cow Ltd, Zenotech Ltd.
For further information about the projects and studies to be funded please visit: TechInsp CRD FS list
The offers of funding are conditional and remain subject to the successful completion of Technology Strategy Board, Scottish Enterprise and BBSRC compliance and financial review processes.
Media enquiries only should be addressed to the Technology Strategy Board’s media relations consultant or manager:
Nick Sheppard
Media Relations Consultant
Mobile: 07824 599644, Email: nick.sheppard@tsb.gov.uk
Claire Cunningham
Media Relations Manager
Mobile: 07554 115745 Email: claire.cunningham@tsb.gov.uk.
Companies and other organisations seeking information about Technology Strategy Board funding competitions should visit the Competitions page of the Technology Strategy Board website – Competitions page , email competitions@innovateuk.org or phone the Competitions Helpline at 0300 321 4357.
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