DTI kicks off £50m tech R&D programme

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday unveiled a £50m programme to fund research and development projects.

The government is seeking proposals in seven areas where it said UK public support can make the biggest difference.

The areas are inter-enterprise computing, renewable technologies, disruptive technologies in electronics and displays, sensor and control systems, bio processing, technologies to support environmentally friendly transport and advanced composite materials and structures.

Science minister Lord Sainsbury called on UK businesses to come up with new project ideas. "We have put aside at least £150m over the next three years to support research and development and the sharing of technology innovations, areas critical to the growth of the UK economy," he said in a statement.

"I have announced the first funding tranche of £50m and I am calling upon businesses to work with research bodies to put forward projects for funding that could make a real difference to our economy."

The money will be made available by open competition through two of the DTI's business support products: Knowledge Transfer Networks and Collaborative Research and Development.

Grants of between 25 and 75 per cent will be made available for collaborative projects, while 100 per cent grants will be available for proposals that help develop 'dynamic knowledge transfer networks' in the specific emerging technology areas. Applications can be made online via the DTI website.

More details about the Technology Strategy, Technology Programme and funding are available here.