15 million pounds for future technology in UK
The UK government's department of trade and industry (DTI) has announced the key priorities for competitive bids for its Foresight LINK awards, making some 15 million pounds available to fund future technology. Priority areas on which the fund will focus are: - biomaterials: new materials to repair skin, bones or damaged organs inside the body; - sustainable energy: power sources with ultra-low emissions and using clean fuels to reduce pollution levels; - nanotechnology: technology for micro machines, to increase computing speed with a much lower power consumption or improve manufacturing techniques for drugs and chemicals; - mobile wireless communications: new technologies to increase the speed and functions available for mobile communications. 'It is vital that we invest in future technologies today, to ensure continued prosperity for the UK in future,' commented Lord Sainsbury, the UK Minister for science. 'We are inviting companies and research organisations in partnership, to put forward innovative bids to meet these exciting technological challenges of the future.' The Foresight fund, announced in the UK's Science and innovation white paper, aims to look at potential opportunities and challenges for the future to help identify areas for action today. The latest foresight reports were published in December 2000. Bids for the fund are being invited from partnerships between companies and research base organisations and are due by mid-June.