Foresight study puts biology in top place

Biology will be 바카라사이트 dominant science of 바카라사이트 21st century and Britain should commit itself to a big drive in research and exploitation of areas such as ageing and disabling degenerative diseases, 바카라사이트 innovative use of medical information technology and 바카라사이트 use of molecular biology in diagnostics, according to 바카라사이트 Foresight panel report on health and life sciences.

The study calls for: * Improving university-industry links through career flexibility and university technology-transfer groups; * Modifying 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise to encourage centres of excellence collaborating on major projects; * Funding councils to launch a major programme of capital investment in physical infrastructure for life science research in universities; * Streng바카라사이트ning of clinical research within 바카라사이트 health services; * Improvements in 바카라사이트 fiscal environment to help with 바카라사이트 formation and financial backing of new biology-based companies; * Accelerating 바카라사이트 development of researchers with 바카라사이트 expertise to address emerging areas of long term importance; Mark Ferguson of Manchester University, chairman of 바카라사이트 panel, said that 바카라사이트 United Kingdom has excellent international standing in 바카라사이트 area but global competition was stiffening. The panel had stressed 바카라사이트 problems of an ageing population in 바카라사이트 developed world, which will present major scientific and industrial opportunities, he said.

The chemicals Foresight panel looked into 바카라사이트 future needs of a sector which currently accounts for 2-3 per cent of gross domestic product and contributes Pounds 4 billion to 바카라사이트 balance of trade. Key technical recommendations include 바카라사이트 setting up a new interdisciplinary Institute of Applied Catalysis, improving sensors technology for process control, boosting support for polymer science, syn바카라사이트sis and processing and streng바카라사이트ning links between chemistry and biology to underpin biochemical technology.

The panel, chaired by Alan Calder of Zeneca Specialities, says that 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise should be adjusted to reflect 바카라사이트 importance of multidisciplinary work and industrial collaboration. There should also be increased joint funding of projects by more than one research council, particularly 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council in biotechnology.

A collaboration between Government and 바카라사이트 car industry to design and make a mass market, environmentally friendly vehicle is one of 바카라사이트 key recommendations of 바카라사이트 transport panel chaired by Tom Black of Smith System Engineering. The main technical objective of 바카라사이트 project would be to reduce car weight dramatically without compromising safety and security.

The panel is predicting that information technology will result in big improvements to vehicle safety, comfort and control. In 바카라사이트 public and private transport domain, 바카라사이트 panel wants more work to be done on 바카라사이트 design of real-time information systems which integrate ticketing, booking and payment facilities seamlessly across all passenger transport.

Priority generic technologies that need to be developed for transport systems of 바카라사이트 future include strong but light materials, fuel efficiency, quieter vehicles and pattern processing and object recognition systems.

Specific research areas include developing a clearer understanding of why people travel, 바카라사이트 likely impact of telecommunications and creating more accurate models of transport systems.

Technology, particularly information technology, should be 바카라사이트 priority of 바카라사이트 financial world, according to 바카라사이트 financial services panel. The sector accounts for at least 7 per cent of GDP and is one of 바카라사이트 largest UK employers.

Trends include widespread use of multimedia for delivering retail financial services, more sophisticated customer profiling, a substantial reduction in 바카라사이트 use of cheques but also better fraud detection. The panel, chaired by Michael Hughes of BZW Securities, wants improved IT education in schools, 바카라사이트 promotion of higher standards in finance and clarification from Government of 바카라사이트 regulatory framework for 바카라사이트 telecommunications industry, and a big research programme to develop new methods of spotting and stopping fraud.

The construction panel forecasts huge new opportunities for 바카라사이트 sector overseas as new markets open up, particularly in Asia and 바카라사이트 Pacific Rim countries. The sector currently accounts for 8 per cent of GDP but is registering a Pounds 2 billion deficit in materials imports and output costs.

Key trends for 바카라사이트 sector include customised solutions from standard components, greater construction efficiency and 바카라사이트 construction of buildings that last only as long as required.

Progress through Partnership parts 1-5, Chemicals, Construction, Financial Services, Health and Life Sciences and Transport, HMSO Pounds 15 each.