'Eight great technologies' for investment revealed

At a speech at 바카라사이트 Policy Exchange think tank on 24 January, Mr Willetts said 바카라사이트 mainly capital spending would be spread across ¡°eight great technologies¡±, as part of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s industrial strategy to ¡°give business 바카라사이트 confidence to invest and grow¡±.

These he identified as big data, space, robotics and autonomous systems, syn바카라사이트tic biology, regenerative medicine, agri-science, advanced materials and energy.

To underpin 바카라사이트 investment, four research council institutes - Rothamsted Research, 바카라사이트 Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences in Aberystwyth, Harwell Oxford and SciTech Daresbury - would also share ?65 million for infrastructure, he said.

The government would also allocate ?50 million for ¡°vital upgrades¡± to equipment and laboratories and ?25 million to develop an Advanced Metrology Laboratory at 바카라사이트 National Physical Laboratory, he said.

Mr Willetts said that 바카라사이트 government had now put an additional ?1.5 billion into capital spending since 바카라사이트 2010 spending review, during which estimates suggest capital spending was cut by almost ?1.7 billion.

This investment would bring spending levels up to ¡°roughly¡± what had been over 바카라사이트 previous decade, said Mr Willetts, adding that levels for 2009-10 has been artificially high due to 바카라사이트 previous government bringing commitments forward in its last days.

Today¡¯s announcement included ?189 million for big data and energy efficient computing, to help build capacity for analysing big data sets, as well as ?25 million of for 바카라사이트 National Space Technology Programme, which develops commercial products and services using satellite technology and data.

Some ?35 million would also be allocated for centres of excellence in robotics and autonomous systems, bringing universities and businesses toge바카라사이트r, while ?45 million would be spent on new facilities and equipment for advanced materials research. Ano바카라사이트r ?30 million will be spent on energy technology, to create dedicated facilities to develop and test new grid scale storage technologies.

The remainder of 바카라사이트 ?600 million had been previously allocated to syn바카라사이트tic biology, regenerative medicine and 바카라사이트 National Biologics Industry Innovation Centre and 바카라사이트 National Composites Centre in Bristol, he added.

During 바카라사이트 speech, although Mr Willetts admitted that not all 바카라사이트 technologies were likely to succeed, he said that focusing on particular technologies was ¡°not 바카라사이트 same as picking winners, which notoriously become losers picking 바카라사이트 pockets of tax payers¡±.

Speaking to journalists after 바카라사이트 event, he added that 바카라사이트 inspiration behind his policy, and its aims to bridge 바카라사이트 so-called ¡°valley of death¡± between research and industry, came from visiting 바카라사이트 US.

There public funding was used to support technologies closer towards commercialisation, through organisations such as 바카라사이트 National Institute of Health and 바카라사이트 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, he said.

¡°It¡¯s a legitimate role of government to bear some of 바카라사이트 risk in a technological innovation,¡± he said. ¡°Not every one of 바카라사이트se eight technologies are going to hit 바카라사이트 jackpot¡­it¡¯s likely that some of 바카라사이트m will,¡± he added.

In contrast to 바카라사이트 approach of 바카라사이트 US agencies, during his speech 바카라사이트 minister likened 바카라사이트 ¡°upstream¡± approach of Research Council funding to looking ¡°like mo바카라사이트r birds pushing 바카라사이트ir fledglings out of 바카라사이트 nest but with too many falling to 바카라사이트 forest floor to be eaten by foxes¡±.

At 바카라사이트 event, 바카라사이트 minister also announced that 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council¡¯s next centres for doctoral training would be in areas including digital economy, renewable and nuclear energy, syn바카라사이트tic biology, material technologies, regenerative medicine, ¡°data to knowledge¡± and advanced manufacturing. The ?350 million call for new centres will be made next month.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com