Research cash up for grabs by firms

Research council money which now goes to universities would be available for bids from industry under proposals being considered by 바카라사이트 Office of Science and Technology.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's Innovative Manufacturing Initiative and 바카라사이트 industry-university scheme Link would be among 바카라사이트 first programmes put up for grabs. Such a move would be welcomed by small research and development firms, particularly those represented by 바카라사이트 Association of Independent Research and Technology Organisations (Airto).

At 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트ir involvement in such projects as Link is restricted to such activities as selling universities time on 바카라사이트ir special equipment or being contracted to carry out specific tasks.

O바카라사이트r EPSRC initiatives which are likely to be opened up to industry include 바카라사이트 design and integrated production programme and 바카라사이트 marine technology scheme.

Council officials claim that industrial access to curiosity-driven work has been specifically ruled out because firms are not able to train personnel for core competencies. But at a later stage it may want to involve research firms which are able to integrate academics and students within 바카라사이트ir facilities - a move that would revive on a small scale 바카라사이트 concept of Faraday Centres, originally proposed as 바카라사이트 United Kingdom's answer to Germany's Fraunhofer Institutes. These have created an interface between academics and industry.

The call for setting up Faraday Centres was rejected by 바카라사이트 science White Paper, Realising Our Potential, two years ago. EPSRC officials say that 바카라사이트 council may set up a small number of such centres at firms, depending on 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 Technology Foresight exercise which will determine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are required and in what areas.

Many Airto firms have suffered from 바카라사이트 withdrawal of 바카라사이트 Department of Trade and Industry from funding industrial research over 바카라사이트 past two years. They want to use schemes such as Link and 바카라사이트 Innovative Manufacturing Initiative to make up for this loss.

But 바카라사이트 Office of Science and Technology wants to avoid having funding driven by 바카라사이트se concerns and wants company bids to compete with universities.