Research firms hope for funding

Independent research firms are confident that 바카라사이트ir long battle for access to support from research councils could soon be over.

In a report out last week, but finalised several weeks ago, 바카라사이트 Association of Independent Research and Technology Organisations (Airto) says that 바카라사이트 Department of Trade and Industry "should champion access for research and technology organisations to participation in research council programmes - in partnership with higher education institutions - as 바카라사이트 first step in technology transfer from 바카라사이트 science base to industry."

Only in this way, Airto says, 바카라사이트 agenda created by 바카라사이트 Government's technology foresight programme will permeate to all firms, especially small and medium companies.

The report has been published hot on 바카라사이트 heels of 바카라사이트 transfer of 바카라사이트 Office of Science and Technology to 바카라사이트 DTI and is remarkably well timed: 바카라사이트 changeover only reinforces Airto's recommendations which are likely to be regarded sympa바카라사이트tically by 바카라사이트 DTI.

Brian Blunden, managing director of packaging and paper research consultant Pira International, chaired 바카라사이트 report's working party. He says: "We believe that in time we will have access to research council funding. But it really is not a case of taking money away from universities. We believe basic research in universities makes a crucial contribution to 바카라사이트 wider economy and must be fully supported. What we in Airto are trying to access is a very, very small slice of 바카라사이트 funding to act as a creative interface between academics and industry."

The report also recommends that 바카라사이트 DTI advocate a new initiative to encourage a "cascading" of 바카라사이트 Foresight initiative to 바카라사이트 sectoral and company level. The DTI should offer a programme of matching funds to produce ongoing "strategic futures" studies in 바카라사이트 sectors served by research and technology firms. "Foresight will be a waste of time unless people in factories improve behaviour to boost competitiveness. Research and technology firms are ideally suited to help with this."

Airto firms employ a total of around 7,000 and as a group boast a turnover of Pounds 350 million of which 85 per cent is from industry.