Technology Priorities for the UK

The Technology Strategy Board (TSB), that strange body that advises the UK's Department of Trade and Industry on R&D priorities has agreed a set of priorities "to be included in the Technology Programme Autumn 2006 or Spring 2007 competitions for Collaborative R&D funding".

 

One or two of the nine items on the list seem to plug a hole that was evident in the recent publication of a new energy policy for the UK. That document said next to nothing about R&D into new energy sources. One entry in the TSB's list is "Emerging Energy Technologies: Oil & Gas Technologies".

 

There's also a green tinge in the area of "Sustainable Production and Consumption: Moving Towards the Zero Emissions Enterprise - A challenge to business to reduce their diverse negative environmental impacts."

 

Of a more conventional nature, check out the activity on "Electronics and Photonics: Sensors and Imaging for medical, security and environmental applications".

 

There will be more information on the first wave of research at something called Innovate 2006 at the hideous Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in the shadow of Westminster Abbey. The event also "provides UK business with a major opportunity to engage with and understand the Technology Strategy and the role that Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) are playing in supporting its development".