Technology Strategy Board's Chief Executive, Iain Gray said:

"It is vital that the UK maintains its core expertise in the key technologies which underpin business growth. 

And it is no less vital to maintain a pipeline of new advances, in order to keep UK businesses at the leading edge. 

We are confident these competitions will generate proposals for innovative new research and development projects. 

We look forward to seeing some exciting proposals"

£72 million investment in innovative R&D call opens on 10th November

TSBNational and European funding sources for research are vital for innovative SMEs in North East England. The Technology Strategy Board is to invest a further £72 million in innovative new research and development projects in eight key areas, its Chief Executive, Iain Gray, announced in October 2008.

The invitation to submit proposals was made at the Innovate08 conference and exhibition, held in London on the 7th October. 

The ten new competitions, in important areas such as photonics, high value manufacturing, intelligent transport systems, network security and energy generation and supply, will be split into three phases, with the first three competitions opening in November 2008. UK based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as large multinationals, will have the opportunity to access the funds for market-led R&D projects. The technology areas for which submissions are invited are:

Phase 1, opening 10 November 2008:

Phase 2, opening 19 January 2009:

Phase 3, opening 16 March 2009: