Proposals published for £200million network of technology and innovation centres
The government has invited organisations to register their interest in forming a technology and innovation centre focused on the area of high value manufacturing.
The centre will be the first of an elite national network of centres, to be established and overseen by the Technology Strategy Board, that will work in partnership with universities and businesses to help commercialise the results of research in specific technology areas where there are potential multi billion pound global markets.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that the banking crisis had left Britain in need of a 'new kind of growth'. He said: "It is not right, sensible or fair to be dependent solely on the City of London and on financial services. We should be at the cutting edge of science, manufacturing and technology. And this innovation should be happening in towns and cities across the UK, creating opportunity for everyone, no matter where they live."
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the programme for technology and innovation centres is a key part of the government's strategy to rebalance the economy. "We have so much potential here in Britain; now is the time to harness it and build the stable, prosperous economy we want," he noted.
The TSB is today publishing a prospectus that will fast track the creation of a centre focused on High Value Manufacturing, and outlines plans to establish a network of six to eight 'world leading' centres in total. It calls for business, academic and other interest groups to comment on the proposals and help shape how the centres will be developed.
In his foreword to the prospectus, Iain Gray, the TSB's chief executive, said that the centres represent a significant long term investment in the UK economy.
"As the UK's national innovation agency, we are delighted to be taking on responsibility for establishing and overseeing this new initiative, which offers a high degree of synergy with our other activities that drive innovation for the benefit of UK business," he stated.
The prospectus outlines plans to establish up to eight more centres in the initial candidate areas of energy & resource efficiency, transport systems, healthcare, ICT and electronics, photonics and electrical systems. It calls for the business, academic and other interest groups to comment on the proposals and help shape how the centres will be developed. The TSB received funding of £200m in the Comprehensive Spending Review for the centres.
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts added: "I am pleased that the first of these centres will be focused on high value manufacturing as a strong manufacturing base is an essential component of a balanced and dynamic economy, where exports and investment drive growth."
