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< Back PDF version Printer-friendly version   Issue 9, August 2008 Dear Reader    Welcome to August’s edition of the South West Science and Industry Council newsletter.    Thank you to all who attended the Innovation Nation Roadshow at Bristol Zoo Gardens on 29 July. The presentations from the day are now available on the SWSIC website with photos and video footage to follow shortly. Please see our main story for more information.    This month’s bumper edition highlights regional, national and European funding and business opportunities, including R&D funding for healthcare technologies, energy projects and innovation in assisted living, the FP7 IDEAS programme for University research in any field, and European collaborative research funding for SMEs. Applications are also being sought in a number of award schemes, including The Queen’s Awards, Rushlight Awards and UKTI Business Innovation Awards.    In addition, we bring you news of successful collaborations and innovative technologies being developed across the region and provide information about events taking place in the coming months.    If you wish to comment on the stories in this month's issue or have ideas, initiatives or events that you would like to be included next month, then please do write to us at editor@swsic.com.    Colin Green  Chair, South West Science and Industry Council  Region hailed as driving force of innovation Science City Bristol last week invited Ian Pearson, Minister for Science and Innovation, to experience first hand the innovative technologies being developed in the region. Read the full article €147 million for energy projects The European Commission has launched a call for proposals under the 'energy' theme of the Seventh Framework Programme. Read the full article R&D funding for innnovative healthcare technologies The Health Technology Portal (HTD) is inviting submission of Outline Proposals for innovative healthcare technologies that involve collaboration between industry, academia and the NHS. Read the full article Lift-off for innovative helicopter technology research Bristol University is a partner in a new helicopter rotor blade research and development project awarded £4.4M by the Technology Strategy Board. Read the full article STFC announces ambitious £1.9 billion science funding programme The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has announced a three-year £1.9 billion funding programme which will maintain UK scientific leadership in physics and astronomy and operate world-leading facilities for the benefit of UK scientists. Read the full article South West universities top Green League Three of the universities in South West England have come top in the Green League, which ranks the environmental performance of universities in the UK. Read the full article Collaborative research funding for SMEs EUREKA's Eurostars Programme is a European programme that aims to stimulate SMEs to lead international collaborative research and innovation projects. Read the full article South West technology sets a global standard The lives of people who use prosthetic hands are set to change for the better now that a University of Plymouth spin-off company has teamed up with a Scottish firm. Read the full article Rushlight Awards 2008 now open for entries The Rushlight Awards celebrate and promote organisations throughout UK and Ireland that have furthered environmental technology and innovation. Read the full article Exeter scientist in major European marine renewable energy project Professor George Smith of the University of Exeter is a member of EquiMar, a group of 62 scientists from 11 European countries working together to combine knowledge and expertise in marine energy. Read the full article Enter the Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2009 The highly sought-after and prestigious Queen's Awards are now open for entries in the categories of International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development. Read the full article Raising the UK's games industry NESTA is launching a new £450,000 national initiative to drive growth, collaboration and innovation in the UK games industry. Read the full article SIDEREUS - matchmaking opportunities in aerospace and ICT SIDEREUS is a free business matchmaking event for European and Southeast Asian companies operating in the aerospace and ICT sectors. Read the full article Flying high: UWE boosts lean production of Flexifoil kites Under the Knowledge Transfer Partnership, the company that sponsors the world's best freestyle kitesurfer will draw on knowledge from experts at UWE. Read the full article South west renewable energy capacity grows by 15 per cent Regen South West have published a survey showing that the south west's installed renewable energy capacity has grown by 15 per cent in the past year. Read the full article Enter the Grid Computing Now! Competition 2008 Grid Computing Now! has announced its second competition for applying innovative grid computing solutions to an environmental problem. Read the full article Business Innovation Awards UK Trade and Investment's UK NanoForum 2008 Business Innovation Awards are open for applications. Read the full article New ELECTRA initiative The EC has recently launched ELECTRA, a new initiative that aims to mobilise Europe’s electrical and electronic engineering industry. Read the full article Ruddock launches one-stop shop for adapting to climate impacts Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock has called on organisations across the public and private sector to develop imaginative and innovative approaches to deal with the impact of a changing climate. Read the full article Plymouth Scientists Secure Lyme Bay Contract A group of marine scientists led by the University of Plymouth has secured a major Defra contract to monitor the ecological and socio-economic impact of the Lyme Bay 60 square mile exclusion zone. Read the full article €7million to fund University research in any field IDEAS is a new FP7 Specific Programme, ideally suited to fund University research in almost any field of research, including social sciences and the humanities. Read the full article Knowledge Transfer Accounts - Call for proposals Institutions eligible to hold an EPSRC grant are invited to apply for a Knowledge Transfer Account (KTA)as part of the EPSRC's commitment to support for research exploitation. Read the full article Innovation in assisted living Funding opportunities are available through the Technology Strategy Board's Assisted Living Innovation Platform and the European Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme. Read the full article Cornwall company wins waste management contract in Korea Cornwall-based waste management specialist Gar-Tech Limited has signed a £700,000 contract with a Los Angeles firm to supply its waste processing system to South Korea. Read the full article Cornish Company wins Ashden award for sustainable energy Kensa Engineering, a Cornwall manufacturer of ground source heat pumps, has won an international award for sustainable energy and £30,000 in prize money. Read the full article Steria moves to Tamar Science Park Steria, the leading end-to-end IT services provider in Europe, has moved to Tamar Science Park as part of the company’s regional development strategy. Read the full article Innovation Nation interactive DIUS would like to hear your views and feedback on their Innovation Nation strategy, published in March 2008. Read the full article Arresting and self-healing cracks Materials that can stop a crack and then self-heal have been brought a step closer to reality thanks to a new project launched by the University of Bristol and Imperial College London. Read the full article UK continues to punch above its weight in world class research The UK has increased its share of published research in the world's most influential scientific journals and offers the best return globally for R&D investment. Read the full article EU officials to do fieldwork in SME’s The European Commission’s Directorate-General (DG ENTR) is looking for SMEs in the aerospace sector to host a Commission official for one week. Read the full article The Investment Connection launches 1 September Science|Business is launching a new network to introduce spin-out companies to multinational and individual investors. Read the full article Government seeks small businesses' views Anne Glover’s committee, announced as part of the Enterprise Strategy and Budget 2008, has issued an online call for evidence as part of its work to help more small and medium sized businesses win public sector contracts. Read the full article TECHNOLOGY PARTNERING SERVICE The Enterprise Europe Network has access to hundreds of technological development opportunities through its Technology Partnering Service. What follows is a small selection of the current exciting opportunities available from selected sectors. Read the full article EVENTS Including Renewable Futures, Innovation Live, FP7 environmental technologies day, Tendering to Win workshops and UK NanoForum 2008 plus many more. Read the full article Region hailed as driving force of innovation Science City Bristol last week invited Ian Pearson, Minister for Science and Innovation, to experience first hand the innovative technologies being developed in the region.     The visit, part of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) Innovation Nation roadshow, promoted the Government's vision for science, innovation and knowledge transfer in the UK and gave the Minister an opportunity to find out more about the South West's innovative business culture.     One of the companies the Minister met was Tidal Generation Limited (TGL), a cutting edge renewable technology developer based in Bristol. With help from the South West RDA's Grant for R&D, TGL is developing undersea turbines to harness tidal energy that will be capable of generating electricity for thousands of homes.     The technology has recently received a vote of confidence from Rolls Royce, which has invested £5 million in TGL as part of its commitment to finding solutions to the environmental challenges in aerospace, marine and energy markets. The company has also secured £4 million from the Technology Strategy Board's funding competitions for collaborative projects.     The Minister also met Advanced Transport Systems, which has developed a driverless taxi system in use at Heathrow Airport.    Mr Pearson said: "The South West of England is home to world leading centres of innovative expertise, particularly in the aerospace and silicon design sectors but increasingly in the sustainable and renewable technology market.     "I've spoken to a number of companies in the region undertaking business in the UK and internationally. The regional economy seems to me to be very buoyant. There is a real buzz about how innovation contributes to the economy."     Stephen Peacock, executive director for enterprise and innovation at the South West RDA continued; "Our work is focused on unlocking the potential of businesses across the South West. Making good use of science and technology is key to this and we are delighted to be able to highlight examples of where this is happening and encourage more companies to innovate."    For more information and to view presentations and photographs from the day, please visit the SWSIC website.    Back to top €147 million for energy projects The European Commission has launched a call for proposals under the 'energy' theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) with an indicative budget of €147 million.     The call addresses the following areas:   • renewable electricity generation;   • renewable fuel production;   • clean coal technologies and activity energy;   • smart energy networks;   • energy efficiency and savings;   • high efficiency poly-generation.     The deadline for submitting proposal documents is 8 October 2008.    For further information, please visit the FP7 website.     Back to top R&D funding for innnovative healthcare technologies The Health Technology Portal (HTD) is inviting submission of Outline Proposals for matched-funding support for R&D into innovative healthcare technologies that involve collaboration between industry, academia and the NHS. HTD is a UK-wide funding scheme sponsored by the Departments of Health.    Applications should concern the prototype demonstration of:   - Medical devices, including tissue engineering and trauma care devices;   - Devices that interact with other medical devices used in the NHS;  - Novel information technology that enables a significant improvement in the performance of healthcare technologies;   - Healthcare devices for use in the community and patients’ homes.     Government support is up to 50% of the total project value, with the remaining support provided by the project’s industrial collaborators. Projects must contain at least one industrial collaborator and one research-based collaborator, and are limited to a maximum duration of 3 years. In addition, 75% funding is available for technical feasibility studies to explore the potential for a full collaborative research project. These studies are typically limited to a maximum project cost of £100K and maximum duration of 12 months.     The deadline for submissions is Friday 19th September 2008.     For more information visit the HTP website.  Back to top Lift-off for innovative helicopter technology research Bristol University is a partner in a new helicopter rotor blade research and development project awarded £4.4M by the Technology Strategy Board.     The REACT - Rotor Embedded Actuator Control Technology - project will see Agusta Westland collaborating with Bristol, Leicester and Liverpool universities. The major helicopter technology research and development programme will ensure that the UK maintains world-class capability in rotor blade technology.    The 3-year project involves the development of active surfaces in helicopter rotor blades, and active hydraulic systems in rotor controls. Such active systems continuously vary the aerodynamics of the rotors to provide optimal performance. Full-scale laboratory validation of the technology will be produced, while the project will also investigate and develop the manufacturing methods that will be needed to produce the innovative technology in volume.     REACT will help to strengthen the UK's world-class capability in rotorcraft technology and demonstrates leading-edge, high-value manufacturing technology. Representing a significant collaboration between industry, academia and government, the project will help to respond to the increased demand for improved environmental performance of rotorcraft.     Launching the project at AgustaWestland's Yeovil facility, Science and Innovation Minister Ian Pearson said: "I am very pleased that the DIUS-sponsored Technology Strategy Board is providing the public sector support for the REACT project, ensuring that much of this crucial research and development is UK-led. REACT is a great example of industry, academia and government working together to help sustain and take forward high value manufacturing in the UK."     Commenting on the decision to invest in the REACT project, the Technology Strategy Board's Director of Innovation Programmes, David Bott, said: "The Technology Strategy Board's role is to ensure that the UK is in the forefront of technology-enabled innovation. This project takes a strong understanding of the factors affecting the performance of rotor blades and combines it with the latest manufacturing methods to produce really exciting technology. We are therefore delighted to offer our support and investment."     To find out more about Technology Strategy Board initiatives and funding opportunities, visit the website. Back to top STFC announces ambitious £1.9 billion science funding programme The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has announced a three-year £1.906 billion funding programme which will maintain UK scientific leadership in physics and astronomy and operate world-leading facilities for the benefit of UK scientists.    STFC’s Council met at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire on 1 July and agreed to the programme following a three-month consultation overseen by STFC’s advisory Science Board and its panels. More than 1,400 submissions from UK and international experts were considered during the consultation.    “STFC has balanced its budget and agreed on a very ambitious and scientifically sound programme of funding,” said STFC chief executive Prof Keith Mason. “STFC is funding an exciting portfolio of projects which will deliver excellent research and maintain the UK’s scientific leadership.”    The funding includes support to universities and research facilities for fundamental science, research facilities and technology development in nuclear physics, particle physics, neutrino science, neutron scattering, lasers and light sources, space exploration and astronomy.    Highlights include support for UK participation in global astronomy projects, particle physics experiments at CERN, a neutrino physics project in Japan, a nuclear physics facility in Germany, the search for gravitational waves and exploring whether life has ever been present on Mars.    “The next three years will see dramatic advances in the capabilities available to UK researchers, be it medical researchers using the Diamond Light Source’s new beam-lines, particle physicists using CERN to learn about events just after the Big Bang, astronomers surveying the skies with the new VISTA telescope or biologists testing samples at the new ISIS beam-lines or the ULTRA laser,” Prof Mason said. “UK scientists have a lot to look forward to.”    “We’ve made some difficult but necessary choices in order to keep the UK at the forefront of international scientific research,” Prof Mason said. “We have targeted our money very carefully at the areas which will have greatest impact for UK science.”    Prof Mason added that STFC would not compromise on excellent scientific research. He said the programme he was announcing would help the UK scientific community to demonstrate the economic impact of science to government, business and the tax-paying public.    For more information visit the STFC website.  Back to top South West universities top Green League Three of the universities in South West England have come top in the Green League, which ranks the environmental performance of universities in the UK. The University of Gloucestershire has taken first place, with the University of Plymouth coming second and the University of the West of England third.    The Green League, compiled by student campaign network People and Planet, last year won best campaign in the British Environment and Media awards and is the only league table that measures the environmental performance of British universities.     Published last week in the Times Higher and sponsored by the WWF, the table judges universities on their environmental policies, their number of environmental staff, environmental audits, whether they have been granted fairtrade status, how much waste they recycle, their carbon emissions, water usage and energy sources. People and Planet hope its table will turn universities into role models for the public sector by persuading them to be more environmentally-conscious.    Some of the environmental initiatives introduced by the top three universities are a bike-share scheme, the launch of a low emissions bus service for staff and students and the establishment of a Waste Management Centre. Other achievements include gaining fair-trade status, the reduction of energy consumption, committments to sourcing local and organic produce, improved recycling rates and the introduction of green travel plans.    The University of Gloucestershire’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Patricia Broadfoot, said: “We regard the search for sustainability as the biggest issue facing mankind today. Consequently we have put it at the heart of our University development plans. We are seeking to weave it into the DNA of the institution through the curriculum, through research, through public engagement and through the way we run our organisation. We believe that everyone in the University - staff and students, needs to be committed to this agenda and committed to promoting it in whatever way they can. Our success in the league table is a great encouragement for all of us!”     Speaking about the University of Plymouth’s performance Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Purcell, said: “I am delighted we have maintained our top two position in this prestigious national league table for the second year running. The university’s cutting-edge research led by our national Centre for Sustainable Futures, Centre for Sustainable Transport and the Marine Institute, through to our innovative sustainability policy, excellence in sustainability and the environment is central to all aspects of our institution.”    Professor Steven West, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of England (UWE), said: "The result is welcome recognition for the staff and students at UWE who have worked hard to achieve this position. Environment and sustainability is an integral part of the University, both academically and within the professional services. In recent years UWE has built upon its expertise in teaching and research in sustainability related disciplines, recognising our role to ensure our students are equipped with the skills to make a positive difference towards a sustainable future.”    For more information about People & Planet and the Green League, visit the People and Planet website.    Back to top Collaborative research funding for SMEs EUREKA's Eurostars Programme is a European programme that aims to stimulate SMEs to lead international collaborative research and innovation projects by easing access to support and funding.    A Eurostars project is a European research and development project. It can address any technological area, but must have a civilian purpose and be aimed at the development of a new product, process or service. A Eurostars project is collaborative, meaning it must involve at least two participants (legal entities) from two different Eurostars participating countries. In addition, the main participant must be a research-performing SME. A Eurostars project should be market-driven.     In the United Kingdom only research-performing SME’s are eligible for funding under the Eurostars programme. The eligibility criteria for a research-performing SME’s is 10% of turnover or 10% of staff time dedicated to R&D activities.    EUREKA's Eurostars Programme is open for funding applications on a continuous basis, with an average of two application submission deadlines each year. The next deadline for electronic submission of applications is Friday 21st November 2008.    For more information on Eurostars, visit the Eurostars website.  Back to top South West technology sets a global standard The lives of people who use prosthetic hands are set to change for the better now that a University of Plymouth spin-off company has teamed up with a Scottish firm to create the world’s most sophisticated upper limb prosthesis.    Advanced Control Research Ltd joined forces with Touch Bionics Ltd to develop the i-Limb Hand, the first commercially-available bionic hand.     The hand works by the user’s muscles sending signals from their arm to the control system which activates the hand. These signals affect the number of actions, the speed of movement and strength of grip. The hand also has multi-articulating finger technology meaning that all of its fingers can move separately –unlike other artificial hands where if one finger moves, the rest must too.    The electronic hardware and software that provide control of the movements of the individual fingers and independently moving thumb is the outcome of design and development by Advanced Control Research Ltd, based in Plymouth, and this is manufactured, under a non-exclusive licence, by Touch Bionics.  The i-Limb Hand has just been awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering’s MacRobert Award 2008, clinching a £50,000 cash prize to be spent on further development.   The MacRobert Award recognises the successful development of innovative ideas in engineering. It seeks to demonstrate the importance of engineering and the role of engineers and scientists in contributing to national prosperity and international prestige.     The i-Limb Hand is currently being exhibited in the Science Museum in London.    Funding has been crucial to underpin all of the company’s research and development. Advanced Control Research Ltd were successful in receiving SMART awards from the then Department of Trade and Industry and further assistance from NESTA the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.     Vice-Chancellor of the University of Plymouth, Professor Wendy Purcell, said: “The success of ACR is a shining example of what can happen when high-level academic expertise is developed in a commercial environment.     “ACR is poised to become a world leader in the field of prosthetics and, in doing so, will improve the lives of the people who use its products.    “As the enterprise university, the University of Plymouth is committed to maximising opportunities for knowledge transfer so that the innovation of our academic staff can be developed to benefit both the local and the national economy.”    For more information about ACR please telephone Professor Roland Burns on 01752 337501.   Back to top Rushlight Awards 2008 now open for entries The Rushlight Awards are a celebration and a promotion of the leading organisations throughout UK and Ireland which have furthered environmental technology and innovation in the fields of renewable energy, clean fuels, power generation, water, waste and pollution management.     If you have developed a technology or introduced any form of innovation associated with cleantech, then there will be at least one of the 27 direct entry categories which is available for you to promote your achievements. These awards can be used to market your product, to celebrate and thank the team who have developed a technology or solution, to promote your brand as an environmentally responsible society member, to publicise the innovation so that others may adopt something similar, to launch a new initiative, to celebrate a particular achievement with a client, to access new sources of funding and to open your business to new market opportunities.     This is a singular opportunity for entrants and sponsors alike to become part of a celebration of achievement and to demonstrate their true environmental credentials.    The closing date for entries is 31 October 2008 and the Gala Awards Dinner will follow at the New Connaught Rooms, London on 22 January 2009.    For more information, please visit the Rushlight Awards website.  Back to top Exeter scientist in major European marine renewable energy project Professor George Smith of the University of Exeter is a member of EquiMar, a group of 62 scientists from 11 European countries working together to combine knowledge and expertise in marine energy.     EquiMar's aim is to drive forward research so that the potential of renewable energy from waves and tides can be realised. It was officially launched at the World Renewable Energy Conference (WREC) in Glasgow on 22 July 2008.     Professor Smith is the Scottish and Southern Energy Associate Professor in renewable energy and leads the renewable energy group, which is part of the School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources on the University of Exeter’s Cornwall Campus.    He said: “The South West of England has a strong commitment to increasing its renewable energy generation as demonstrated by the proposed Wave Hub project off the North Cornwall Coast. Marine Renewable Energy, both wave and tidal, has the potential to provide a significant contribution to the UK’s “green energy” and to the EU target for reduction in carbon emissions. Surrounded by sea, the South West is clearly in a strong position to contribute to this. One of the main barriers to realising the potential is that we still don’t have enough information on the amount of energy that can be realistically extracted from the devices available. EquiMar seeks to produce guidelines that will allow fair evaluation of the potential of the many different technologies. EquiMar has the potential to guide the way forward from demonstration projects like the Wave Hub to the next stage of fully commercial projects. We must act now to ensure that marine renewable can achieve the undoubted potential and contribution to the UK energy mix.”     Dr David Ingram of the University of Edinburgh is coordinator of the European Commission funded project, a €5.5 million programme linking European top research centres and leading device developers to examine the potential of, and identify the barriers to establishing, a marine energy industry. The project has been given three years support by the European Commission to come up with templates to identify viable wave and tidal energy devices and optimal locations so marine energy can be developed commercially and to help to meet the ambitious supply targets set by governments for renewable energy.    For more information about EquiMar, visit the EMEC website. Back to top Enter the Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2009 The Queen’s Awards are highly sought-after and provide tangible benefits for companies who receive one. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is recognised in the UK and overseas and is respected as a mark of quality and success by the business community.     Companies may apply for the business Award in one, two, or all of the three categories of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise. These are: International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development. There is nothing to lose by applying, and much to gain. The competition is free to enter and the application process is relatively straight-forward; the form is four sides of A4.    The Awards scheme is a competition that had a 17% success rate in 2008. Companies that are unsuccessful will receive detailed feedback about the strengths and weaknesses of their case that often helps them to success in a later year. Therefore this is a useful benchmarking exercise and a good investment of a company’s time. There is no set number of awards granted each year; much depends on the strength of the competition.     The Award can help those that win in a variety of ways. It can generate television coverage and extensive publicity in national, regional and trade press. It can also give businesses, especially small businesses, instant credibility and give a significant boost to staff morale, motivation and help with recruitment. The Award also gives companies a competitive edge in opening doors in difficult overseas markets, attracting new business and raising capital. The currency of the Award lasts for five years.    In July 2004 an Award for individuals - The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion (QAEP) - was introduced to recognise and reward people who have promoted business enterprise and entrepreneurial skills and attitudes in others. So if someone has played an outstanding and significant role in promoting enterprise in various ways, such as working with young people, inspiring young entrepreneurs, or providing much needed mentoring, investment, skills training and encouraging innovation, they may be nominated within the QAEP category. Up to ten Awards will be granted annually and additionally, if a suitable candidate has been nominated, a single Lifetime Achievement Award may go to an individual judged to have carried out consistent, high quality promotion of enterprise over ten years.     The closing date for entries in all categories is 31 October 2008.    For further information visit the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise website or call 08705 13 44 86.     Back to top Raising the UK's games industry NESTA is launching a new £450,000 national initiative to drive growth, collaboration and innovation in the UK games industry.    Set up in partnership with TIGA, Dare to be Digital (The University of Abertay) and Crossover Innovation Labs, Raise the Game will help the industry build on the world-class creative talent base already in the UK.       Raise the Game will involve four strands:    Mentoring programme – which teams experienced business people up with games SMEs in order to grow their business.   Ease skill shortages - help SMEs to find talented recruits, staff share schemes and to facilitate job swaps between complementary industries.   Nurture new innovative talent - provide intern placements in SME development studios, drawing from graduates of the international games competition Dare to be Digital.  Crossover - a series of 'innovation labs' fostering new collaborations and ideas for cross platform content – designed to bring games SMEs to commissioners from beyond the traditional games sector.    Innovation across these areas is vital for helping the billion-pound games sector perform successfully against global competition. The initiative builds on an already world-class creative talent base in the UK to help games SMEs achieve the commercial success their talent deserves.    Richard Wilson, CEO, TIGA, comments: “Skill shortages are a major problem for games developers, from Brighton to Dundee. I am delighted, therefore, for NESTA's support in providing a range of human resources solutions for the games industry, including the recruitment of staff, job sharing and job swapping.     TIGA's project will help to ameliorate skill shortages, encourage knowledge transfer and facilitate innovation and so enhance the competitiveness of games businesses throughout the UK.”    Charles Cecil, managing director, Revolution Software, said: "The UK has, over twenty five years, built a reputation as a global powerhouse for innovative games development. The advent of digital distribution has disrupted the traditional distribution methods, opening exciting opportunities for content creators to deliver their products to their audiences in innovative ways.     "Raise the Game is creating programmes to support developers to exploit their properties on a global level, work collaboratively with each other and with other entertainment mediums, and supporting young talent wishing to work in the games industry."    NESTA, CEO, Jonathan Kestenbaum said: " Raise the Game is seeking to provide a means by which the industry can work together and draw from the enormous amount of creative talent currently available. This new programme will be instrumental in fostering creativity and building relationships throughout the games industry and beyond to ensure the innovation and growth capacities of UK companies are harnessed."    For further information please contact Stacey Bell on 0131 556 6649 or by email.  Back to top SIDEREUS - matchmaking opportunities in aerospace and ICT SIDEREUS is a free business matchmaking event for European and Southeast Asian companies operating in the aerospace and ICT sectors on satellite navigation applications with a special focus on GALILEO. The event will take place in Beijing on November 26-28, 2008    SIDEREUS is for companies from the EU, China, India and ASEAN countries, wishing to meet to discuss business opportunities and research collaborations. SIDEREUS is a major event in the field of satellite navigation and combines conferences, workshops and business meetings for 300 companies.    Unlike other purely commercial events, SIDEREUS is supported by the European Union through the ASIA-INVEST programme, is free of charge and is strongly backed by key public and private stakeholders from all involved regions.     It is free to enrol on the programme with attendance at the Beijing event being subsidised. Over the next 3 years the SIDEREUS programme seeks to establish long-term business and technological co-operation agreements through a series of one-on-one matchmaking meetings between companies, research centres and other organisations operating in the aerospace and ICT sectors.    SIDEREUS is for companies from the EU, China, India, and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, wishing to meet to discuss business opportunities and research collaborations.     HBIC will be hosting some inaugural events in the UK this summer for businesses on the SIDEREUS programme, as a run up to the main international event in Beijing. The programme aims to involve 160 Asian companies and 140 European companies in the matchmaking event.    To take advantage of this opportunity contact Adam Tucker or register your interest on the SIDEREUS website.  Back to top Flying high: UWE boosts lean production of Flexifoil kites Under the Knowledge Transfer Partnership, the company that sponsors the world's best freestyle kitesurfer, Aaron Hadlow, will draw on knowledge from Dr Paul Head, lean supply chain expert from UWE's Bristol Institute for Technology and Dr Peter Nuttall, international marketing expert at UWE's Bristol Business School. Two graduates will be employed to introduce the latest techniques in lean production and international marketing.    The £220,000 deal was brokered by Stephen Batty of UWE's Research, Business and Innovation group. The main objectives are to introduce 'in-time' production, reducing lead-times and costs by producing kites and other equipment to order, improve sourcing, and move the company into new international markets.    Project leader Judith Jordan said, “This partnership aims to make the company become more competitive in the international arena and will give the University valuable experience of addressing real-world challenges.”    Managing director Roy Carter said, “We are a fast-moving company and were particularly pleased that the deal was agreed just ten weeks after the first meeting with UWE. Kiting is one of the fastest growing sports in the world today, whether people are looking for recreational fun or serious adrenalin highs.”    This Partnership received financial support from the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme (KTP). KTP aims to help businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base. KTP is funded by the Technology Strategy Board along with other government funding organisations.     For more information about KTPs, please visit the KTP website.  Back to top South west renewable energy capacity grows by 15 per cent Regen South West have published a survey showing that the south west's installed renewable energy capacity has grown by 15 per cent (25 MW) in the past year, and almost 90 MW of new capacity has been approved and is waiting to be built.     The annual Survey of Renewable Electricity and Heat Projects in South West England, carried out by south west sustainable energy agency Regen SW, shows an encouraging trend, but also indicates that significant improvements need to be made, as the total installed capacity of 190 MW is still only contributing one per cent of the region's heat and power use.     "The survey shows a mixed picture," said Matthew Spencer, chief executive of Regen SW. "The region is falling short of its self-imposed target of 597 MW of renewable electricity capacity by 2010 - but this doesn't tell the full story. The fact that a record 90 MW has been approved in the past year shows that things are improving. We still need more large renewables' proposals to come forward, and the priority is to have them dealt with more quickly by the planning system."     "Although we will miss our 2010 targets, we must now look forward to and respond to the UK's new 2020 goals," added Matthew. "There are only 600 weeks to 2020, and we don't have long to speed up deployment and ensure that our renewable energy businesses benefit from renewables becoming a mainstay of UK power and heat generation."     The south west has also seen a huge increase in the number of micro renewable installations, and very healthy growth in the number of renewable heat schemes. The majority of the increase in renewable heat has come from the installation of biomass boilers as a replacement for oil fired heating, and the rapid increase in micro-renewable installations has been both in electricity and heat technologies, more than doubling to 1,100. The increase in micro renewable installations is particularly noticeable in Devon and Cornwall, where local agencies Renewable Energy for Devon (RE4D) and the Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership (CSEP) have run support programmes that appear to be making a real impact.     The counties that experienced the greatest growth in installed renewable capacity in the last year were Cornwall, the former Avon and Devon. The counties that experienced the weakest growth were Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.     To view a full version of the Annual Survey of Renewable Electricity and Heat Projects in South West England, visit the Regen South West website.   Back to top Enter the Grid Computing Now! Competition 2008 Grid Computing Now! has announced its second competition for applying innovative grid computing solutions to an environmental problem. The competition is supported by the British Computer Society, The 451 Group, Intellect, Memset, Microsoft, National e-Science Centre, Oxford e-Research Centre, the Technology Strategy Board and WWF.     UK residents are invited to enter one of two tracks for this competition:   • IT Professional Track: For those who are professionals working in the IT industry.   • IT Non Professional Track: For those who are recent graduates, students or research students. You will not be an IT professional working in industry.    “Grid computing for a greener planet” is the main focus for this competition. Entrants will be judged primarily on their solution’s feasibility, scope and creativity. Grid computing, a service for sharing computer power and data storage capacity over the Internet*, can be applied to any environmental issue that stands to benefit from a huge amount of raw processing power to calculate massive data sets.     The closing date for applications is 01 September 2008.     For further information on the competition please contact Tara Kelly on 020 7331 2171 or visit the Grid Computing Now! website. Back to top Business Innovation Awards UK Trade and Investment's UK NanoForum 2008 Business Innovation Awards are open for applications.     UK organisations registering as UK NanoForum delegates and exhibitors are invited to apply.     The Awards will showcase British innovation across three categories:  • Healthcare for the Modern Age   • Clean Technologies   • Intelligent Connected World    The Awards will identify outstanding innovative organisations in the UK nanoscience and nanotechnology communities. Applicants should demonstrate how they have developed process innovations that have substantially improved the commercial performance or prospects of their organisation.     Nanotechnology is a vital enabling technology for the future and these Awards recognise the major steps towards truly innovative applications.    The deadline for applications is 30 September 2008 and the awards will be presented at UK NanoForum 2008 on 28th October.    For more information and to enter, visit the UK Nano website. Back to top New ELECTRA initiative The EC has recently launched ELECTRA, a new initiative that aims to mobilise Europe’s electrical and electronic engineering industry.     The initiative is an attempt to address the EU's policy objectives on climate change and the Lisbon agenda on growth and jobs, whilst proving that the electrical and electronic engineering industry in Europe is strong, vibrant and innovative. An EC report has just been published setting out the three main areas that require urgent action as part of the initiative.    The report is comprehensive in analysing three key areas that require the full and urgent attention of policy makers; industry, stakeholders and the general public. The three key areas are as follows; improving energy efficiency, creating and supporting future growth markets, and designing a regulatory framework that is both efficient and effective. It also contains a series of recommendations for each of these three key areas. The report itself was written by a team of  experts from the electrical and electronics engineering industry and the EC.    For further information, visit the ELECTRA website.  Back to top Ruddock launches one-stop shop for adapting to climate impacts Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock has called on organisations across the public and private sector to develop imaginative and innovative approaches to deal with the impact of a changing climate.    Launching a new information hub that will help businesses, planners, and others to adapt to climate change, Ms Ruddock said that as the climate changed, there would be more extreme weather, with an increased risk of flooding and erosion, hotter and drier summers, loss of biodiversity and risks to human health - and society would have to adapt to those changes.    The website is a one-stop shop offering easy access to the most comprehensive collection of resources on adapting to climate change available in the UK, and is part of the Government's drive to ensure that Britain is ready to deal with the impacts of climate change that are already irreversible.    It includes details of how the climate will alter, links to practical tools for adaptation, and examples of what is already being done around the country.    Ms Ruddock said: "Our climate is changing. We need to future proof our buildings and public spaces against this as much as possible. Even nature itself will need help to adapt to climate change if we're not to lose precious biodiversity.    "We'll need good design that works with the environment rather than against it, creating buildings that stay cool in the heat and deal with water that will be in short supply in summer and pouring into the drains during heavy storms. This one stop shop will help people to identify the challenges we will face in the future and to make the decisions now that will help us to manage them.    "We are already starting to see some visionary climate-resistant buildings around Britain. I want builders and designers to follow the lead of the innovators behind these buildings by factoring a changing climate into their plans."    Visit the website for more information. Back to top Plymouth Scientists Secure Lyme Bay Contract A group of marine scientists led by the University of Plymouth has secured a major Defra contract to monitor the ecological and socio-economic impact of the Lyme Bay 60 square mile exclusion zone.    Almost ten per cent of Lyme Bay, one of Britain’s richest marine habitats, has been permanently closed off to scallop dredging and bottom trawling in a bid to protect the area’s reef habitats, home to a wide range of marine biodiversity including rare pink sea fans, sunset cup corals and rare sponges. The move, imposed by Defra (11th July 2008), is the country’s largest ever closure of a marine area to protect wildlife.    The University of Plymouth, together with bid partners Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Marine Biological Association of the UK have been contracted to monitor the impact of the ban – by assessing the recovery of the marine wildlife and analysing the social and economic impacts on the affected communities.    Over the next three years, the team of experts will use state-of-the-art underwater video technology to monitor and record the change in abundance, size and biomass of various marine species and compare these with areas where fishing is allowed to continue. The findings will then act as a conservation tool to inform future environmental management of marine areas in the UK and marine spatial planning in the South West region.  The impact on the affected local communities will be examined by reviewing current social and economic issues and interviewing local stakeholders about their perceptions. A cost benefit analysis will then be conducted to help improve the level of understanding of the social and economic impacts of marine protected areas. The information collected as part of the study will help inform the completed of future Impact Assessments.     Professor Martin Attrill of the University of Plymouth is coordinating the bid. He says Defra have chosen the best possible team for the job; “The contractors within the tender for this project - the University of Plymouth Marine Institute, Marine Biological Association and Plymouth Marine Laboratory are all within the Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership which has a unique ability to undertake this work in Lyme Bay.     “PMSP has an unparalleled experience of the ecology, fisheries and socio-economics of the Lyme Bay area, with a range of ongoing projects from the health of Pink Sea Fans to assessing the economic and ecological value of the habitats for marine conservation.     “We can also deploy state-of-the-art underwater video and diving facilities backed up by high levels of expertise in the marine biology, ecology and socio economics of the area.”  Back to top €7million to fund University research in any field IDEAS is a new FP7 Specific Programme, ideally suited to fund University research. It includes two grant schemes, one aimed at junior researchers and the other aimed at the more experienced ones. Unlike traditional FP7 consortia, research teams can come from within a single institution.     The IDEAS Programme centres around the Principal Investigator. In contrast to the usual FP7 rules, it adopts a bottom-up, investigator-driven approach and can fund almost any field of research including social sciences and the humanities.     The IDEAS Programme focuses on Frontier Research, projects should not be linked to commercial objectives. Proposals of an interdisciplinary nature, proposals in new and emerging fields, and “high risk / high gain” proposals are encouraged. This Programme takes on a bottom-up approach, which means that the researcher can choose the field he/she wishes to concentrate on. The budget has been broken down into 3 main research domains which are further broken down into 25 evaluation panels that cover all areas of science.     Physical Sciences & Engineering: 39% of total budget and 10 Panels   Life Sciences: 34% of total budget and 6 Panels   Social Sciences & Humanities: 14% and 9 Panels    An Interdisciplinary domain with an indicative budget of 13% has been set up.     There are two funding schemes:  • The Starting Investigator Grant is aimed at researchers in the early years of their career wishing to set up or consolidate a research team. The Principal Investigator must have been awarded his/her PhD more than 3 and less than 8 years prior to the call publication.   • The Advanced Researcher Grant is aimed at established researchers – the Principal Investigator must already be established as an independent research leader in his/her own right and must have a track record of significant achievements in the last 10 years.     The deadlines for submission of proposals vary for each call and sub-call.     For more information visit the FP7 website.  Back to top Knowledge Transfer Accounts - Call for proposals Knowledge Transfer Accounts (KTAs) will provide support to ensure that, where the research funded by EPSRC produces results which might benefit the UK economy and society, it is exploited to maximum effect.    EPSRC is inviting business cases from any organisation eligible to receive EPSRC grants but, to be successful in the competition, applicants will need to be able to point to a significant base of high-quality, EPSRC-funded research on which the proposed KTA will be able to draw.    Only one application per institution is allowed. This should be submitted by the Vice Chancellor or equivalent senior officer with overall responsibility for Knowledge Transfer strategy. With around £55m available for this call, the expectation is that fewer than 25 KTAs will be funded and the development of substantial bids which are likely to have real impact is encouraged.    Further EPSRC support for research exploitation (for example for KTPs and follow-on funding) will be generally available over the next few years. You should contact KTA@epsrc.ac.uk before developing a KTA bid, as it may be that these other schemes are more appropriate sources of exploitation funding.    Over the next three years EPSRC will remain focused on the provision of funding in support of research, training and Knowledge Transfer in engineering and the physical sciences. KTAs will provide a significant proportion of support for research exploitation in this period. They will give selected HEIs the resources and flexibility they will need to enable a step change in Knowledge Transfer from EPSRC funded research.    KTAs should contribute to the development of a culture in which Knowledge Transfer is both valued and given the appropriate priority and resources. The UK has a lively community dedicated to identifying innovative ideas which have commercial potential. There are also many potential users of research results who could benefit from access to new concepts, technologies and people. KTAs will help to connect these two groups with the research that EPSRC funds.    For more information visit the EPRSC website. Back to top Innovation in assisted living Funding opportunities are available through the Technology Strategy Board's Assisted Living Innovation Platform and the European Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme.    Technology Strategy Board  The Technology Strategy Board's Assisted Living Innovation Platform aims to make significant advances in the technology needed to enable people who suffer from chronic long term conditions to live independently. The Platform enables industry,  academia and health and care professionals to collaborate in order to significantly advance the technology to meet the needs in this area.    The July competition has been called the Smart Care Distributed Environment to emphasise the need to look at communications technologies within the context of a large population of users  with multiple devices, and within a personalised health and care system.    It aims to bring together different disciplines and industries to work together systematically to address issues like provision of remote care and avoiding patient isolation.    The deadline for submission of Expression of Interest Forms is the 4 September 2008.    For more information, visit the Technology Strategy Board website.    Ambient Assisted Living (AAL)  AAL intends to address the needs of Europe's ageing population, to reduce innovation barriers of forthcoming promising markets, but also to lower future social security costs.     AAL aims - by the use of intelligent products and the provision of remote services including care services - at extending the time older people can live in their home environment by increasing their autonomy and assisting them in carrying out activities of daily living.     The current call for proposals is in ICT based solutions for Prevention and Management of Chronic Conditions of Elderly People. Its objective is to launch European collaborative projects providing innovative ICT based solutions for elderly persons with identified risk factors and/or chronic conditions.    The Call promotes the creation of new solutions with a holistic approach to prevention, management, support services and the social and socio-economic environment related to chronic conditions. The AAL Joint Programme calls for proposals with a clear European dimension, with high relevance and with maximal impact on progress in the fields described in the topic definition.     The closing date for applications is 21 August 2008.    For more information visit the AAL website. Back to top Cornwall company wins waste management contract in Korea Cornwall-based waste management specialist Gar-Tech Limited has signed a contract with Utilitarian Enterprises Inc of Los Angeles, USA to supply a Re-Cyclone Eliminator System for processing general waste in South Korea. The value of the contract is over £700,000.    The Re-Cyclone Eliminator system processes all kinds of waste, from regular domestic rubbish and agricultural waste to concrete and building rubble, then separates out the recyclable materials that can be made into re-usable commodities including diesel fuel, compost and fertiliser.     The system to be supplied for Korea will be used to process up to 500 tonnes per day of food and general waste, at a cost of less than £1 per tonne. It will include a pre-shredder, an on line magnetic separator to extract ferrous metals, the Re-Cyclone Eliminator with its infeed and outfeed conveyors, and a Cyclonic Filtration unit. The processed waste will be collected and turned into diesel-type oil, which is then blended to produce usable vehicle fuel. The food waste will be processed into carbon-based material and used in fertiliser, so nothing will go to landfill.    Derek Reffell, Managing Director of Gar-Tech Co Ltd, said: “We have been trialling this system at a transfer station in Devon for some time now with spectacular results. The Re-Cyclone Eliminator has proven capable of processing large amounts of all kinds of waste at very low cost. It is helping to make better use of limited landfill capacity by reducing the volume of the waste by up to 80%. Waste management is becoming a major issue in many countries around the world, and we believe this system can make a real difference. We are a relatively small company based in Cornwall, but with this technology we are set to become a world leader.”    In 2005, Gar-Tech used the Innovation Relay Centre's Technology Watch Service and as a result entered into a joint venture with a Maltese company. The Innovation Relay Centre has now ceased operations but Enterprise Europe South West, established on 1 April 2008, offers a wide range of innovation support, including a technology partnering database, promoted in this newsletter.    For more information, visit the website or contact Gar-Tech on 01752 846456. Back to top Cornish Company wins Ashden award for sustainable energy Kensa Engineering, a Cornwall manufacturer of ground source heat pumps, has won an international award for sustainable energy and £30,000 in prize money.     The company took first place in the Energy Business category of the Ashden Awards, which recognised their ‘ground-breaking work in addressing fuel poverty, cutting carbon emissions and making renewable energy more accessible.’ Richard Freeborn, chairman of Kensa Engineering, was personally congratulated by the Prince of Wales, who is the patron of the Ashden Awards, at a private ceremony at Clarence House.     The Ashden Awards bring to light inspiring sustainable energy solutions in the UK and developing world and help ensure that they are spread more widely. From an entrepreneur rolling out solar power across rural India to a school adopting clean energy and green learning in England, our winners are passionate about bringing change to their communities and the planet.    The Awards were founded in 2001 by the Ashden Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts (SFCT) and are today an internationally recognised yardstick for excellence in the field of sustainable energy.     The 2009 Ashden Awards are now open for applications. Applicants are required to submit a short Expression of Interest by 28 October 2008. The Expressions of Interest will be reviewed by Awards staff and members of the judging panel in November 2008 and up to 20 applicants will be invited to submit a full application.     To find out more about the awards visit the Ashden Awards website. Back to top Steria moves to Tamar Science Park Steria, the leading end-to-end IT services provider in Europe, has moved to Tamar Science Park as part of the company’s regional development strategy.    Steria offers customers integrated services and consulting in core business processes as well as the development and operation of its information systems. The company focuses on setting up strategic partnerships with its customers in each of its key markets: the public sector, finance, telecommunications, utilities and transport. Already an established firm, the group employs 19,000 staff in 16 countries. In 2007, Steria’s revenue amounted to €1.4 billion (€1.9 billion pro forma).    Steven Littlefair, Relationship Manager at Steria, commented: ‘Steria is already working with clients in the South West and our presence at Tamar Science Park is part of our regional development strategy. The Park has excellent relationships with local businesses and the University of Plymouth so we are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work, and network, in an environment where there is a desire to focus on innovation and technology at a regional level.’    Tamar Science Park features prominently in Plymouth City Council’s Local Economic Strategy and is seen as a driver of innovation and entrepreneurship as well as a catalyst for wealth and job creation in the South West. The Park’s client base mirrors the sectors highlighted in the recently launched Strategy and the key sector thrusts supported by the South West Regional Development Agency. Nigel Halford, Park Chief Executive, added: ‘Steria is a continually expanding company and will prove an asset to the South West business market. We welcome the company to the Park and wish it every success in implementing its ambitious regional development strategy.’  Back to top Innovation Nation interactive DIUS would like to hear your views and feedback on their Innovation Nation strategy, published in March 2008, to help inform the implementation of the strategy.     There is an interactive version of the Executive Summary of the document on the DIUS website. This interactive version enables you to comment on the recommendations individually or by theme, and see the contributions others have made.    The site will be active until 12 September 2008. The feedback and discussion received by this point will be reviewed by the policy officials leading the implementation of the strategy, and a short summary of views will be published.    To view the document and make your comments, visit the DIUS website.   Back to top Arresting and self-healing cracks Materials that can stop a crack and then self-heal have been brought a step closer to reality thanks to a new project launched by the University of Bristol and Imperial College London.     The Crack Arrest and Self-Healing in Composite Structures (CRASHCOMPS) project will be funded over four years with a £1.2 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.    The team's research will focus on carbon fibre polymer composites - materials made by combining extremely stiff and strong fibres with polymers to create strong, durable and lightweight materials. These are particularly important in the aerospace and transport industries, which use carbon fibre composites to make aircraft wings, helicopter rotor blades and ship hulls.    However, use and development of composites has been limited by concerns that they are susceptible to defects and damage. Dr Emile Greenhalgh from Imperial College London’s Composites Centre explains that because of this, current applications use excessively heavy parts, which leads to higher fuel consumption:  “Because engineers are worried about cracks forming in composites, they currently build many aircraft parts much stronger, and therefore heavier, than may be necessary, so they can withstand a 40% loss in strength during use. This means more fuel is needed to get them off the ground and flying to their destinations, which is far from ideal, in terms of aviation’s impact on the environment,” he said.    The aim of the new research project is to develop tailor-made composite materials which arrest the development of cracks, and heal themselves, which could be used with confidence to build lightweight, safe, damage-resistant components for more fuel-efficient aircraft, trains, cars and ships.    To achieve this, the team at Imperial will introduce materials which will deflect the path of the crack, and absorb the fracture energy associated with it. Once the crack has been arrested, the team at University of Bristol will utilise materials which ‘bleed and clot’, healing the crack and recovering much of the original material strength.    Dr Ian Bond from the University of Bristol’s Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science, adds: “Nature provides a great deal of inspiration for how we can better engineer high performance structures. In addition to strength and stiffness, attributes such as toughness and self-healing are widely found throughout the range of biological materials, many of which are composites. This project will seek to understand and implement a variety of innovative and bio-inspired approaches to deliver a breakthrough in the performance of advanced composite materials.”    The new funding will also enable a free annual CRASHCOMP workshop, held at Bristol and Imperial on alternate years, providing a forum for researchers and industry to review the results and contribute to the direction of the programme. Back to top UK continues to punch above its weight in world class research The UK has increased its share of published research in the world's most influential scientific journals and offers the best return globally for R&D investment, a report published by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has found.     The study provides an annual benchmark for the Government and others to assess how the UK is performing alongside the 25 world leading research economies - including the G8 nations, India and China.     The report, which analysed 17 million papers and 22.5 million citations in 8000 of the world's leading scientific journals, found that the UK contributes nine per cent of papers produced annually and a 12 per cent share of citations, placing it second only to the USA in world rankings.     The UK has also increased its share of citations in 'high impact' journals which make up only 1 per cent of all journals - such as Nature, Science and Cell - to 13.4 per cent, demonstrating a continued increase from 12.9 per cent in 2004 and 13.2 per cent in 2005.     Minister for Science and Innovation, Ian Pearson, said:   "For a country of its size, the UK is widely acknowledged to be an extremely effective research performer. It is difficult to improve on this level of achievement, but we have done so despite ever increasing competition. With continued investment from the government and the outstanding research talents we possess I am confident that the UK can sustain its position as the world's most productive research nation.     "The quality of research undertaken in the UK and reported in journal papers is reflected by the fact the UK leads the other G8 nations. UK researchers receive on average two and a half times more citations compared with the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.     The report also highlights a four fold increase in the number of papers produced by China over the last decade. Despite having a growing scientific economy however, China remains relatively unproductive ranked 16th (as does the USA, ranked 17th) in terms of paper output per unit of R&D investment.   Mr Pearson added:     "Possibly the most relevant finding of the report is that the UK offers the best value for money. The UK is ranked top for the number of papers published and cited in relation to R&D investment. The UK's output of papers in relation to investment is almost twice that of France, Germany and America. China, despite having a growing scientific economy, remains relatively unproductive as does the USA, ranked 17th and 16th place respectively."     The report identified nations which have also substantially increased their share of world papers. This includes Brazil, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and most notably Iran - which has shown a ten-fold increase to almost 7,000 papers over the last year.     Mr Pearson continued:   "Global benchmarks are affected by massive and rapid investment and growth in China and significant research and development in smaller countries, such as Iran. The competitive salaries and state of the art research environments offered by China will undoubtedly attract international researchers to its shores. And this in turn will increase China's output and research impact further.     "However the UK will not be left behind. As this report indicates, the UK already represents the best value for money in terms of investment made and research paper outputs. With a commitment to invest almost six billion in science research and innovation by 2011 I am confident the UK will continue to punch above its weight, retain its excellent research base and continue to be the destination of choice for leading international researchers. "     The report also identified an increase in the impact of UK papers (the number of UK papers that are published in the top one per cent of scientific journals) as a result of increased international collaboration. Collaborations with the USA, Germany and France specifically boosted the quality of research publications.   Back to top EU officials to do fieldwork in SME’s The European Commission’s Directorate-General (DG ENTR) is looking for SMEs in the aerospace sector who would be interested in hosting a Commission official for one week in order to help him/her to understand better the problems SMEs are facing. The action will be financed from the DG Enterprise's training budget and thus there is no cost to the participating official or to the host firm.    The EC officials will be available to explain and present to the host companies and to the local business community EU policies of importance to business. They will help to understand better the European Union, institutions and environment.     For this programme, DG Enterprise is working in close cooperation with three business organisations - BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME and EUROCHAMBRES. It is these organisations (not the Commission) that will draw up the list of potential host companies. In this process, the following factors will be applied:    Location: Host companies can be in any of the 25 member states of the European Union, although they should be reasonably accessible. Ideally they will be located in places where the trainee can also establish contact with the wider business community and so broaden the training experience (e.g. presence of local Chamber of Commerce or business organisation, proximity to centre of population).    Size: Host companies will not have more than 250 employees. There is no minimum size, although the company should be in a position to offer a varied experience to the visitor.    Sector: SMEs from any sector will be accepted.    To find out more, visit the EC website.  Back to top The Investment Connection launches 1 September For any university spin-out company, raising capital is one of the most difficult challenges. Science|Business can help, through its network, by introducing nominated spin-out companies to multinational and individual investors.    Science|Business has launched the first pan-European awards for academic enterprise – to result in a jury prize on 2 December 2008 in Stockholm. As an added value, it is providing an opportunity for nominees and investors to connect with one another – on their own terms. Though some deals may result, they will be independent of the formal process of submission, evaluation and selection for the awards.     For investors, it’s a convenient way to broaden the net to find promising new, research-based companies. For the companies, it’s a simple and cost-free way of getting in front of some potential funders.     To find out more, visit the Science|Business website. Back to top Government seeks small businesses' views Anne Glover’s committee, announced as part of the Enterprise Strategy and Budget 2008, has issued an online call for evidence as part of its work to help more small and medium sized businesses win public sector contracts.     The committee is considering ways to increase opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the practicality of a goal of such firms winning 30% of all public sector contracts.     Small firms, public purchasers and industry groups are invited to share their experiences of doing business across both central government and local authorities using the portal set up here.    The Glover review will consider issues such as improved tendering procedures, better information for SMEs and reducing the barriers SMEs may face when competing for public sector contracts. The committee builds on previous work to assist SMEs carried out by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.     Speaking of the Budget 2008 initiative, Angela Eagle, Exchequer Secretary said: "The UK is one of the best places in the world to do business. Working in partnership and broadening the opportunities is the key to ensuring the UK is properly equipped to meet the challenges ahead.     "I want to be sure that SMEs enjoy the same access to public sector contracts as their bigger counterparts and I want to learn of their experiences across small and large contract values in shaping future policy."     Business Minister Shriti Vadera said:"Many smaller businesses are more innovative and offer better value for money but are often disadvantaged when competing against large companies with more resources to dedicate to tender applications.     "The Anne Glover review will help identify where we can improve accessibility for SMEs and increase their participation in government procurement."     The Enterprise Strategy, published alongside the Budget in March, contains a number of measures to provide support to SMEs. It includes a three month free trial, currently available, to provide small and medium sized businesses with access to thousands of public sector contract opportunities via the supply2 website.    The online call is open until 8 August.  Back to top TECHNOLOGY PARTNERING SERVICE Enterprise Europe is an exciting new pan-European network established by the European Commission. A new team of 12 people based around the region will provide high quality advice and hands on support to business throughout the South West in relation to Europe and the Single Market, with a focus on innovation, technology transfer and company participation in Commissions R&D Framework.     Visit the new Enterprise Europe South West website for more information.    If you would like to find out more about any of the below technology offers or requests, please email Kenny Legg or call 01275 370 808.    CURRENT TECHNOLOGY OFFERS    Controlled Rate Freezing of Large Volumes of Plasma and other Biological Fluids (Ref: 08 GB 41n8 0IHO)  A UK company offers the technology for cryopreservation of large volumes (50 ml to 1000 ml) of blood plasma or cell suspensions. It can be used in laboratories which operate under sterile conditions or require high air quality, and presents no risk of contamination to samples. With low running costs the cooling rate is precisely controlled, ensuring good recovery upon thawing. The company is seeking partners to commercialise the technology.    Testing device for detecting and determining material inhomogenities (Ref: 08 DE 18A5 0IHV)  The invention of a German research institute relates to a testing device for detecting and localizing material inhomogeneities in electrically conductive subjects or samples. The device sets the temperature or the temperature gradient in the measured object in a targeted manner and measures the magnetic field outside the measured object. A licence agreement would be of interest but also technical co-operation.    Process development and in-process control for precision friction welding of new material combination (Ref: 08 DE 18A5 0IER)  A German research institute develops processes of friction welding for highest precision production. The in-process control of the precision technology allows process conduction and quality check. The potential partner should be interested in applying that friction welding technology to specific customer requirements for an efficient and very precise joining process.    Lightweight human movement & motion data capture system (Ref: 08 GB 41n8 0IHZ)  A UK company offers a small self-contained data capture system for the analysis of human motion in medical research & sports performance. Used singly or in multiples the unit integrates accelerometers with rate gyroscopes to capture data on ‘six degrees of freedom.’ Designed to allow unrestrained human motion units are easy to attach and provide accurate data (stored on a removable micro-SD memory card and then transferred for subsequent analysis). The company is seeking commercial partners.    Location-based mapping, navigation & information solutions for smart mobile devices (Ref: 08 GB 41n8 0IHX)  A UK company offers innovative solutions that exploit the convergence of mobile phone, imaging, & global positioning system (GPS) technologies for the outdoor activity market. Advantages include full colour topographic mapping, 3D panoramic viewpoint maps, integration with the smartphone camera & use of existing mobile network data services. Already launched in Europe, the company is seeking additional publishing/tourism/leisure content owners interested in using this smart mobile platform.    Printed Electronics Development System Using Breakthrough Inkjet Technology (Ref: 08 GB 41n8 0IHT)  UK based company offers a proven development system for the direct write of conductive metals onto non-porous substrates. The low temperature two-step process – inkjet printing followed by electroless plating – enables variable metal thickness & produces line widths approaching 50 microns. Advantages include low cost, superb flexibility, & ease of implementation. The company can provide complete systems or modify existing equipment & is seeking additional commercial/R&D partners    Process to measure wall thickness on basis of microwave (Ref: 08 DE 18A5 0IHY)  A German institute for electrical engineering has developed a process to measure wall thickness on basis of microwaves. The technology can be applied of materials made of insulator materials like flat or round glass. The technology is also suitable for continuous check on a production line of large-scale production. They are interested in a licence agreement and also in technical co-operation.    Surface protection for wear-resistant coating (contact surface, sealing surface) (Ref: 08 DE 18A5 0IEW)  A German SME is active in the field of surface protection and manufacturing of custom-made chipping and moulding tools. The high-tech technology for tool production was enhanced for new applications in the field of surface preparation and protection. The company is searching a partner for further adaptation and the implementation of new applications.    Pyrolysis of products containing hydrocarbon (Ref: 08 DE 18A5 0II7)  A German company developed the technology of pyrolysis. That is a thermal decomposition to the exclusion of oxygen. Macromolecular chains are shortened into shorter, saturated and unsaturated fragments in that process. At temperatures of 600 to 900 degree Celsius develop pyrolysis oils, gases and solid residues. The company is looking for a partner joining the preparation of the technology ready for the market.    Novel flavours - design, production and formulation (Ref: 08 DE 0957 0IJ4)  A German SME has developed a procedure to design novel flavours. The procedure is particularly suitable for small batches. It does not only quickly provide a recipe to make a concentrate of the desired flavour, but also takes into account the environment of application of the flavour. Small producers of flavours for the food industry are sought for a joint venture in order to jointly develop and produce tailor-made flavours according to the inquiries of their regional customers.    Power-blasting-cleaning-technology for the removal of graffiti (Ref: 08 DE 0957 0IJ3)  A young Saxon company developed a power-blasting