The NanoKTN Supports The European Commission's Investment In Information Communication Technology

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Article Date: 09 Jan 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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1.8 billion euros invested to encourage new developments and research into ICT

The Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN), one of the UK's primary knowledge-based networks for Micro and Nanotechnologies, has announced its support for the 1.8bn euros that has been made available by the European Commission, through their Information Communications Technology (ICT) fund. There are scheduled to be two large funding calls (4th and 5th calls for proposals) over two years that have been put in place to support the nanotechnology and microtechnology markets and encourage the development of research and production in this area. UK organisations are expected to directly claim over €100m for micro and nanotechnology enabled research and development.

The European Commission has launched this funding to improve the competitiveness of European Industry and to ensure Europe continues to be a key player in shaping future developments in ICT. The objective of the ICT initiative is to help drive and stimulate product service and process innovation through ICT use and value creation in Europe. By doing this, the European Commission aims to ensure that ICT progress is rapidly transformed into benefits for Europe's citizens, businesses, industry and governments.

"The European Commission is pleased to be supporting research projects with participants from different countries and we are looking forward to seeing how we can develop new knowledge, technology and products," explains the European Commission Framework 7's UK National Contact Point for ICT, Peter Walters. "New breakthroughs in ICT will continue to develop over the next decade and bring ever-more wide ranging applications that will continue to drive growth and innovation and ensure sustainability in our economies and societies. We need to ensure Europe is a central point for this development and hope the funding will encourage this."

The ICT Theme is divided into a number of different challenges covering varying areas of interest. Challenge 3 covers Components, Systems and Engineering with an estimated allocation of €180m for 2009 and €195m for 2010. Challenge 5 focuses on sustainable and personalised healthcare and has been allocated €95m for 2009, and Future and Emerging Technologies that has been provided with €171m for 2009 and 2010. It is expected that the UK will capture at least 15% of this sizeable amount of funding. Challenges 3 and 5 are open now for proposals and close on April 1st 2009. The 2010 calls will be opening in July 2009.

The NanoKTN is dedicated to helping its members understand how to write a successful proposal and identify suitable partnerships for collaborative work. Through updates, e-bulletins, seminars and public presentations, the NanoKTN aims to assist its members and create connections between research, academics and manufacturers.

"By encouraging businesses to work with academic and research institutions on new research and development, we hope to be able to develop successful new products and services," says Dr Alec Reader, Director of the NanoKTN. "This funding made available by the European Commission will help the UK play a key part in ICT research and innovation in Europe. We look forward to seeing what new ideas and products are proposed and developed."

ICT Call Number Four has a budget of €810m and opens on November 19th and closes on April 1st 2009.

About NanoKTN

The NanoKTN facilitates the transfer of knowledge and experience between industry and research, offering companies dealing in small-scale technology access to information on new processes, patents and funding as well as keeping up-to-date with industry regulation. The four broad areas that the NanoKTN focuses on are: Promoting and facilitating knowledge exchange, supporting the growth of UK capabilities, raising awareness of Nanotechnology, and providing thought leadership and input to UK policy and strategy.

About Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs)

Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) are national networks in specific fields of technology or business application, which bring together people from businesses, universities, research, finance, the public sector and technology organisations to stimulate innovation through knowledge exchange.

Funded by the Technology Strategy Board, their activities play an increasingly important role in the development of the Government's technology strategy, and help to feed and drive the Collaborative Research & Development Programme and other innovation interventions. There are currently 24 KTNs with a total membership of about 25,000 people. For further information please see http://www.ktnetworks.co.uk

About CPI

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) was established by One NorthEast as a UK wide resource to stimulate and drive innovation within the Process Industry. Working with global industry partners and leading research universities CPI is committed to delivering world-class, groundbreaking applied research and development.

About The Technology Strategy Board

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established by the government. Its role is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life.

The Technology Strategy Board

FP7UK is a Technology Strategy Board programme.

FP7UK