§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential IT benefits from fundamental research at CCLRC; and what steps he is taking to mobilise UK enterprise to maximise the opportunities. [100241]
§ Ms HewittIT is intrinsic to CCLRC's research activities, not just those of the computer science and engineering and IT departments. Its benefits are continuously assessed by the other Research Councils, which are its primary customers.
CCLRC is actively involved in programmes to disseminate knowledge and technology to the wider business community. These include regional initiatives to provide access for SMEs to the skills base, and participation in a programme on behalf of the EU to involve industry in future developments of the worldwide web.
It is also active in encouraging development of start-up companies on CCLRC sites, where the business development offices at Daresbury and Rutherford encourage technology transfer and act as 'incubators' in the initial growth phase. A particular success story is that of Bookham Technology Ltd., founded in 1989, and located at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory from 1992–97.
The company designs and manufactures silicon integrated optical devices for the next generation of fibre-optic cable. It has raised $90 million of investment to date from such firms as Intel, Cisco, and 3I, and now employs 210 staff on sites in the UK, USA, and Japan.