Research and Technology Initiative (Hansard, 26 October 1988)

HC Deb 26 October 1988 vol 139 cc289-91 289

§ 16. Mr. Patrick Thompson
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the response to his Department's research and technology initiative.

§ Mr. Forth
There has been a very encouraging response —[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Madden
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. It is perfectly in order for an hon. Member to remove his question. It is not a matter for me and it is in order.

§ Mr. Haynes
The hon. Member for Honiton (Sir P. Emery) has been got at.

§ Mr. Forth
There has been a very encouraging response to the research and technology initiative since its launch on 12 January. I have arranged for a short note to be published in the Official Report today—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Haynes
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. A point of order does not arise on this.—[Interruption.] Order. However, I think that it would be helpful if an hon. Member who is not moving his question is not in the Chamber. Mr. Forth.

§ Mr. Forth
There has been a very encouraging response to the research and technology initiative since its launch on 12 January. I have arranged for a short note to be published—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. This takes up time at Question Time. I have already ruled that a point of order cannot arise on such a matter. Mr. Forth.

§ Mr. Forth
There has been a very encouraging response to the research and technology initiative since its launch on 12 January. I have arranged for a short note to be published in the Official Report today, outlining progress on the programmes in more detail.

§ Mr. Thompson
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply and for the encouraging news. Does he agree that if we are to compete successfully in Europe and elsewhere much more needs to be done, not least in the education and recruitment of skilled scientists, engineers and technicians.

§ Mr. Forth
I agree with my hon. Friend. He will be aware of the education and enterprise initiative, recently launched jointly by three Government Departments, the principal aim of which is to do precisely what my hon. Friend has asked—to bring industry and education more closely together, to encourage understanding and mix their skills so that we may progress further in the development of the required skills in industry.

§ Mr. Ingram
Will the Minister comment on the difficulty that he is experiencing in the privatisation of the national engineering laboratory at East Kilbride? Does he agree that, given those difficulties, it would be better for NEL to remain in the public sector, where it has successfully served industry for the past 40 years?

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§ Mr. Forth
The future of NEL is still being considered and discussions are still continuing. I believe that it is right that we should continue to explore the best possibilities for giving NEL, and any other facility, the most promising and positive future. That is what my Department and the Secretary of State have in mind as we continue to look at the matter.

§ Mr. Hind
As part of the research and technology initiative, will my hon. Friend consider—[Interruption.] As part of the research and development initiative will my hon. Friend consider the technology enterprise—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Let us settle down now, as we have important questions to consider.

§ Mr. Hind
Will my hon. Friend consider the technology enterprise trust, which is now operating in Manchester, and which is funded by private enterprise? As a result of that trust, teams of experts go into universities and advise academics on patents, registration, product licences and on obtaining further research funds to expand with a view to going into production. That is an idea that could be spread throughout the country, and private enterprise has an important part to play in that.

§ Mr. Forth
I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing the attention of the House to something that is obviously a good example of the way in which the private sector can work positively together with further and higher education, to the benefit of all. I am sure that my hon. Friend will be delighted to know that that is in tune with the developments that my Department is trying to encourage.

§ Dr. Bray
In considering the proposals received under the research and technology initiative, does the DTI try to pick winners, or does it try to sabotage them? Surely the fiasco of the attempted sale of the national engineering laboratory shows the ignorance of the Secretary of State, the true state of engineering research in this country and its need for serious support.

§ Mr. Forth
I find it difficult to understand why the hon. Gentleman should so criticise a move designed to recognise that those closest in their work to the requirements of industry should be given greater freedom and flexibility to work ever more closely with industry, to the mutual benefit of all. I would have thought that the hon. Gentleman would also recognise that it is to the long-term benefit of employees involved in research-related activities that they should be given the freedom and responsibility to work more closely with their customers who pay for their work. I hope, in recognising that, that he will understand that the future of NEL will be more secure against that background than it has been in the past.

§ Following is the information:

§ THE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE PROGRESS REPORT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

§ The research and technology initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry comprises three main areas—support for collaborative research, support for new technology ideas in small firms and technology transfer initiatives. This note outlines progress up to end September 1988 since the launch of current DTI policies in the White Paper "DTI—the department for Enterprise" (Cm. 278) in January 1988.

291 Collaborative Research Support for collaborative research is provided under four main headings: LINK. An across-Whitehall initiative of pre-competitive, industrially relevant research undertaken by companies jointly with the science base. DTI is one of the main contributors to LINK and, of the 10 programmes launched since January 1988, nine have DTI participation, amounting to over £35 million. Twenty individual projects are at an advanced stage of processing and over 130 more are under discussion. Major LINK programme areas include advanced electronics and biotechnology. EUREKA. Industrially led projects with European Community and other European partners. EUREKA has been in existence since 1985. There are currently 214 approved EUREKA projects, of which 74, with total costs of £1.1 billion, involve United Kingdom partners; 22 are United Kingdom led. United Kingdom organisations have expressed interest in participating in a further 21 projects and another 13 proposals involving United Kingdom organisations are in circulation seeking partners. Since January 1988, nearly £9 million of DTI funding has been committed to 16 projects. A further 30 are in various stages of consideration. Examples of major EUREKA projects are high definition television and lasers for manufacturing.

§ Advanced technology programmes.

§ These promote longer-term industrially led collaborative projects between United Kingdom companies in advanced technologies. Eleven of these programmes have been launched, some having been announced before January 1988. A hight level of interest has been generated, in particular for the new programmes in information technology. Over 800 outline projects were submitted in response to the call for proposals for the IT programmes. Examples of other important areas featured in advanced technology programmes are superconductivity and advanced robotics.

§ General Industrial Collaborative Projects.

§ These bring together companies, particularly small companies, and research organisations including Government research establishments and research and technology organisations on a variety of projects or programmes of research which would not meet the criteria of the other schemes. To date, nine programmes at RTOs have been launched as well as four programmes at other bodies. Over 130 new projects are either running or under consideration.

§ Overall response to the initiative has been good, with well over 1,100 proposals, either firm or in outline, having been received for the programmes of collaborative research.

§ Small Firms

§ Support is provided for the development of new technology ideas in small firms under the SMART—small firms merit award for research and technology—scheme. This is a competition for firms with under 200 employees. Over 900 applications were submitted for the awards of £37,500. The applications are in the final stages of judging and winners will be announced in November. Due to the high quality of the entries, it is expected that the number of awards will be increased from the 100 originally planned.

§ Technology Transfer

§ DTI technology transfer activities include promotion of understanding and take-up of modern technologies and best practice techniques, various programmes of technology transfer from overseas and the establishment of the regional technology centres jointly with DES and the training agency. RTCs have now been established in most parts of the country. Subject to demonstration of industrial support, it is expected that further RTCs will be set up in early 1989. It is hoped that they will all be linked by a national network over the next year. A review of a number of DTI technology transfer activities has recently taken place and detailed announcements will be made later in the year. The new programmes will include a £12 million three-year programme to promote greater awareness in industry and commerce of the importance of open systems standards and the benefits that this can bring through the greater inter-working of IT systems.