Lord Morrisasked Her Majesty's Government:
If they will make a statement about progress on the LINK programme.
§ The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Lord Young of Graffham)In announcing the LINK initiative, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister indicated the Government's intention to boost industrially relevant research and development, and to make scientists and the business community more aware of the potential of science and technology for commercial exploitation. LINK will eventually range over the whole spectrum of science based technology.
On Wednesday, 3rd February 1988, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I announced the first five LINK programme areas. These are: Molecular Electronics, Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Industrial Measurement Systems, Eukaryotic Genetic Engineering, and Nanotechnology. Each of these programmes is in a key area of strategic research.
646WAThe first five programmes will account for some £83m. The total expenditure on LINK by Government and industry is expected to be at least £420m over the next five years; Government will meet up to half of the cost of each programme.