§ Lord Dormand of Easingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action is being taken to encourage technology transfer.
§ Lord HeskethThe Department of Trade and Industry has a number of specific technology transfer programmes in place to encourage and assist industry, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, to adopt modern technologies and best practice associated with those technologies. Examples are "Material Matter", concerned with modern manufacturing materials, and "Open Systems", concerned with interworking between different brands of computer. Technology transfer is an important element in other major DTI programmes, particularly the Enterprise Initiative consultancy schemes and the many collaborative research programmes. The Government promote and encourage maximum UK participation in the various European Community technology transfer initiatives.