Cumbria Action Team (Hansard, 20 December 1991)

§ Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 17 December 1991]: The Cumbria action team is involved in the co-ordination of a 391W wide range of Government initiatives, most of which are administered either from Manchester or London. 'These are not costed on a geographical basis and are in addition to the direct administrative costs of the action team. This is an inter-departmental body, led by DTI and the costs fall across participating Departments. The DTI direct cost element represents about 2 per cent. of the total DTI-North West's running costs.

DTI schemes and services for business development
Scheme	Eligibility	Level and type of assistance
Innovation
LINK	Minimum one United Kingdom industrial partner and one United Kingdom science base partner. Pre-competitive, collaborative research.	Up to 50 per cent, grant of eligible project costs.
EUREKA	Companies undertaking high technology R & D with at least one other company from a different EUREKA country.	Up to 50 per cent, grant of eligible project costs.
ATP (Advanced Technology Programmes)	At least two firms or research organisations in collaboration. Pre-competitive research.	Up to 50 per cent, grant of eligible project costs.
Club R & D	A group of companies RTOs, REs, in pre-competitive, collaborative research undertaken by a host organisation.	Up to 50 per cent, of eligible project costs.
SMART (Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology)	Single United Kingdom firms with fewer than 50 employees. High risk innovative ideas.	75 per cent, grant of project costs; max. £45,000.
SPUR (Support for Projects Under Research)	Single companies up to 500 employees. For new product and process development.	Fixed 30 per cent, grant; max. £150,000.
TAL (Technical Action Line)	Single independent firms or groups with up to 500 employees. Some exclusions as in CI. Immediate technical problems.	Tapering support for operation by RTCs and support of consultancy.
MPT (Manufacturing Planning and Implementation Studies programme)	Single companies up to 500 employees for planning the introduction of modern manufacturing systems.	Fixed 50 per cent, grant for external advice up to £50,000 maximum.
ROTTP (Regional Office Technology Transfer Programme)	Public and private sector. Technology transfer	Grant, underwriting, subsidy for SMEs to attend conferences.
OTIS (Overseas Technical Information Service)	United Kingdom Government and industry. Technology transfer	Firms pay only variable cost arising from their use of service at present.
OSTEMS (Overseas Science and Technology Expert Missions Scheme)	United Kingdom industry, science base, research association. Technology transfer	Approximately 50 per cent, grant.
Regional Technology Centres	RTCs are intended to provide technology transfer and training services to SMEs.	Pump-priming. £75,000 over three years tapered funding DES pay 60 per cent.; DTI 40 per cent.
AIT3 (Advanced IT Technology Transfer)	Mainly contract work carried out by competitive tendering.	100 per cent, funding.
OSTT (Open Systems Technology Transfer)	A variety of activities carried out by specialist consultants on short-term contracts.	100 per cent, funding.
Materials Matter	Increasing awareness and transfer knowledge of new material technologies.	Attendance at technology transfer events free for SMEs, but industrial contributions sought for clubs, support likely to be up to 50 per cent, funding.
Other miscellaneous technology transfer activities under innovation budget	United Kingdom organisations, especially those with up to 500 employees. Miscellaneous technology transfer projects.	Up to 50 per cent, grant.
Single European Market
Single Market Campaign (info service/publicity and promotional materials)	All firms, business support organisations intermediaries and HEIs.	Free info service on single market related matters; includes literature, quarterly newsletter, telephone enquiry point, access to Government officials, signposting to business support organisations/intermediaries.