As part of the New Technologies Delivery Plan, DEFRA's Demonstrator Programme fund aims to investigate commercial and technical viability of waste treatment processes that have not been used in the UK.
Plans for the fund were revealed by DEFRA in January 2004 (see letsrecycle.com story), including supporting the initiation of ten demonstrator plants in the next two years.
Applications to the fund will be assessed by the Technologies Advisory Committee, which is chaired by Peter Calliafas of Barclays Bank and is looking to support at least four different types of technology. And environmental consultants RPS Group have been appointed as project management contractor to oversee both the bidding process and the demonstrator plants.
Financial support from the fund will be in the form of grants or co-investment as determined in each case. But all funding will be subject to EC State Aid legislation so demonstrator projects must start as non-commercial and non-competitive developments.
Also part of the New Technologies Delivery Plan is the Technologies Research and Innovation Fund. This 2 million fund was opened for applications in January and will providing financial support for the research and development of new technologies.
For more information on the programme, applications and criteria go to the
DEFRA waste website.
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