A 10 million portion will be available for waste management and minimisation projects as the November 2004 Competition for Funding, part of the DTI's Technology Programme.
”The latest ideas and technologies can be turned into businesses, jobs and prosperity for Britain.“
– Patricia Hewitt
Projects looking at new ways to reduce or eliminate the creation of wastes will be able to apply for grants from the fund. New physical or chemical applications to recover or re-use waste – as well as hazardous wastes – will also be able to apply for funding.
New alternatives to landfill, such as thermal, catalytic or biological digestion systems will also be funded through the initiative.
World-beating
Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt, who announced the new funding yesterday, said it would provide investment for “world-beating” technologies where there were “clear gaps in the market”.
Ms Hewitt said: “We want to kick-start research and development in these areas to ensure that the latest ideas and technologies can be turned into businesses, jobs and prosperity for Britain.”
Applications for the funding are being encouraged under the following areas:
- Minimisation/re-use/recycling/recovery
- Waste treatment
- Alternatives to landfill
- Strategic Approaches to Waste Management
Typically, a successful project would last one to three years at a budget of about 1 million to 2 million, but the DTI said larger projects would be considered.
The funding forms a major part of the DTI's new five-year plan “Creating Wealth from Knowledge”, which was launched earlier this month to give the department a new focus on science, innovation and technology.
Boost
Graham Spittle, who chairs the DTI's Technology Strategy Board, said: “This money will give a massive boost to companies developing exciting technology with long-term implications.”
Companies wishing to apply for the competition must register an intention to submit an application by January 31, 2005, and an outline application submission by February 7, 2005.
For more details on how to apply, see the DTI Open Competitions website.
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