The Research Councils welcome the changes to the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) announced by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, on 1 November. The Technology Strategy Board, which will now be independent, will take over the funding of the £178 million Technology Programme next year. The new board will fund industry R&D projects, advise Government and help UK businesses to take up new innovative technologies. The Research Councils are already active partners of the TSB. They have made available £20 million since autumn 2004 for the Collaborative R&D part of the programme. In the spring 2006 call, Councils contributed £8 million of the £70 million awarded.
The new body, operating at arm’s length from Government from Swindon, will offer new opportunities for collaboration. Chief Executives have valued the constructive relationship with Graham Spittle, who has agreed to continue as Chair of the Board, and will look forward to working with him in this role. Mr Spittle commented: "One of the most encouraging aspects of our work has been the increasing level of engagement and joint funding provided by the Research Councils, regions and Government Departments. From the initial competitions, which involved DTI, Defra and EPSRC, there is now also involvement from the majority of the RDAs, the Devolved Administrations, more of the Research Councils as well as other Government departments, such as the MoD."
In addition to Collaborative R&D, the new body will administer the Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs). The Research Councils currently support a number of KTNs, including the Sensors KTN, which brings together the UK’s sensing community, from academics and large industries to small businesses, Research Councils and government departments. The TSB will promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, science and technology and new ideas for the benefit of business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life. The Research Councils will work closely with the TSB to ensure that policies and spending programmes contribute fully to the technology and innovation agenda, creating real commercial advantage for UK business.