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Technology: Research

Answer

The DTI is supporting a wide range of measures to stimulate research and development in low carbon technologies throughout the R and D energy innovation chain.(a) Existing steps taken include:Expenditure by the Research Councils (which are funded from the DTI science budget) on energy related basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training will rise to over £70 million per annum by 2007-08. Research Council investments cover the full range of energy from renewables, fusion, improving networks and conventional generation, through to research to keep the nuclear option open. Energy research remains a cross-Council priority for future allocations.Industrial collaborative research and development is funded through the DTFs Technology programme. The Technology programme is designed to stimulate innovation in the UK economy through higher levels of research and development and knowledge transfer. Funding is focussed on projects in strategically important technology areas. The DTI spends around £20 million per annum on low carbon energy technologies as part of this programme.The UK is also an active participant in the Framework programme, which is Europe’s main funding vehicle for research and development. The Government actively encourages UK participation in the Framework programme, and provides help and support to applicants through a dedicated helpline and structured workshops.In Framework programme 6, which ran from 2002-06, the Energy element was worth €880 million of which the UK was successful in obtaining around €100 million of funding. The ““Energy Thematic? within Framework programme 7 is worth 2.3 billion Euros and runs from 2007-2013. The first call is currently underway.(b) Future steps planned include:In September 2006 the Secretary of State published a prospectus for a new Energy Technologies Institute, and confirmed that the Government would commit upto £500 million over ten years to this 50:50 public-private partnership. It will provide a focus for industrial collaboration and substantially increase the level of investment in the R and D necessary to identify the most promising energy technologies, and to accelerate their deployment.Further support is provided by other Government Departments and organisations. (For example the Carbon Trust, which—among other activities—provides support for innovation into low carbon energy activities.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

131738; 459 c683-4W

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Energy Technology Research

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk