Process and control focus for Foresight LINK awards

Some £10million-worth of government funding has been earmarked to strengthen the links between science and business in the UK. Part of a new scheme called the Foresight LINK awards, the funding will help 'ensure that British excellence in basic science - and its access to world science - is translated into British business success,' says Beckett.

Part of the raison d'etre for the scheme is to 'provide a new focus for technologies for sustainable development,' Beckett comments. Proposals addressing pollution monitoring and control technologies, as well as energy and resources conservation, will receive preferential treatment, as will projects from sectors 'which do not have an established track record of collaboration with the science base.'

The £10million pumped into the project by the DTI will be matched by another £10-20million from industry, said Beckett. Bids for funds are welcome from this month, and outline proposals must be submitted by 5 December.

* Margaret Beckett has launched a new body to advise her on UK competitiveness issues. The 19 members of the group include Bryan Sanderson, chief executive of BP Chemicals and Glaxo Wellcome chairman Richard Sykes. The group, which will meet five times per year, will help in the drawing-up of the government's first competitiveness White Paper, which will be published next year.