News in brief
15 Jan 2000
Research equipment success...
The government's Joint Research Equipment Initiative, which allows universities to seek partnerships with industry to buy new equipment, has been such a success that it is to become an annual event, says the Department of Trade and Industry. The 1997 JREI raised £80 million, which will help fund 250 projects in 55 institutions. Almost £45 million of the funds came from external sponsors, says the DTI.
The UK science budget will be virtually unchanged in 1998-99, at £1.33billion, according to science minister John Battle. The EPSRC will receive £382 million, compared with last year's £386 million; NERCfunding will increase by £7 million, to £171 million.
More methylamine for BASF
BASFis to boost its methylamine capacity by 20 per cent, to 120000tpa. The new capacity triggered by rising demand is set to come on-stream in late 1999. Methylamine is generally used to make solvents for fibre and polymer production, and as intermediates in the synthesis of agrochemicals, detergents, and animal feed and water treatment additives.
Strong pound, poor exports
Exports from almost 1700 UKengineering firms declined for the fourth successive quarter at the end of 1997, according to a survey from the Engineering Employers Federation. 'If sterling stays at current levels, further deterioration in export business seems inevitable,' warned EEF economics chief Alan Armitage; profits and jobs could both suffer this year.
Water pollution crackdown
Companies which pollute groundwater could face strict new charges under a scheme proposed by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The scheme would give the Environment Agency power to institute charges for activities which it sees as threatening groundwater quality, such as storage of chemicals and fuel and the use of certain agrochemicals, particularly sheep dip. Site inspections and clean-up would also incur charges.
