CASH BOOST FOR UK HIGH-TECH BUSINESSES WITH BRIGHT IDEAS
11 Jul 2003 04:00 AM
Improved mobile phone screens and new super-concrete are amongst the
research projects sharing £5.4million, the largest DTI payout in
recent years to EUREKA projects.
36 UK companies involved in 17 research projects are to benefit from
funding through their involvement in EUREKA, the Europe-wide,
government-funded initiative, Science Minister Lord Sainsbury
announced today.
Aiming to increase European competitiveness in new technology, EUREKA
promotes collaboration between companies, universities and research
institutions across Europe.
31 new projects, involving 51 UK companies, are part of this European
programme and have won the EUREKA seal of approval, and of these, 17
projects are sharing the multi-million pound DTI grant.
Announcing the projects, Lord Sainsbury said;
"Innovation and investment in R&D are vital for the creation of jobs
and long- term prosperity. It is crucial for UK business that new
ideas make it beyond the drawing-board stage, and are explored in
research projects and developed into successful products.
"The EUREKA programme is a great opportunity for UK companies to form
strategic partnerships with European counterparts, and I am pleased
that so many UK companies are involved, and have received a share in
this substantial funding.
"These innovative projects ensure that the UK manufacturing industry
continues to take the lead in the generation of new ideas for high
quality, value added products and processes for global markets."
The projects given funding include;
* FOLIA - lighting without bulbs. This project aims to develop new,
flexible light sources for the automotive industry. Thin films,
just thicker than a sheet of paper, made with organic luminescent
material and micro-lenses will be developed as a source of light
for the ceiling, glove box, and indicators. This will be more
energy efficient and give more flexibility to car designers. Oxford
company 'Exitech Ltd' is working on this project.
* NEWCON - Concrete is a commonly used construction material due to
its durability, ease of use and relatively low cost. However, at
high temperatures water trapped in the concrete turns to steam,
which cannot escape. The resulting pressure exerted within the
concrete can cause it to crack and explode away from the surface;
this is known as 'explosive spalling'. The Newcon project aims to
study new 'melting fibres', which could be used within concrete to
solve this problem. East Yorkshire company 'Adfil' is involved in
this project.
* MEDEA+ Pocket Multimedia - this project aims to develop
application platforms for pocket PCs, and 3G mobile phones. UK
company, 'Cambridge Display Technology Ltd' (CDT Ltd) is bringing
its expertise in energy efficient Light Emitting Polymers (LEP) and
flat display screens to the project. They will develop three new
types of display panels, ranging from monochrome to full colour.
This will involve the development of new LEP inks and techniques
for ink-jet printing displays.
Notes to Editors
1) Launched in 1985, EUREKA is a pan-European initiative for
promoting collaborative research in advanced technology. EUREKA aims
to improve Europe's competitiveness in global markets for civil
applications of new technology. Projects must involve partners from
at least two European member countries. More information can be found
at www.eureka.be
2) The 34 EUREKA member countries include all 15 European Union
member states. The newest members are Cyprus, and the Republic of
Serbia and Montenegro who became members at the EUREKA Ministerial
Conference in Thessaloniki in June 2002. Morocco became an associate
member in June 2003.
3) Co-operation between research institutes and companies,
particularly from other European countries brings benefits, including
a wider pool of ideas, complementary technical expertise, risk
sharing, and access to new and larger markets.
4) EUREKA offers help in finding partners from industry and research,
and provides the 'EUREKA Label of Excellence'. The list of projects
receiving EUREKA status was finalised at a recent meeting of all the
EUREKA countries in Copenhagen. Some of the projects announced will
also receive financial support from the DTI. These are:
Scotland
SAFENVSHIP Eureka project number: (! 2835
Safe and environmentally friendly passenger ships. To develop and
evaluate methodologies and tools for the design of the next
generation of cruise/ferry ships in relation to;
- safety - fire protection, and structural (hydroelasticity) and wind
effects;
- the environment - clean sea and air.
Prof. Dracos Vassalos
Director
Safety At Sea Ltd.
7th Floor Colville Building, 48 North Portland Street,
Glasgow
G1 1XN
Tel: +44 (0)141 54 84 092
Web site: www.safety-at-sea.co.uk
England - North West
SUM (! 2754
The objective of the Sum project is to develop an electronic commerce
'Super market system' which uses the potential of the global
marketplace, and extends the capability of commerce systems currently
available. For manufacturers, the software would be capable of
generating high volume orders from single or low volume orders. This
will enable manufacturers to sell all their products directly to the
end consumer resulting in reduced costs to the customer, and
increased profit for the manufacturer.
Mr. Mike Roberts
Managing Director
MRA Consultants Ltd
27 Fairways, Fulwood
Preston
PR2 8FX
Tel: +44 (0)1772 71 65 88
E-mail: mike.mra@provider.co.uk
Web site: www.mraconsultants.co.uk
Yorkshire and Humberside
NEWCON (! 2951
Concrete is a commonly used construction material due to its
durability, ease of use and relatively low cost. However, at high
temperatures water trapped in the concrete turns to steam, which
cannot escape. The resulting pressure exerted within the concrete can
cause it to crack and explode away from the surface; this is known as
'explosive spalling'. The Newcon project aims to study new 'melting
fibres', which could be used within concrete to solve this problem.
East Yorkshire company 'Adfil' is involved in this project.
Product Manufacturer
Mark Mitchell
'ADFIL'
Borwick Drive
Grovehill
Beverley
East Yorkshire
HU17 0HQ
Tel: 01482 863777
Fax: 01482 872800
Project Leader - Prof. Gabriel Khoury
Director
Fire Safety Design Ltd
Thatch End,
Shimpling,
Suffolk
Bury St. Edmunds
IP29 4HU
Tel: +44 (0)1284 827 310
E-mail : gabriel@clara.net
East Midlands
FACTORY E-RACE (! 2851
E-space for collaborative manufacture of re-configurable assembly
cells. Users and suppliers of high-precision assembly systems need to
work together to create highly customised production systems faster
and at lower costs. One way to achieve this is to create a forum for
suppliers and customers to interact at the early product and assembly
cell design stages. The proposed project aims to produce a
web-enabled collaborative environment that will facilitate the
exchange of information needed to design these systems.
Mr Mark Jones
Sales & Marketing Director
TQC Ltd
Hooton Street
Nottingham
NG3 2NJ
Tel: +44 (0)115 908 1404
E-mail: mark.jones@tqc.co.uk
Web site: www.tqc.co.uk
Dr Svetan Ratchev
Lecturer
University of Nottingham,
School of Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing,
Engineering and Management
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
E-mail: svetan.ratchev@nottingham.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)115 951 4018
Mob: +44 (0)7967 687107
West Midlands
MEDEA+ SSAE (! 2835
To develop novel integrated networks for controlling the various
systems in cars and other vehicles. The result of this will be a
reduction in the weight of wiring in cars, together with the
introduction of safer systems.
Mr. Chris Quigley
Managing Director
Warwick Control Technologies Limited
Sir William Lyons Road
University of Warwick Science Park
Coventry CV4 7EZ
Tel: +44 (0)2476 323312
E-mail: chris@warwickcontrol.com
Web-site: www.warwickcontrol.com
AIMTECH (! 2846
Advanced injection moulding technology. This project will develop the
use of copper alloys in injection moulding. The aim is to develop
durable high performance tools for plastics processors that reduce
manufacturing costs resulting in higher productivity to improve
competitive advantage in global markets.
Mr. Rex Beechey
Managing Director
Copperplas International Limited
Trefree Parc, Llangarron
Ross On Wye
HR9 6PL
Tel: +44 (0)1989 77 03 10
E-mail: delthomas@msn.com
Southwest
PETROSCOPE (! 2569
An optical analyser for stone, gravel and rocks (aggregates) used in
construction. The aim is to develop an automatic, opto-electronic
testing instrument (hardware and software) for on-site quality
control in the construction aggregates industry.
Dr. Melvyn Smith
Senior Lecturer
Machine Vision Laboratory
University Of The West Of England, Bristol
Frenchay Campus
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol
BS16 1QY
Tel: +44 (0)117 3443578
E-mail: melvyn.smith@uwe.ac.uk
Web site: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/cems/research/melsmith/
South East
SEFIE (! 3034
The EC has declared that Steel Eurocodes must replace national codes
by 2008. Steelbiz is an E-forum intended to assist the European steel
industry to implement Eurocodes quickly and efficiently through the
development and use of a co-operative, internet-based discussion and
advisory forum on best implementation practice.
Mrs. Christine Roszykiewicz
European Projects Coordinator
The Steel Construction Institute (Sci)
Silwood Park, Unit D,
Ascot
SL5 7QN
Tel: +44 (0)1344 623 345
E-mail: christine@steel-sci.com
Web site: www.steel-sci.org
FOLIA (! 2541
This project aims to develop new, flexible light sources for the
automotive industry. Thin films, not much thicker than a sheet of
paper, made with organic luminescent material and micro-lenses will
be developed as a source of light for the ceiling, glove box, and
indicators. This will be more energy efficient and give more
flexibility to car designers.
Dr. Jim Fieret
Exitech Ltd
Oxford Industrial Park
Yarnton
Oxford
OX5 1QU
Tel: +44 (0)1865 290400
E-mail: j.fieret@exitech.co.uk
Web site: www.exitech.co.uk
EUROENVIRON AUTOCLAVING (! 2461
Autoclaving is a widely used process for the decontamination of
biomedical waste that uses heat and high pressure. This project aims
to develop new autoclaving methods, through the creation of new tools
and technologies, for health risk waste management systems.
Mrs. Sue Clarke
Managing Director
Morgan Automation Ltd
Rake Heath House, London Road
Hillbrow
Liss
GU33 7NT
Tel: +44 (0)1730 895 900
E-mail: sclarke@morgan-automation.com
Web site: www.morgan-automation.com
East of England
GLOBALFILM (! 2712
A nine-month study into the future use of film in the new age of
digital cameras, this is the feasibility stage of a much larger
project. Ideas exist for the development of a radically new
technology for film scanning. However we first need to understand the
future use/requirements for film as main image capture medium.
Mr. Peter Stansfield
Consultant Project Manager
C/o Cintel International Ltd
Watton Road, Ware
Hertford
SG12 0AE
Tel: +44 (0) 1707 269364
E-mail: p_stansfield@compuserve.com
Web site: www.cintel.co.uk
CREST (! 2949
Coatings removal for surface technologies. Chromium Nitride (CrN) is
a hard, wear-resistant coating, which improves the manufacturing
productivity of production tools and equipment. However its
industrial use is currently restricted as no industrial CrN stripping
process exists, and the removal of this coating is needed for the
recycling of tools. This project aims to develop an environmentally
sound industrial process by which the CrN can be stripped and the
tool re-cycled.
Dr. Jonathan Housden
Head of R&D Department
Tecvac Ltd.
Buckingway Business Park, Swavesey,
Cambridge
CB4 5UG
Tel: +44 (0)195 42 33 700
E-mail: tecvac.jh@dial.pipex.com
Web site: www.tecvac.com
MEDEA+ POCKET MULTIMEDIA (! 2365
This project aims to develop application platforms for pocket PCs,
and 3G mobile phones. Cambridge Display Technology Ltd (CDT Ltd) is
bringing its expertise in energy efficient Light Emitting Polymers
(LEP) and flat display screens to the project. They will develop
three new types of display panels, ranging from monochrome to full
colour. This will involve the development of new LEP inks and
techniques for ink-jet printing displays.
Paul Jerram
Technical Manager
Cambridge Display Technology Ltd
Greenwich House
Madingley Rise
Madingley Road
Cambridge
CB3 0TX
Tel: +44 (0)1223 723555 x325
E-mail: press@cdtltd.co.uk
Web site: www.cdtltd.co.uk
London
AJICS (! 2893
Anti-jitter circuit (AJC) technology in integrated circuits. New
proprietary generic circuits for reducing jitter (timing noise) in
digital communications devices and other equipment will be developed
and used in trial integrated circuits. AJC promises marked
enhancements over conventional circuits.
Mr. John Thirtle
Managing Director
Toric Limited
63-71 Collier Street
London
N1 9BE
Tel: +44 (0)20 7713 0070
E-mail: j.thirtle@toric.co.uk
Web site: www.toric.co.uk
SARSYS BWP (! 2915
This project aims to develop procedures to test compliance of
body-mounted, wearable and portable telecommunications equipment
(i.e. laptops, GPRS devices, 3G mobile phones) with guidelines
restricting electromagnetic exposure.
Dr. Camilia Gabriel
Managing Director
MCL
17B Woodford Road
London
E18 2EL
Tel: +44 (0)20 8889 2403
E-mail: c.gabriel@mcluk.org
Web site: www.mcluk.org
MALTA (! 2943
Motion analysis for long-term image reconstruction. Development of
new motion estimation algorithms for the post-production community.
This project will enable the Foundry to improve on its current,
world-leading motion estimation techniques, as seen in the
bullet-time shots in "The Matrix" films. The new techniques developed
will address the limitations of existing methods, in particular their
inability to reliably handle partially obscured and partially
revealed data.
Dr. William Collis
Algorithm Engineer
The Foundry
35-36 Great Marlborough Street
London
W1F 7JE
Tel: +44 (0)207 43 40 449
E-mail: bill@thefoundry.co.uk
Web site: www.thefoundry.co.uk
DAMAGE (! 3062
Digital asset management for animation, for global entertainment.
Research and development of software to 'track' animation elements
across versions and across sites, allowing co-operative animation
production. This will allow European partners to collaborate together
efficiently in European and U.S. projects.
Miss Anne Nolan
Marketing Manager
Ealing Studio Enterprises Ltd
Ealing Green
Ealing
London
W5 5EP
Tel: +44 (0)20 8567 6655
Web site: www.ealingstudios.com
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