Technology competitions aim to stimulate UK innovation

The three competitions are designed to accelerate the development of new technologies in three different areas: materials technologies for use in energy generation, transmission, distribution and storage; strategies to improve the resistance of buildings to climate change; and information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the manufacturing and construction sectors.

The competitions are called Energy Materials, Design for Future Climate, and ICTs for High Value Manufacturing and Construction.

The Technology Strategy Board plans to invest up to £3m of the £12m total in collaborative projects that demonstrate how new materials might be produced for the energy generation, transmission, distribution and storage sectors. The focus of the competition will be on projects that address challenges in scaling up technologies from initial laboratory proof of concept to small-scale technology demonstrations and pilots in a representative environment.

A further £2.4m investment will assist design teams developing strategies to improve the resistance of buildings to climate change. Projects must relate to a specific building or refurbishment project, with a client and design team both applying together for the funding. The funding covers all building projects with a cost greater than £5m.