UK government plans electronics design and manufacture investment

The government has agreed a £4.75m investment in the UK’s electronics manufacturing sector.

The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) will manage the investment into collaborative R&D and feasibility studies intended to stimulate growth in the manufacture of electronic systems.

The TSB said it will fund projects that “explore novel manufacturing processes that could lead to new ways of making products in future”.

According to the government, the UK has more than 5,500 companies that design and manufacture electronic systems, which contribute around £78bn (5%) to UK GDP.

The plan is to fund collaborative R&D with up to 50% public funding for project costs. SMEs can get 60% funding.

“We expect collaborative R&D project costs to be up to £500k and for projects to last between 12 and 24 months,” said the TSB.

Early design research projects, which are defined as pre-industrial, will get a higher level of public funding .

“We expect feasibility project costs to be up to £75k and for projects to last up to 9 months,” said the TSB.

The deadline for registration is noon on 26 March 2014.

The deadline for expressions of interest for collaborative R&D projects, and for applications for feasibility projects, is noon on 2 April 2014.

from News http://ift.tt/1c5erMh

via Yuichun