This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Investment by Technology Institutes
25/08/2005
The technology institutes set up to boost Scotland's business research and development activity have commissioned research projects worth over £70 million during their first year of operation.
Enterprise Minister Nicol Stephen today had his first meeting today with the Chief Executives of the three Intermediary Technology Institutes (ITIs) for Energy, Life Sciences and Techmedia.
As well as hearing about future projects, the Minister received a progress report from the Institutes on work to date.
This shows that:
- ITI Scotland identified and commissioned 11 research programmes in its first year of operation - including a programme to develop the next generation of batteries for use in cars, mobile phones and lap tops, a cardiac biomarker programme to develop near-patient or home use diagnostic tests, and a project to develop security tags to tackle piracy and counterfeiting
- Over 230 Members have now joined the ITIs, including businesses of all sizes, all 14 Scottish universities and members of the investment community
- Thirteen Market Intelligence and Market Foresighting reports have been published for members, ranging from low cost renewables and stem cells to online entertainment and leisure. These will be used to determine which opportunities to pursue
Mr Stephen said:
"The ITIs are vital in our drive to increase innovation and R&D activity in Scotland. We must do more to build on our existing company and research strengths.
"Now into their second full year of operations, each of the three ITIs is already making excellent progress in identifying and commissioning a range of pioneering programmes.
"Every one of these has the potential to generate significant economic benefits for Scotland, creating new business opportunities by developing technologies that will meet future needs in global markets.
"Here in Aberdeen, for instance, ITI Energy has made a total investment of around £6.2 million in three separate projects building on Scotland's strong position in clean and renewable energy technologies.
"One of these involving a low-cost hydrogen storage project, is a great example of an industry where Scotland can be a world leader.
"Each of the other ITIs for Life Sciences and Techmedia are also making good progress in stimulating key research activity in their respective areas.
"Following my useful meeting today with the CEOs, I remain absolutely convinced of the ITIs' importance to Scotland's long term economic success. Each of these is now gathering momentum, with high calibre teams in place, a growing base of members and ambitious plans for future projects.
"I look forward to further announcements of ITI programmes throughout the coming year."
ITI Scotland's target in its first year of operations was to identify and commission at least nine Research and Development programmes across the three market ITIs.
The company identified and commissioned a total of 11 programmes. Typically these programmes will run for three years. Provided technical and other key project milestones are met, this will represent a total investment over the lifetime of the programmes in excess of £70 million.
ITI Scotland Limited is a company set up by Scottish Enterprise to drive Scotland's ambitious plans to identify, develop and commercialise valuable technology-based intellectual assets across three global market sectors: digital media and communications; life sciences and energy.
The company comprises three individual Intermediary Technology Institutes (ITIs), each focused on a market sector where Scotland has strong economic and business potential. These are known as ITI Techmedia, ITI Life Sciences and ITI Energy and each is a membership-based organisation. There is also ITI Operations which supports the three market ITIs.
The group's aim is to bridge the gap between publicly-funded early stage research and privately-backed commercial development. ITI Scotland was bestowed with a minimum of £450 million from the Scottish Executive (£150 million for each ITI) to invest over a ten-year period that began in April 2004.
ITI Energy has commissioned three projects valued at £6.2 million.
- £4 million to develop a new low-cost, high energy rechargeable battery based on Lithium-ion
- £1.2 million to develop an advanced battery management and control system
- £1 million to develop low-cost, solid nano-material with the potential for hydrogen storage