funding news
05/02/2010 - Government Challenges Innovators To Help Them See The Light!
A new £1.2 million fund is set to be launched by the Government to encourage the development of ultra energy efficient lighting.
On 22 February, DEFRA will launch a special competition through the Technology Strategy Board’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), a procurement programme where businesses and public sector bodies can secure funding to tackle specific “technological challenges” set by various government departments.
In the Ultra Efficient Lighting competition, companies will be able to apply for an initial £40,000 to carry out a three-month feasibility study, with the most promising technologies eligible for up to an additional £450,000 to develop and evaluate prototypes or demonstration units, which will then be subjected to a vigorous six-month field trial.
Announcing the fund, Environment Minister Dan Norris said:
“This exciting competition could bring enormous benefits both for British businesses and for consumers.
“The more efficient lighting is, the more money consumers save on energy bills and the economy will benefit from new jobs and new manufacturing helping Britain to lead the global market for low carbon technologies.”
Mark Glover, head of the SBRI, revealed that many of the least-efficient lighting products based on Victorian incandescent technology had already been replaced in favour of energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).
He added:
“However, there is potential to move further and this competition aims to develop a capability within the UK for the supply of Ultra Efficient Lamp technology, which can provide lighting for the home that is of high quality with exceptional efficiency and long lifetimes.”
The competition will officially open to applications on 22 February, with an initial application deadline of 19 April.
Further details will be posted on the SBRI pages of the Technology Strategy Board website (opens a new window)
Source: DEFRA, 29/01/2010
