Centres of excellence can create a critical mass for business and research innovation in a specific area and sector by focusing on a specific technology where there is a potentially large global market and a significant UK capability. These centres will be an important part of the UK's innovation system. They will allow businesses to access equipment and expertise that would otherwise be out of reach, as well as conducting their own in-house R&D. They will also help businesses access new funding streams and point them towards the potential of emerging technologies.
The new investment will further bridge the gap between universities and businesses, helping to commercialise the outputs of Britain's world-class research base. The centres will also complement and link with the other programmes which the Technology Strategy Board already manages to promote collaboration between universities and business, and to drive innovation and the commercialisation of new technology and ideas.
.Prospectus
The Technology Strategy Board has published a prospectus to begin the process of establishing these world-leading centres. The prospectus describes our proposals for the objectives, role, governance and funding for the technology and innovation centres. We have identified potential candidate areas for centres and we would like your input to help focus and define the technology the centres should provide. Working with industry and government, the Technology Strategy Board will develop a detailed strategy and implementation plan for the network of centres by April 2011. We will keep this page updated with further information as it becomes available.
Source: http://www.innovateuk.org/