Quick Dips

Opening Doors for Ambitious Technology

A new category of funding designed to allow companies to quickly assess the technological feasibility of projects before committing to the larger expense of full scale R&D projects has been announced by the Technology for Business Growth programme. The new category is also linked to a new fast-track process for considering applications.

The aim is to minimise the risk in technology development and encourage more companies to test-run innovative ideas. TBG manager John Manning says vital key elements of new technology can usually be tested in the first six to twelve months of a project.

"The new "Technical Assessment Project" category should encourage people to attempt high risk, ambitious technological development using quick trials to determine the likelihood of success. In time, some may lead on to full scale technology development projects in their own right," he says.

"The aim is to encourage big leaps in technology, but to start with conservative bite-sized approaches."