Press release
Issued 15 December for immediate release
HEFCE cumulative investment under JREI reaches £140 million
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has contributed £21 million to fund nearly £45 million of state-of-the-art research equipment under the 1998 round of the Joint Research Equipment Initiative (JREI). The funding of 60 projects in 25 universities and colleges in England in this year's round brings the total equipment funded by the HEFCE in partnership with industrial collaborators to over £140 million, through 180 projects funded in 42 organisations.
Brian Fender, Chief Executive of the HEFCE, said:
"This initiative supports the high quality infrastructure needed for world class research. I am particularly pleased that the JREI has now attracted over £90 million in contributions from industrial collaborators and other research users since the scheme began in 1996, £65 million of which has been contributed to projects funded by the HEFCE. This demonstrates the value that research users, abroad as well as in the UK, place on the high-quality work done in universities and colleges throughout the country. The partnerships created by the scheme will result in more innovation and enterprise."
The HEFCE also runs a similar scheme in partnership with the Wellcome Trust. More than £7 million of research equipment for use in the health and life sciences has been provided through this scheme, funded equally by the HEFCE and the Trust.
In January 1998, ministers supported the establishment of the JREI as an annual event. Universities and colleges are now invited to submit proposals for the 1999 JREI, which will be run on a similar basis to the 1998 initiative.
Examples of projects being funded under the JREI scheme in 1998:
Visualisation, imaging and interactive knowledge environments
The University of Nottingham is establishing a mixed reality environment to support interdisciplinary research between psychologists, computer scientists and engineers. Mixed reality merges virtual reality and physical environments so that people can collaborate with a combination of real-world and digital information. The HEFCE has supported this work, and other research using the same equipment, with a grant of £546,288. IBM UK is contributing a further £428,000.
Contact: Professor Steve Benford 0115 951 4203 or 0115 943 1628
A state of the art positron camera for flow studies in engineering and the physical sciences
Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) allows scientists to study the motion of a single radioactive particle through a working piece of industrial equipment. Using this state-of-the-art technology, scientists at Birmingham University's School of Physics and Astronomy can study the processes involved in the manufacture of everyday household goods, such as washing powder, and food items like crisps and chocolate, leading to improvements in productivity and food quality. Other sponsors and collaborators include BNFL, Unilever, Merck, Sharpe and Dohme, Amoco Polymers (USA), Weetabix, SML Associates, the University of Cambridge, Cambourne School of Mines and Loughborough University.
Contact: Dr David Parker 0121 414 4708
High efficiency deep grinding (HEDG) by superabrasive machining
£249,000 has been allocated to Professor David Stephenson at Cranfield University to support the work of a research programme that includes four UK universities and seven leading companies, including Rolls Royce, SKF, Unicorn Abrasives, De Beer Industrial Diamond Division, Wanner International and Castrol International. The research will investigate the use of HEDG in the machining of components, for instance for aircraft engines, offering improved productivity and accuracy, but also consuming less power than conventional approaches.
Contact: Professor David Stephenson (01234 754041) or Professor John Corbett (01234 754 140)
ENDS
For further information please contact David Pilsbury on 0117 931 7123, e-mail d.pilsbury@hefce.ac.uk, or Roger Grinyer on 0117 931 7307.
Notes to editors
- The funders of the Joint Research Equipment Initiative (JREI) are the Higher Education Funding Councils for England, Scotland and Wales, the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI) and the Research Councils. The initiative is co-ordinated by the Office of Science and Technology and involves funding provided in partnership with industry.
- The DTI and DfEE issued a press release today providing information on the JREI initiative in the United Kingdom. In all, over £75 million of leading edge research equipment was being provided under the scheme in over 240 projects in more than 50 universities and colleges. Further information on the DTI and DfEE press release can be obtained from 0171 215 5377
- The JREI scheme is run as two competitions:
- Competition A is funded by the Research Councils. In 1998 it was for bids for research equipment with a total cost of between £12,500 and £150,000, including VAT.
- Competition B is supported by the funding councils and DENI, and was for bids with a total cost of £150,000 or more.
- A Joint HEFCE/Wellcome Trust scheme is run on a similar basis to competition B, with the HEFCE and the Trust each providing £3 million to meet the cost of the successful applications.
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