A NEW five-year development programme by the United Kingdom government aims to make the UK the most attractive place in the world for scientific research.
The Creating Wealth From Knowledge programme drawn up by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) makes it clear that science, innovation and technology will be the key to the UK's future industrial success.
DTI Secretary of State explained: "The global economic map is being redrawn. China is becoming one of the world's largest economies; India is producing three million highly skilled graduates a year; and Central and Eastern European countries - with wages a fraction of ours - are joining the European Union (EU).
"But Britain is extremely well placed to benefit from this transformation. Building on our strong economic foundations, we propose a new industrial policy built around the knowledge-based economy, high in skills, embracing innovation, science and technology.
And today we are sending a strong signal to scientists around the world that the UK is the place to come to carry out research in leading-edge areas such as nanotechnology and stem cell research."
The programme puts forward a range of policies to help UK business succeed in the global economy. These include strengthening science and boosting innovation, a new multi-million pounds fund for high-profile cross-disciplinary research with potential for breakthroughs in areas likely to help UK public policy and business priorities.
It is also planned to boost research and development spending from 1.9 per cent of national income to 2.5 per cent by 2014, and to help an extra 20,000 firms in the next five years by building on the success of the Manufacturing Advisory Service.
Enterprise will be promoted with more support for small and women-owned businesses, and the establishment of a new award for entrepreneurs together with a new Women's Enterprise Panel.
The government also plans to boost skills by working with employers and unions to raise the proportion of UK young people under 30 achieving skill level 3. There will be new plans to attract global entrepreneurial talent and academic expertise to the UK.
The DTI has also announced a new partnership with industry to improve innovation and competitiveness in the 200 billion pounds UK materials industry that is a vital part of the supply chain for major sectors such as the aerospace, automotive and construction industries.
A new Materials Innovation & Growth team will include representatives from industry, the regions and government, and be led by Mr Wyn Jones, chairman of British Alcan Aluminium. Similar teams have already been established for the automotive, chemicals, environmental equipment and software industries.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old