Key technologies vital to economy
Updated on 22 November 2007
Clean power generation from coal and gas is one of six key technologies named in a report as being vital to Britain's economic future.
Others include systems for predicting and preventing natural disasters such as earthquakes and flooding, new plastic electronic products, and medical devices. The Government's top advisory group on science and technology assessed a list of more than 100 technological areas before identifying those which should be prioritised.
The full list from the Council for Science and Technology (CST) was carbon capture and storage - enabling coal and gas to be used for power generation without contributing to global warming; disaster mitigation technologies for predicting, preventing and responding to disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and flooding; and plastic electronic products including computer components, sensors, flexible displays, solar cells and communication systems.
It also featured low carbon distribution networks, enabling large scale local electricity generation by renewable and low carbon technologies; medical devices for improving health care and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease; e-health - delivering and enhancing health services through the internet and related technologies.
Professor Janet Finch, co-chair of the CST, said: "Choices have to be made about which are the most promising technologies on which to focus. Those choices are both challenging and complex. We have developed a mechanism to help Government make those difficult decisions.
"We have then applied our recommendations to identify six technologies where greater focus by Government now could accelerate the commercial and social benefits to the UK over the next five years."
The Council consulted a wide range of business and academic organisations, including the Confederation of British Industry, the Technology Strategy Board and the Research Councils.
A recommendation was also made that substantial investment should continue in four other basic technology areas: Bandwidth telecommunications, cell and tissue therapies, "pervasive" systems that embed software throughout an environment, and computer simulation and modelling.
John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said: "The UK is well known for its world-class science and technology. In order to translate this into wealth creation and social benefits we have to work to capitalise on new and lucrative technologies. It's vital we exploit cutting-edge innovation to achieve global success.
"The CST report makes an important contribution to that process, and the Technology Strategy Board will want to consider it alongside other inputs as it develops its programme of action."
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