1.  The Machine Tool Technologies Association (MTTA) is the leading organisation in the UK representing the interests of manufacturers, importers and distributors of machine tools and ancillary equipment.

  2.  As such, the machine tool sector is ideally placed, at the leading edge of technology—due to its close relationships with suppliers, customers and academia—to contribute to and take advantage of opportunities for joint funded research into potentially commercial applications.

  3.  It is vital that research activities are industry-led and involve a balanced partnership of organisations including major customers, eg automotive and aerospace, SMEs, research and technology organisations, universities and trade associations. Such combinations will often be based on existing supply chains.

  4.  A key role of Government should be "enabling/matching", ie helping to bring together technology suppliers (universities and research and technology organisations) with industrial users, possibly using the Internet as a source of information. This is especially relevant for smaller companies who, generally, have little knowledge of sector funding, how EPSRC operates and the availability of support for research and product development. Conversely, academia's understanding of the needs of the private sector needs to be expanded in order that universities and research and technology organisations develop programmes that the private sector can apply commercially. Again, the Internet could be used as a source of information as to what is available.

  5.  It is generally considered that the gradual reduction of Government-funded research has, naturally, resulted in a decline in industrial applications of such research. There is, however, an increase in collaborative research activity in Europe, funded by the EC, eg BRITE-EURAM and ESPRIT which open up opportunities for UK Industry and Academia.

  6.  Government schemes designed to promote collaboration in and industrial application of research tend to be very bureaucratic and complex to initiate. Consequently, smaller companies are reluctant to participate.

  7.  Following conclusion of research projects, further support is often necessary to commercialise the results and bring products to market. Finance could be available from Government, venture capitalists and other financial institutions but is often limited to projects with minimal risk. Mechanisms need to be created which will support companies to bring innovative products to market, possibly including pay-back clauses to investors, private and public, when resulting profits are realised.

  8.  Intellectual property rights and the results of research are often treated with too much importance, prior to a project commencing. Companies are sensitive to their IPR being disclosed as are the universities. However, in a competitive economy, the major benefit of developing innovative products is to launch them in the market first and gain a time advantage on the competition.

  9.  The role of the Foresight Programmes requires "tailoring" to the requirements of specific industry sectors with trade associations being used to translate foresighting information to their members and, conversely, being the medium through which the Foresighting panels can understand the sector's requirements and aspirations.

6 March 1998