Funding boost for UK innovation in networked technologies
Funding has been awarded to the X-Catapult Consortium to build a network of industry, academia and the wider public sector working in networked technologies such as including robotics, augmented and virtual reality, and digital twins – virtual environments where real-world objects, such as buildings or wind turbines, can be tested and perfected using advanced computer simulations.
A new National Cyber-Physical Infrastructure ecosystem will help identify new opportunities for cooperation and knowledge sharing across the tech industry, academia, and the public sector, where these networked technologies are deployed.
The £200,000 investment is the result of the Cyber Physical Infrastructure Ecosystem Building competition, launched by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) earlier this year.
Cyber-Physical Infrastructure refers to the interconnection of technologies that interact with the real world and virtual systems. Much like individual computers and devices connected by the internet, the capability and the potential of these technologies increase as they become networked.
This could include sensors helping electric vehicles communicate with smart energy grids, and systems enabling robots in factories to collect and assemble things more efficiently.
Cyber-Physical Infrastructure will be applied widely to tackle key cross-sector challenges, including improving productivity, delivering important public health services, and monitoring and management of the environment.
The Government’s plans for Cyber Physical Infrastructure have been informed by a consultation carried out last year, and today’s funding announcement follows other cross-government investments from UKRI, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Transport.
Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman, said: “The technologies that power a modern economy are often underpinned by complex physical and virtual foundations which help them function – whether that be environmental sensors or wireless networks for transferring data.
“Building a Cyber-physical Infrastructure is all about creating a more connected, innovative, and resilient UK, where these sophisticated systems can work seamlessly together. We look forward to seeing what the X-Catapult Consortium can do to foster more cooperation and collaboration in this space.”
Featured products
MAX17793
Analog Devices Inc.
3V to 80V, 3A, High-Efficiency, Synchronous Step-Down DC-DC Converter
| SKU: | MAX17793 |
|---|---|
| Stock: | 9316 |
| Cost: | $3.64 |
MAX22516
Analog Devices Inc.
IO-Link Data Link Controller with Transceiver and Integrated DC-DC
| SKU: | MAX22516 |
|---|---|
| Stock: | 8000 |
| Cost: | $5.42 |
