KTNs Urge Businesses To Apply For New Technology Strategy Board Funding

The Technology Strategy Board is making funding available for UK-based companies and research organisations for feasibility studies which aim to demonstrate the application of energy harvesting technologies for autonomous sensing in a commercial setting. Energy harvesting applications have been highlighted by the UK Government as an area of key importance for innovation and growth. Many industry sectors that stand to benefit from the technology have been identified, including aerospace, automotive, construction, consumer electronics, marine, medical, manufacturing, space, subterranean and subsea, harsh and hostile environments and even battlefields.



Dr Alec Reader, Director at the NanoKTN states: “Demand for increased functionality, usability and reliability is a problem for conventional battery-powered devices. Energy harvesting has the potential to provide a solution to substantially extend battery life, or eliminate their usage altogether. As a result, the market opportunity for this technology in domestic and overseas markets is vast and is currently experiencing exponential global growth.”



A report published in August 2012 by MarketsandMarkets entitled “Energy Harvesting Market – Global Forecast & Analysis (2012 – 2017) By Technology, Application & Geography” states that it expects the total market to reach $1894.87 million by 2017, at a CAGR of 24.31%.



“Support from the Technology Strategy Board can have a hugely positive impact in the successful translation of a concept into a viable and marketable commercial proposition,” adds Dr Reader. “This impact was highlighted at the Micro and Nanofabrication for Energy Harvesting Applications Workshop, which the NanoKTN hosted in June 2012, where energy harvesting experts, Perpetuum, talked about the support it had received and how this contributed to securing research and development funding to develop its products.”



This single-stage competition opened on 8th October 2012 and a briefing will be held in London on 23rd October 2012 to explain the process, and all parties interested in submitting an application are urged to attend. The deadline for registration is at noon on 28th November and the deadline for completed applications is at noon on 5th December 2012. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by 25th January 2013.