UK funds data collection start-ups

The UK Technology Strategy Board is to invest £10m in innovative data-gathering technologies to look at disaster mitigation and response, traffic management, road maintenance and pollution monitoring.

British companies will be encouraged to develop data-gathering technologies that can be configured and deployed rapidly.

Potential users of such technologies include the emergency services, local authorities and utility companies, particularly in large-scale, high-density, harsh or unstable environments where data gathering is a particular challenge.

Iain Gray, chief executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said: "The ability to gather information in complex or difficult environments is vital for organisations such as the emergency services, transport authorities and power companies.

"Many UK companies have particular strengths in sensing, instrumentation and imaging technologies, and in telecoms and intelligent systems.

"Bringing this expertise together would allow the UK to offer complete tracking and monitoring solutions, and to exploit the worldwide demand for such technology."

The Gathering Data in Complex Environment funding forms part of a call for proposals in a number of innovation and technology areas.

Applicants must register their intention to apply for funding and submit an outline of their proposal by 4 April. The closing date for applications is 8 May.

The investment will provide partial funding for winning projects that involve businesses working collaboratively with other businesses and/or research organisations and academic institutions.