Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham has announced that the Technology Strategy Board will invest a further £100m in collaborative R&D between universities and industry.

Speaking at the Innovate07 conference in London today, the Secretary of State announced a new competition for proposals for collaborative research and development.

The competition, which covers eight technology areas and which will be phased over six months, is designed to foster greater collaboration between businesses and research communities.

The eight technology areas for which submissions are invited are materials for energy, high value manufacturing, cell therapy, low carbon energy technologies, advanced lighting, lasers and displays, technologies for health.

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led body established by the Government to promote research and exploitation of technology for the benefit of UK business.