PIT fills hole in research funding

The Department of the Environment invited submissions from the construction industry last week for its Partners in Technology (PIT) 1996 collaborative research scheme.

The scheme is a component of the department's annual œ24 million Construction Research Programme.

It provides up to half the cost of projects through a process of competitive bidding. It invites proposals across a broad range of technical development, including applied research, technology transfer and strategic studies of innovation and emerging markets,

In 1995, the DoE received over 530 proposals and provided funding of more than œ6 million for some 200 projects.

According to John Troughton, programme officer at the DoE, PIT fills the funding gap between research programmes sponsored by the research councils and the business support schemes run by the Department of Trade and Industry.

By seeking proposals from all those involved in research, technology and development activities within the construction industry, PIT aims to advance current best practice and to reflect this in authoritative documents.

Troughton claimed that PIT differs from other collaborative schemes in construction through its emphasis on the information needs of construction practitioners and users of buildings, its coverage of all aspects of construction, and its ability to part-fund research and innovation activities in UK firms.

Projects considered by the DoE for PIT must correspond to the main business areas of their Construction Research Programme: environment, motivation, technology and performance, health and safety issues, process and commercial issues.

The deadline for submissions this year is 30 September.

Further information and guidelines for proposers are available from John Troughton at the DoE on 0171 276 6728.