What is the Basic Technology Research Programme?
The vision of the Research Councils' Basic Technology Research Programme is to contribute to the development of a generic technology base that can be adapted to a diverse range of scientific research problems and challenges spanning the interests of all the research councils.
The Programme will raise the esteem of those who conduct basic technology research to a level of parity to those who engage in basic science, recognising that research into basic technology is of equal value to research in fundamental science. The Programme will strengthen the UK science and technology base by harnessing scientific discoveries to develop innovative technologies that will be used to address science challenges and enable new discoveries.
The Programme transcends Research Council boundaries and potentially encompasses all research disciplines. Consequently the scope is not constrained, and the Programme offers researchers the opportunity to think about new ideas without needing to fit the research into a disciplinary or organisational box. The Programme recognises the multidisciplinary approach is very much part of basic technology and requires co-operation and collaboration through multidisciplinary consortia of researchers.
Please see the Natural Environment Research Council website for further information: http://www.nerc.ac.uk