News story: New and novel healthcare solutions: apply for innovation funding

Up to £12 million is on offer to UK businesses for projects that support the development of healthcare technologies and processes.

Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are to invest up to £12 million in new and novel healthcare solutions.

There are 2 competitions for UK micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the latest round of the Biomedical Catalyst. These are for feasibility and early stage projects.

What we are looking for

We are looking to support the development of innovative healthcare technologies and processes such as:

  • disease prevention and proactive management of health and chronic conditions
  • earlier and better detection and diagnosis of disease, leading to better patient outcomes
  • tailored treatments that either change the underlying disease or offer potential cures

Feasibility studies

These are for exploring and testing the commercial potential and feasibility of ideas. Up to £2 million is available.

Early-stage projects

These are for testing a well-developed concept and showing its effectiveness in a relevant environment. Up to £10 million is available.

About the Biomedical Catalyst

The Biomedical Catalyst is a partnership between Innovate UK and the MRC. It aims to support the most innovative life sciences opportunities regardless of the scientific approach. It also wants to de-risk academia and industry being able to take forward innovative scientific ideas.

Competition information

  • the competitions are open, and the deadline is midday on Wednesday 11 October 2017
  • you could get up to £200,000 for feasibility studies lasting up to 1 year
  • you could get between £250,000 and £4 million for early-stage projects lasting between 1 and 3 years
  • you can work alone or in collaboration with other businesses or research organisations, but to lead a project you must be a UK-based SME
  • you can watch the recording of the briefing event to help with your application


Notice: Skanska UK PLC: application made to abstract water

The Environment Agency consult the public on certain applications for the abstraction and impoundment of water.

These notices explain:

  • what the application is about
  • which Environment Agency offices you can visit to see the application documents on the public register
  • when you need to comment by


Consultation outcome: Water supply and sewerage licensing: updating security and emergency measures directions

Updated: Summary of responses including government response added.

We want to know what you think about our proposals to update the wording used in the Security and Emergency Measures (Water Undertakers) Direction 2006. We propose changing ‘licensed water supplier’ to ‘water supply licensee’ to take into account changes to the water industry as part of the WSSL regime.

We’re also seeking views on our proposal to issue a new general direction which would apply to all water supply licensees meeting certain conditions. This general direction would replace specific directions that have previously been issued to individual companies.

These directions set out how we expect water suppliers to respond to an emergency.



Press release: Welsh Secretary to mark 35 year anniversary of Japan-Wales business club

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns will underline the strong cultural bonds between Wales and Japan at a dinner to mark a milestone anniversary for a Tokyo based business forum.

Clwb Hiraeth was founded in 1982 by senior executives of Japanese corporations who had worked and lived in Wales and had since returned to Japan. The aim was to champion business ties between the two nations.

35 years on and the club has helped to maintain and strengthen not only the business bonds, but the social links between those who formed close friendships in Wales.

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns is in Japan visiting leading international companies to discuss the great potential for further inward investment in the United Kingdom.

He will mark Clwb Hiraeth’s anniversary at a dinner in Tokyo where he will address the members and reiterate the importance of preserving the business ties between the nations to help secure the future prosperity of both countries.

Speaking ahead of the event Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

Japanese companies have given Wales a lasting legacy, not just industrially, but culturally as well.

Japan has never underestimated Wales. It is one of the best places to do business and I know that Clwb Hiraeth has worked tirelessly to ensure other business leaders, universities and communities throughout this country understand just how much Wales has to offer.

I congratulate the club on its 35 years of important service to Japan and Wales. I wish it every success in the years to come as we continue to strengthen the bonds between us.

The first chairman of Clwb Hiraeth was Mr Yamaguchi of Takiron – the first Japanese company to invest in Wales.

Over its 35 year history, members of the club have acted as unofficial ambassadors for Wales. They meet regularly, hold a number of social events, celebrate St David’s Day, and endorse Wales to other potential investors and business people.

Japan’s business ambitions have also been matched by the ambition of its sportsmen on the rugby pitch. Like Wales 20 years before it, the country is readying itself to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup. And while the two countries may often face one another as adversaries on the field of play, Alun Cairns will highlight the affinity each nation has with the game as another key catalyst for many more years of mutually beneficial business.

Mr Cairns added:

The strong cultural and sporting links between our two great nations have provided a strong backdrop for a successful and lucrative trade and investment partnership.

Rugby has the ability to define us as a nation and we know that success for the Welsh rugby team has a measurable economic impact. We look forward to seeing the world gather in Japan in 2019 and seeing our sporting, trading and cultural partnerships take deeper root over the years to come.



News story: Home Secretary Amber Rudd calls for united stand against online terror

Speaking at the Forum, held in San Francisco, Amber Rudd welcomed the willingness of internet service providers to develop a coordinated industry response to the global threat.

It is encouraging to see so many organisations here today willing to take a stand on this vital agenda. I want to thank the companies I have met while here for the strides they are taking in making the internet a hostile place for terrorists to operate.

But we need to do more to help keep our communities safe. The scale of the threat we face is not something any one of us can tackle alone and only through collective action across governments, civil society and industry can we seek to defeat it. I welcome the commitment of the Forum to take this work forward.

There is no doubt that the challenge is complex. But it is important to remember that behind these discussions about technology lies our determination to protect people – from being radicalised and from being the victims of a terrorist attack.

Our enemy is trying to weaponise vulnerable people in their homes. It is a war where the front line can be a screen in a young person’s bedroom or the mobile phone in their pocket.

We must be united in our resolve to purge the internet of this poisonous and pernicious material. Today has been a significant step towards achieving that goal but there is more to do. Let’s work together to take terrorism offline.