Rapra Technology embrace Framework 7 research

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team May 15, 2007

Rapra Technology look forward to a new round of European Funding and the opportunities it can bring to EU companies.

Rapra Technology, a subsidiary of the US-based independent testing, consulting and contract research organisation, The Smithers Group, look forward to a new round of European Funding and the opportunities it can bring to EU companies.

Winning European Funding for the research or development of new products and processes can seem daunting to the uninitiated, especially to Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

However, the Research Projects Group within Rapra Technology has a mission to assist those who have the inspirational idea but not the funding resources to progress it.

European funding for research projects is administered through an evolving Framework Programme system.

Framework Programme 6 (FP6) ran from 2002 to 2006 but the latest version, Framework Programme 7 (FP7), will run from 2007 to 2013 and has the impressive budget of 50 billion Euros.

Having had an extremely successful participation in the FP 6 programme, Rapra Technology is now in the process of bidding for FP7 funding in a broad range of polymer related areas.

The organisation has built a strong network of European research partners and recruited personnel to write, manage and implement projects, all fully supported and backed by the new owners, The Smithers Group.

Previous and existing projects have involved:.

* Conductive polymers.

* Anodised aluminium tooling.

* High performance biocomposites.

* Composites for medical applications.

* Starch based films for agriculture.

* Automotive supply chain integration.

* Recycling techniques and analysis.

Newly appointed Research Projects Group Manager Mark Pullinger said 'Rapra Technology has been investing heavily in the infrastructure and personnel to support the next generation of funded projects and looks forward to collaborating with new and existing partners.

Given the catalyst of a new idea we can start the reaction of writing, negotiating and implementing a project with the ultimate aim of making European SME's competitive in a global market'.

Rapra Technology can, of course, bring to bear their own analysis, testing, production and information resource on the projects as well as the established links with other like-minded organisations right across Europe and in fact, with the involvement of the Smithers Group, globally.

Potential projects are being submitted very shortly but the FP7 mechanism allows for submissions in various calls in different subjects over the coming years and so Rapra Technology is willing to examine new ideas and produce feasibility reports.