SCIENCE minister Lord Sainsbury yesterday invited companies to put forward their bids for a new £20m research programme to develop new technologies.

Speaking in the North-East, he said the Government-backed Link programme will fund partnerships between industry, universities and other research organisations developing new basic technologies that can be commercially exploited.

The programme will cover a broad range of new technologies bringing new industrial techniques, providing new healthcare technologies and raising productivity.

New technologies will be developed in areas including superconductivity, nanotechnology, data storage, photonics and power electronics.

The Government is providing £10m over the next three years in support of the scheme. Equal funding for the projects will have to be provided by industry.

Speaking at the Science and Industry Council launch, Lord Sainsbury said: "The UK has a world-class reputation for conducting research in a broad range of leading-edge technologies, but we need to widen uptake by industry. This new programme will help to ensure that UK industry is aware of these emerging technologies and will take the necessary steps towards commercial exploitation."

l Lord Sainsbury yesterday visited Newcastle University's clean room where scientists assemble the world's smallest objects.

The nanotechnology facility is completely dirt and dust free so that tiny devices like biosensors can be assembled in a totally clean environment.

Scientists and visitors entering the clean room must wear special suits covering every part of their body to seal in possible contamination from the outside world.

Newcastle University has more than 100 nanotechnology research staff on its books, working in the fields of science, medicine, engineering and agriculture.