Background
Effective use of leading edge Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is seen as important, and possibly critical, to the future competitiveness of UK Industry. This statement is as true now as it was at the time of the launch of the ICT Carrier programme; possibly more so. In 2000 and as part of its focus on the knowledge driven economy and manufacturing industries, the DTI implemented the ICT Carrier Programme to help improve the competitiveness of engineering sectors, as a result of business process improvements and product / service innovation through the strategic exploitation of ICT. This vision has been verified by recent studies carried out on behalf of Manufuture and ManVis

Projects focused around integrating e-manufacturing and e-business into engineering and manufacturing industries and their immediate supply chains, and in facilitating new business models.

The programme used the technology transfer mechanisms developed in the original Carrier Technology Programme, which was aimed at process technologies. In this case the 'carrier mechanism' was based on the adaptation and transfer of successful existing applications of ICT from one sector to another. The engineering sectoral bodies were involved to increase sectoral awareness and understanding of ICT opportunities in products and processes for specific sectors.

Objectives

The following were the key objectives of the ICT Carrier programme; all of which were significantly exceeded.

• Improve awareness and understanding of the importance of ICT and the opportunities that such technologies offer in engineering sectors
• Develop engineering products, processes, communications and services, through adoption of maturing ICT available in other sectors (here and abroad)
• Support and develop collaboration among companies, sectoral organisations and technology intermediaries, as well as throughout supply chains and clusters, to speed the uptake of technology
• Improve competitiveness, innovation and productivity in engineering sectors
• Link into, complement and coordinate with other knowledge driven economy and e-business activities such as the Information Society Initiative and the European Growth and Information Society Technologies R&D support programmes.

Projects

There were three types of projects supported: Feasibility Studies, Full Collaborative Projects and Scoping Studies.

Feasibility Studies were aimed at assisting sectoral trade associations to evaluate the current ICT position and opportunities/needs of their sector, including options for adaptation & transfer of technology from other sectors. These allowed sectoral organizations to assess the current position and develop concepts for Full Collaboration Projects.

Full Collaborative Projects were aimed at adapting and transferring leading edge ICT into the recipient sector(s). The results were disseminated to at least 50% of the recipient sector and the majority proved to have strong potential to improve the industry's competitiveness and/or productivity.

We have provided an overview of all the Full Collaborative Projects supported and included Case Studies where relevant.

Scoping Studies were designed to assess emerging sectoral challenges and take a view of the opportunities open to manufacturing through emerging and innovative ICT solutions in a 3 - 5 year timeframe. The objective was to identify emerging technologies that offered scope to improve productivity and provide innovative business solutions.

The outcome was a report that is available to the appropriate industry sector in order to prepare them for future oriented challenges relating to the sector and how ICT may be able to improve competitiveness in this changing environment.

Copies of the Scoping Studies will be available for download in the results section of this website.