SCI's Daily Digest: your one-stop shop for all of the day's news in science based industry

In today's Daily Digest, help to establish low carbon energy centres, a new research hub focused on decarbonising the maritime industry, and more.

Innovation

The UK government has awarded 26 companies a share of £46 million to help them establish low carbon energy centres. The funding supports the UK’s transition cleaner more secure energy system.

The UK government has released a tool which brings together all Areas of Research Interest (ARI) documents from across government departments in a ‘one stop shop.’ ARIs are a list of research questions or topics which government departments or agencies would welcome more research on to inform their policies and help close the evidence policy gap.

Health

A report from UKRI highlights the pivotal role played by researchers in tackling the covid-19 pandemic. The report sets out how publicly funded research helped to shape decisions made by the UK government.

The Medical Research Council is providing £2 million to four research teams working on high-risk, high-reward projects towards improving outcomes for hard to treat cancers. The groups will be led by universities including Cardiff and Kings College London.

Environment

A new research hub focused on decarbonising the maritime industry, has been launched by the UK government. Led by Durham University it will carry out research in several areas including sustainable fuels and decarbonised port operations.

MEPs have approved a decision requiring obliging EU airports and fuel suppliers to ensure that, starting in 2025, at least 2% of aviation fuels will be green, with this share increasing every five years, reaching 70% by 2050.

Australia’s National Science Agency, CSIRO, has installed specialised sensors in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, to help monitor and forecast sediment runoff which impacts the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s marine ecosystem.

The IEA has said that there is need for stronger international collaboration to accelerate the insufficient progress in transition to clean technologies and sustainable solutions. The conclusion comes in an IEA report calling on governments to strengthen collaboration in key areas such as standards and regulation and market creation. This is crucial if the 1.5oC goal is to be met.

Other News

Dr David Smith has been appointed by the UK government as the UK’s National Technology Advisor, replacing Sir Patrick Vallance. He will focus on integrating academic and industry expertise with government to boost the UK superpower status.

The UK government has hosted the first UK Biosecurity Leadership Council, which will help shape the way advances in engineering biology are governed. It will seek to guard against potential risks as well as ensuring that the UK’s biology, health, and science innovators are supported.