The UK is officially in another
recession with the dreaded ‘double-dip’ and with the economy bumping along the
bottom, inevitably there is pessimism in the air.
However, at times like this, it is
important to take a step back and focus on the areas in which we excel. For the
UK it is innovation and in particular innovation around high-tech. The UK
thrives on its culture of innovation and on the practical creativity of its
graduates and engineers.
So, looking at where the UK is
particularly adept at innovation, points us to markets of opportunity for
growth. Global opportunities which demand high skills and technical
capabilities are present within the UK’s current economy.
This is Part 3 in a series of 4 outlining
those six markets of opportunity.
1. AEROSPACE DEFENCE (AD)
AD
is vital to the UKs EXPORT market. AD UK Employs 100,000 people, is worth £23b
p.a. with £16b exports – BIG BIG BIG. UK AD is the largest in Europe and second
in the world only to USA. The UK has a 17% global market share. AD UK is BIG
for now and ever. New technologies are being acquired and developed continuously.
Security -
The Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics drove demand for security and surveillance
capability. Last minute spending is expected continue through 2012 for
implementation and post-event analysis.
Space –
The UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA) will be funded to
enable the development, commercialisation and exploitation of space
technologies and services based on space data. The UK Space Innovation and
Growth Strategy (available at www.bis.gov.uk ) highlights
the opportunity for the UK to capture 10% of a global market which is forecasted
to be worth £400bn in 2030. A UK International Space Innovation Centre is to be
established.
2. TRANSPORT
The
UK has a strong transport industry with significant capabilities in the
aerospace, road, rail and marine sectors as well as newer capabilities in
intelligent transport systems. Transport is responsible for about 25% of the
UK’s carbon emissions and congestion in our transport system is set to cost the
economy £22bn by 2025. The transport (manufacturing) sector in the UK employs
more than 1.3 million people directly, has a turnover of more than £123bn and
provides nearly £40bn of GVA. The UK has key R&D activities in the
automotive and aerospace sectors and is well-placed to develop and
commercialise innovations that meet the demands of future transport in the
areas of energy management, carbon reduction, integration and mobility.
The
impact of growing demand for transport in terms of environment, energy use and
efficiency demands a transformation in performance to deliver a sustainable
transport system. The UK continues to lead the way in high tech vehicles
dominating: Formula 1 Cosworth are investing; McClaren now have a production
vehicle being developed out of Woking (e.g. McLaren MP4-12C road car high-tech
production facility in Woking); €220m in Nissan’s first electric car and first
production of European electric vehicle batteries. Green issues drive the
investment in electric vehicles. They need charging points.
Other
technologies being developed include infrastructure communications between
highways, agencies and vehicles, electric propulsion, anti-collision radar,
hybrid/electric vehicle, infotainment, innovation
in rail – enabling integrated, sustainable and profitable systems.
3. ENERGY
Needs
are growing for less power consumed by everything as data rates surge. Everyone
are demanding 24-hour infotainment in full HD colour. There is a need to reduce
power consumption in everything from audio, visual to touch devices. The need
for lower power consumption drives the need for higher precision
measurements.
One
of the key goals is to achieve lower power wireless technologies for smart
phone market. 35% of smart phones in 2012 to be shipped with dual mode Bluetooth
low energy a.k.a. Bluetooth Smart Ready.
Low power WiFi enabled PC peripherals and low power wireless
communications will proliferate.
Environmental Energy – In many areas, the UK is leading
technology development, such as in wave and tidal generation devices, or in
providing leading markets and supply chain capabilities such as in offshore
wind turbines. Countries that can innovate to find sustainable solutions most
rapidly will most likely to benefit. The effective use of resources, energy and
social capital is a prerequisite for long-term economic success. Those
businesses that can manage these successfully are likely to have the most staying
power. The challenge is to introduce the ‘triple bottom line’ of environmental,
social and financial sustainability from the start.
Next
week, Part 4 concludes with
Wireless, Manufacturing & Development and an introduction to the process for
absorptive capacity. Meanwhile, get
your copy of the World Electronic Industries Report & Forecast 2010-2015 by
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