Fighting force
A new trade association called ADS is to be formed on 1 October to represent the aerospace, defence and security industries. It is being formed from the merger of the Defence Manufacturers’ Association, the Society of British Aerospace Companies and the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers.
University challenge
Defence company Thales has announced a £25,000 technology prize for ideas from Scottish universities in the areas of data and image processing. The purpose of the competition is to strengthen links between Thales and the Scottish academic community.
Disappearing act
The Royal Society is funding research at the University of St Andrews into invisibility, which it hopes will ultimately lead to the creation of a practical cloaking device. The work will centre on the development of optical metamaterials – artificial materials that use electro-magnetic properties to curve space around objects.
Car sales rise
New car registrations grew by 6% in August compared to July, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The SMMT said the scrappage scheme is having a positive impact but significant risks remained ahead.
Wasted opportunity
Public opinion is a “major deterrent” to the construction of waste-to-energy plants, according to research from Frost & Sullivan. The consultancy said that the economic downturn was restricting funding for new plant, and that delays in obtaining permits were restraining growth of the sector.
© PE Publishing, 9 September 2009
