Sensing and instrumentation spend set to increase

UK companies operating in the multi-billion pound sensing and instrumentation market expect to increase their spend on research by an average of 10% in the coming 12 months.

Sensors and Instrumentation companies intend to dig deep to make the most of innovative research

These are the findings of the Sensors and Instrumentation Knowledge Transfer Network (SIKTN) - the government-backed body representing the UK’s sensing and instrumentation community.

Much of this money will continue to be spent on outsourcing research to third parties, and the majority of these are expected to be academic institutions according to initial results from an ongoing survey being carried out among the industrial members of its 1500-strong network.

“This a £25bn European market of which the UK already holds a 30% share. The key to growing this share is how well we can harness the innovative thinking of the academic community and transfer their ideas into real products and services,” explains Simon Aliwell, director of the Sensors and Instrumentation KTN.

“This survey shows we are moving in the right direction and that companies are pushing hard to grow and develop, but there is always more to do,” he said.

The survey, whose respondents represent more than 10,000 UK employees, was carried out in preparation for a recent KTN workshop in London to identify more ways to achieve successful partnerships between industry and academia, and how to address the different agendas which can emerge.

57% of respondents expected to increase their research budgets during the next 12 months. 75% outsource this responsibility and 71% of these organisations believe that universities will be their partners during the next year.

The survey will now continue and be expanded to involve academic as well as industrial KTN members to broaden the trends identified.