THE Department of Trade and Industry has awarded Bolton Institute a contract worth £495,000 over three years.

It is for Bolton to provide assistance to North of England companies in the design of microelectronics in their products.

As in previous projects in this field, the Bolton Microelectronics Support Centre will be helped by the University of Northumbria (providers of local support for companies in the North-east).

Bolton won the DTI contract in the face of strong competition from universities in the region,

Its track record in micro-electronic support for industry is thought to have been the deciding factor.

The Bolton Centre already delivers the DTI's Microelectronics in Business (MIB) programme and the EU's FUSE (First User Action) programmes in the North of England.

Both programmes provide financial incentives to companies to encourage the introduction or enhancement of electronics in manufactured products in order to improve international competitiveness.

The FUSE programme has been outstandingly successful with well over £2 million in grants already obtained for northern firms.

Mr Richard Fairbank, Head of the Bolton Centre, said: "All Europe's Technology Transfer Nodes recognise our success and value our help.

"This provides companies in our region with the chance to learn from about 600 projects and to forge links with companies in other EU states."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.