This fund is essential in driving forward the region's science and innovation agenda. It specifically targets support at the area between 'blue skies' research and company R&D, where it is often difficult to attract traditional sources of funding. The NWSF will not only play a pivotal role in ensuring the region remains a global leader in scientific innovation, but will also draw on the expertise of our world-class universities to help create scientific developments that will enthuse and educate the next generation of scientists. Six projects have been successful in receiving awards through this fund.

Northwest Composites Centre
The University of Manchester has been awarded funds to establish a regional centre of excellence in composite materials, now established as the lightweight material of choice for many high-technology structural applications. The new North West Composites Centre, which will link into a national network of similar centres, is a collaboration between the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Lancaster and Bolton. The universities will work closely with the Northwest Aerospace Alliance to ensure regional relevance and benefit.

National Centre for Zoonosis Research
The world's first centre to undertake zoonosis research - infections transmissible between animals and humans - recent examples of which include BSE/vCJD and Bird Flu (Avian Influenza). Worldwide, around 75% of human emerging infectious diseases are zoonosis, yet research in this area is often incomplete and sometimes contradictory. Now a new national centre will bring together scientists working on zoonosis from the Universities of Liverpool and Lancaster, with representatives from the Health Protection Agency and the Veterinary Agency. The development of this multidisciplinary centre of excellence in zoonosis research and policy development will form a national focus in this field for government, industry and the general public.

The Northwest Laser Engineering Consortium
The Universities of Liverpool and Manchester have established the North West Laser Engineering Consortium (NWLEC). The use of lasers in manufacturing is currently under exploited nationally and is required urgently by UK industry if it is to remain competitive. This project will ensure the Northwest is at the forefront of this technology.

Northwest Stem Cell Centre
The Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust in partnership with the University of Manchester will help place the Northwest at the cutting edge of embryonic stem cell research. The centre will also draw on the expertise of the University of Liverpool and the University of Manchester's Paterson Institute for Cancer Research to develop a state-of-the-art facility that will produce embryonic cells of high enough quality for human transplantation - one of only a handful of laboratories in the UK able to do so.

UK Tissue Regeneration Centre
£1.46 million has been awarded to the University of Manchester to develop a world-class UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration (UKCTR). The centre, which is led by the University of Manchester in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, the NHS and five industrial partners including AstraZeneca, will make a major contribution to UK research into tissue regeneration. The centre will help develop small calibre artificial arteries, skin repair products, cartilage regeneration and nerve repair techniques. An example of the application of this research includes the development of arteries for use in coronary patients and also smokers with blocked arteries.

4 GLS
CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory, the Photon Science Institute of the University of Manchester and the University of Liverpool were successful in receiving funding to help build a successful prototype to prove the technical feasibility of the Fourth Generation Light Source (4GLS) concept. 4GLS aims to be a state-of-the-art suite of accelerator-based light sources, used for cutting edge scientific research.