3.153 Technology and Innovation Centres will also help commercialise new and emerging technologies in areas where there are large global market opportunities and a critical mass of UK business and research capability. The Technology Strategy Board has been leading the work to establish these centres. The first centre, focused on High Value Manufacturing, is now open for business. It will support all manufacturing sectors, drawing on its capabilities across metals and composite materials, process manufacturing technologies and bio-processing.
3.154 The next two technology areas in which centres will be established are Cell Therapy and Offshore Renewables, with the former being operational from April 2012, and the latter in the summer. The Technology Strategy Board has also identified the 10 technology areas from which the next three centres will be selected, following a process of further detailed discussions with the business and academic communities.