Britain lags far behind Japan and the US in the critical new technologies
of advanced materials, according to a report published this week.
The government鈥檚 Advisory Council on Science and Technology says new
ceramics, polymers and metal composites which are stronger and more versatile
than today鈥檚 will have a big effect on industry in the next 15 years. But
in Britain there is too little research, spread too thinly, and too few
students being trained in the right disciplines.