Griffiths Supports Move from Nuclear Weapons to Computer Games
Department of trade and industry brings together Russian nuclear scientists and UK software companies.
Sep 01, 2004
The DTI is to help British software companies tap into the expertise of former Russian nuclear weapons designers by bringing them together at a major software show this week.
Software designers and programmers from three of Russia's closed nuclear cities will be showcasing their technical capabilities at the European Games Network exhibition in London's Docklands thanks to the DTI's UK-Russia Closed Nuclear Cities Partnership (CNCP). With outsourcing of software programming gaining popularity among UK companies in order to maintain their competitive edge, the CNCP is hopeful that some long-term commercial partnerships can be forged.
Trade and Industry Minister Nigel Griffiths said:
"Games software designers today are looking for increasingly sophisticated programmers with backgrounds in physics and advanced maths. These are exactly the skills that these former nuclear weapons scientists have who need to find ways to use their skills in peaceful pursuits. By encouraging such partnerships we aim to help UK businesses stay competitive while reducing the risk to international security."
The £6 million four-year CNCP programme is part of the UK's contribution to a $20 billion pledge by G8 countries designed to counter proliferation of nuclear material, nuclear safety and ecological concerns in the former Soviet Union. It aims to limit the spread of weapons of mass destruction by supporting the long-term economic viability of the 10 closed cities - set up in the Cold War to develop the Russian nuclear weapons programme - and promoting alternative employment opportunities for its numerous former nuclear weapons personnel.
Notes to Editors:
The scientists are from Sarov, Snezhinsk and Zheleznogorsk. They are experts in graphics design, simulation, mathematical modelling and image manipulation and are well suited to low cost, high quality games development. They will be exhibiting at the European Games Network at Excel in London from September 1-3. They will also be hosting a special session at the event on September 2 at 1pm. For further details about the visit contact Mark Allington of AEA Technology on 07968 707233.
1. The Closed Nuclear Cities Partnership (CNCP) between the UK and the Russian Federation was established in 2002. Changes to Russian defence policy is expected to lead to some 15,000 job losses in the ten cities over the next five years, with many more likely to go in the following decade. CNCP gives grants to support sustainable civil sector commercial activities, training, commercial partnerships and local economic development. One success followed from a £30,000 DTI grant. This money, to support market research and the production of a business plan for a project in the Russian closed nuclear city of Seversk, leveraged in £17m of Russian money for the construction of a Nitrogen Triflouride chemical production plant, which promises to create over 100 jobs, of which 30 are engineering and managerial, by Autumn 2005. For further details of the CNCP, including information on current projects, see www.dti.gov.uk/energy/nuclear/fsu/proj_profiles.shtml
2. In 2002 G8 Leaders pledged to provide up to $20billion over 10 years for a new global partnership against the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The Prime Minister announced that the UK would make up to $750 million available to fund projects in pursuit of the partnership's aims.
3. Other projects supported by the UK in Russia include:
- a portfolio of 17 projects worth some £2 million under the bilateral Nuclear Safety Programme, intended to encourage the adoption of Western standards of safety and regulation for their operating plants as well as providing systems training and expertise.
- £15 million to construct a spent nuclear fuel facility at Murmansk (details announced by Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt in July).
- £2 million on management of spent nuclear fuel stocks at Andreeva Bay, a former waste nuclear materials site in north west Russia, for the Russian Navy.
- £11.5 to dismantle two nuclear submarines, also in north west Russia.
- £10 million contribution to the EU Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (to fund further environmental projects in north west Russia).
4. Further information on the UK G8 Global Partnership projects is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/nuclear/fsu/index.shtml
The G8 Global Partnership 2003 Annual Report was published in December by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence.
Department of Trade and Industry
7th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740
(for those with hearing impairment)
http://www.dti.gov.uk
Software designers and programmers from three of Russia's closed nuclear cities will be showcasing their technical capabilities at the European Games Network exhibition in London's Docklands thanks to the DTI's UK-Russia Closed Nuclear Cities Partnership (CNCP). With outsourcing of software programming gaining popularity among UK companies in order to maintain their competitive edge, the CNCP is hopeful that some long-term commercial partnerships can be forged.
Trade and Industry Minister Nigel Griffiths said:
"Games software designers today are looking for increasingly sophisticated programmers with backgrounds in physics and advanced maths. These are exactly the skills that these former nuclear weapons scientists have who need to find ways to use their skills in peaceful pursuits. By encouraging such partnerships we aim to help UK businesses stay competitive while reducing the risk to international security."
The £6 million four-year CNCP programme is part of the UK's contribution to a $20 billion pledge by G8 countries designed to counter proliferation of nuclear material, nuclear safety and ecological concerns in the former Soviet Union. It aims to limit the spread of weapons of mass destruction by supporting the long-term economic viability of the 10 closed cities - set up in the Cold War to develop the Russian nuclear weapons programme - and promoting alternative employment opportunities for its numerous former nuclear weapons personnel.
Notes to Editors:
The scientists are from Sarov, Snezhinsk and Zheleznogorsk. They are experts in graphics design, simulation, mathematical modelling and image manipulation and are well suited to low cost, high quality games development. They will be exhibiting at the European Games Network at Excel in London from September 1-3. They will also be hosting a special session at the event on September 2 at 1pm. For further details about the visit contact Mark Allington of AEA Technology on 07968 707233.
1. The Closed Nuclear Cities Partnership (CNCP) between the UK and the Russian Federation was established in 2002. Changes to Russian defence policy is expected to lead to some 15,000 job losses in the ten cities over the next five years, with many more likely to go in the following decade. CNCP gives grants to support sustainable civil sector commercial activities, training, commercial partnerships and local economic development. One success followed from a £30,000 DTI grant. This money, to support market research and the production of a business plan for a project in the Russian closed nuclear city of Seversk, leveraged in £17m of Russian money for the construction of a Nitrogen Triflouride chemical production plant, which promises to create over 100 jobs, of which 30 are engineering and managerial, by Autumn 2005. For further details of the CNCP, including information on current projects, see www.dti.gov.uk/energy/nuclear/fsu/proj_profiles.shtml
2. In 2002 G8 Leaders pledged to provide up to $20billion over 10 years for a new global partnership against the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The Prime Minister announced that the UK would make up to $750 million available to fund projects in pursuit of the partnership's aims.
3. Other projects supported by the UK in Russia include:
- a portfolio of 17 projects worth some £2 million under the bilateral Nuclear Safety Programme, intended to encourage the adoption of Western standards of safety and regulation for their operating plants as well as providing systems training and expertise.
- £15 million to construct a spent nuclear fuel facility at Murmansk (details announced by Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt in July).
- £2 million on management of spent nuclear fuel stocks at Andreeva Bay, a former waste nuclear materials site in north west Russia, for the Russian Navy.
- £11.5 to dismantle two nuclear submarines, also in north west Russia.
- £10 million contribution to the EU Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (to fund further environmental projects in north west Russia).
4. Further information on the UK G8 Global Partnership projects is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/nuclear/fsu/index.shtml
The G8 Global Partnership 2003 Annual Report was published in December by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence.
Department of Trade and Industry
7th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740
(for those with hearing impairment)
http://www.dti.gov.uk