A consortium led by Bristol-based OC Robotics has secured more than $7.5 million of funding from a $27 million cash pot designed to advance the development of new technologies for the nuclear industry. It is one of 35 projects to be awarded cash and part of the UK’s long-term strategy to become the leading civil nuclear energy nation.

The consortium has received an $8.8 million investment from the Technology Strategy Board, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

The Technology Strategy Board provided $6 million while DECC and NDA contributed $1.5 million each. OC Robotics plans to use the funding to develop ‘LaserSnake‘, a robot controlled laser cutting tool that can be used to decommission nuclear structures.

Business secretary Vince Cable said: “There are huge global opportunities that the UK is well placed to take advantage of in the nuclear industry. Our strong research base will help develop exciting new technologies that can be commercialised here and then exported across the globe.There are many innovative small and medium-sized businesses across the nuclear sector and this joint funding reinforces the government?s commitment to a nuclear strategy that will create jobs and growth.”

Iain Gray, chief executive of the Technology Strategy board, added: “Delivering a new fleet of nuclear power stations to help meet the country’s energy needs involves a number of highly-sophisticated and leading edge technologies.

“This support will help to develop capabilities in this country. That is good news for the economy because it will help us build a world-leading technology base that can provide solutions around the world as well as here in the UK.”

The funding announcement comes as the government publishes an industry strategy to enable the UK to seize opportunities for growth in the nuclear industry.