The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) are to invest up to £2m in ​developing technologies for safe and responsible exploitation of shale gas.

The aim of the competition, which opens this week, is to encourage the development of innovative technologies for the safe and responsible exploitation of the UK's shale gas resources. A briefing event for the competition will be held on 9th July in London.

The funding will support innovative projects in a number of key technology areas, which will help to develop a UK shale gas supply chain to serve both a UK and global market.

Projects must be business-led, and the competition is open to companies of any size, although the TSB particularly encourage the participation of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

 The competition is encouraging projects that involve technology transfer from other sectors, for example from the ICT, digital, space and high value manufacturing sectors. The TSB is particularly interested in attracting a site developer willing to provide a ‘test bed' for innovative technologies in this area.

A business partner will generally attract up to 65% public funding for their project costs (75% for SMEs) for the feasibility studies (pre-industrial research projects) - Research organisations can participate as partners, but cannot lead a project.

Projects are expected to last between six and 12 months and to range in size from total costs of £50k to £150k.

Registration deadline is noon on 17 September 2014 and thedeadline for applications is at noon on 24 September 2014.

The TSB is seeking to fund projects that address one or more of the following three themes seen as being essential for the safe and responsible exploitation of the UK's shale gas resources.

Theme 1 – environmental management includes technologies such as:

• water management and treatment
• fluid recycling
• detection and monitoring of land and groundwater contamination K waterless or low-volume fluid fracking
• monitoring technologies (seismic & emissions)
• reduced emissions completion
• logistics to minimise local impact (for example minimising heavy vehicle movements and noise).

Theme 2 – reservoir monitoring includes technologies such as:

• novel downhole sensors, data-logging and analysis
• continuous on-line, real-time monitoring
• micro-seismic and diagnostic technologies, including modelling.

Theme 3 – open theme includes innovative technologies relating to the exploitation of shale gas, which are not covered in the first two themes. It may include technologies associated with areas such as:

• reservoir characterisation
• reservoir prediction
• well innovations and integrity (such as self-healing cement).

In 2013, the Technology Strategy Board commissioned an independent review, UK Business Opportunities for Innovation in the Exploration, Extraction and Utilisation of Shale Gas, to establish how innovation could play a role in the safe and responsible exploitation of shale gas, and the areas where UK businesses might benefit most.

 The review highlighted clear innovation opportunities for UK business in a number of technology areas and which build on the UK's existing capabilities across a number of sectors. A further review carried out by DECC, Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Shale Gas Production and Use, also highlighted areas of R&D that are required to de-risk the exploitation of shale gas.