THE Hampshire-based Defence Evaluation and Research Agency has joined forces with car giant Ford in a bid to speed up car design and improve quality.

Although the new venture will be based in America, Ford says it is DERA's standing as the largest research and development organisation in Western Europe which had prompted such a step by Ford.

Known as Holographic Imaging LLC, the research and development company has been formed to create a three-dimensional, interactive imaging workstation prototype.

The new technology has the potential to save Ford millions of dollars in design and development costs for new vehicles, while also bringing new products to consumers faster.

The technology, under development by DERA, will be used by Ford to create full-scale virtual digital models of prototype vehicles. Ford says the joint venture will streamline its vehicle design processes by reducing the reliance on hard models, give Ford the ability to redesign features in real time and the capability to hold multiple design reviews simultaneously.

The joint venture also will have the potential to tap into other business and growth opportunities, such as participating in attractive new businesses in automotive and non-automotive fields as a licensor or equity partner. These include applying the technology to other fields such as aerospace, entertainment, medical imaging, oil and gas industry, industrial design and marketing.

The technology may have important defence applications, too, for example in command and control, exercise planning, product design and simulators. The Ministry of Defence will retain use of the technology for British military purposes.

"DERA's three-dimensional imaging technology leads the world in futuristic imaging techniques and promises major changes in design processes and other similar applications,'' said David Steeds, director, corporate development, DERA.

"A substantial amount of Intellectual Property has been developed since we started working closely together and the JV will allow DERA and Ford to develop this valuable IP to its full potential.''

Ford has been collaborating with DERA on research into interactive three-dimensional holography since 1997. A system based on this technology will enable true, three-dimensional virtual models of vehicles, components and fully interactive systems that can be used by design, engineering and marketing staffs. Jaguar began working with DERA in 1996 on night vision systems.