Nesta defines fellows

The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta) is likely to reward interdisciplinary work.

This is the message from a consultation on establishing Nesta's Pounds 200 million endowment from the National Lottery this summer. It will have up to Pounds 10 million a year to support talent and ideas.

There were about 300 written responses. One query was whether the proposed 25 to 50 annual fellowships for exceptionally talented individuals should also include groups.

Janet Morrison from Nesta said: "Most agreed a focus on individuals was important but we should not cut out groups completely or as a rule. Group work is particularly important for interdisciplinary research. People thought our niche was where creativity and science and the arts overlap."

There was also concern about how fellows would be chosen. It has been suggested that invited bodies would nominate individuals, but there were fears this would mean Nesta recognising people already being supported. The programme will start in the autumn.