Science and technology in Wales

Last updated

Science in Wales - a video by the Welsh Government, 2015.

Various science and technology sectors and organisations operate in Wales.

Contents

Government

The Wales Science and Innovation Advisory Council gives advice to the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales on science, innovation and business policy for Wales but does not have any statutory or financial responsibilities. Members of the council include individuals involved in research and innovation, academics and those involved in industry. [1]

Science

Research

Health

Health and Care Research Wales is a networked organisation, supported by Welsh Government, which brings together a wide range of partners across the NHS in Wales, universities and research institutions, local authorities, and others.

The organisations works in close partnership with other government agencies and research funders (both in Wales and across the UK); industry partners; patients; public and other stakeholders. Work together to promote research into diseases, treatments, services and outcomes that can lead to discoveries and innovations which can improve and even save people's lives. [5]

Food

The Food Industry Centre (FIC) at Cardiff Metropolitan University (also known as UWIC) is a Welsh research and education organisation designed to address issues of food safety and food-related health concerns. Its mission also includes supporting the Welsh food industry. The centre, which is part of UWIC's Cardiff School of Health Sciences at the university's Llandaff campus, was launched in 1999. A new facility for the centre opened on 21 April 2009 and was built at a cost of £5,000,000. [6] [7]

Technology industries

Aerospace

The Aerospace Wales Forum is the trade association for companies that work in the Aerospace & Defence sector in Wales. [8]

Automotive

Wales is an important[ how? ] producer of automotive components: Ford has a major engine plant at Bridgend,[ citation needed ] and BorgWarner has a major components plant in Kenfig, South Wales.[ citation needed ] However amid a global cost-cutting drive and citing a lack of demand for its manufacturing capacity, Ford closed the plant on 25 September 2020 and production of the Dragon engine is moving to Poland.[ citation needed ]

The Welsh Automotive Forum, also known as WAF, is a limited company that lobbies the government on behalf of the automotive industry in Wales. It was formed in 1999. [11]

Titanium: jet engines and medical applications

TIMET has a plant in Waunarlwydd, Swansea, which is one of the world's major suppliers of titanium for jet engine blades and medical applications.[ citation needed ]

Electronics

During the 1980s and 1990s, a major growth sector in manufacturing was the electronics industry with over 130 North American and 35 Japanese companies establishing operations in Wales.[ citation needed ] However, this is a characteristic of a "branch factory" economy where routine production is located in one region while higher skill activities are located in another.[ citation needed ]

Sustainable Technology

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) (Welsh : Canolfan y Dechnoleg Amgen) is an eco-centre in Powys, mid-Wales, dedicated to demonstrating and teaching sustainable development. CAT, despite its name, no longer concentrates its efforts exclusively on alternative technology, but provides information on all aspects of sustainable living.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrexham</span> City in north-east Wales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Glamorgan</span> Former university in Wales

The University of Glamorgan was a university based in South Wales prior to the merger with University of Wales, Newport, that formed the University of South Wales in April 2013. The university was based in Pontypridd, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, with campuses in Trefforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern and Cardiff. The university had four faculties, and was the only university in Wales which had no link with the University of Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff Metropolitan University</span> University in Cardiff, Wales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broughton, Flintshire</span> Large village in Flintshire, Wales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food Industry Centre</span> Research Centre in Cardiff, Wales

The Food Industry Centre (FIC) at Cardiff Metropolitan University (also known as UWIC) is a Welsh research and education organisation designed to address issues of food safety and food-related health concerns. Its mission also includes supporting the Welsh food industry. The centre, which is part of UWIC's Cardiff School of Health Sciences at the university's Llandaff campus, was launched in 1999. A new facility for the centre opened on 21 April 2009 and was built at a cost of £5,000,000.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broughton railway station (Wales)</span> Proposed railway station in Wales

Broughton railway station is a proposed railway station on the North Wales Coast line, situated north of Broughton, Flintshire, Wales. Recent proposals for the station use a site north of Airbus UK's West factory site and Hawarden Airport, where the B5129 crosses the North Wales Coast line. Older proposals for the station include using the old sites of the former Sandycroft and Saltney Ferry railway stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manufacturing in Wales</span> Overview of the manufacturing industry of Wales

The manufacturing sector in Wales was historically centred on the mining industry, with slate, coal, tinplate and steel being important industries. Today, while traditional industries remain in smaller quantities, manufacturing in Wales is increasingly specialised and diverse, including parts of the automotive, aerospace, medical and technological industries.

References

  1. "What we do: Wales Science and Innovation Advisory Council". GOV.WALES. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  2. "A performance-based assessment of the Welsh Research base (2010-2018)" (PDF). gov.wales. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  3. "A performance-based assessment of the Welsh Research base (2010-2018)" (PDF). gov.wales. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  4. "A performance based assessment of the Welsh research base". GOV.WALES. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  5. "About". Health Care Research Wales. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  6. Moira Sharkey (26 January 2008). "Food industry centre part of £46m Uwic revamp". South Wales Echo/Wales Online. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  7. "New facility to boost Welsh food industry". Food Trade Review. June 2006. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  8. "Aerospace Wales Forum | Aerospace, Defence and Space". Aerospace Wales. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  9. Tyrrell, Michael (9 May 2022). "Airbus announces 6,000 new jobs, including 450 at Broughton - Aerospace Manufacturing". aero-mag.com. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  10. "Who we are". EADS UK. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  11. "About WAF". The Welsh Automotive Forum. Retrieved 20 May 2008.