Launch Of £6.4m Business Technology Project At USW

A £6.4m EU-backed project which will drive research to help businesses develop cutting-edge technologies and boost productivity has been officially launched. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Centre of Excellence in Mobile and Emerging Technologies (CEMET) project, which is led by the University of South Wales (USW) and has £4.2m of backing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh Government, was unveiled at a ceremony in Cardiff yesterday (March 8). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

CEMET’s scope will be to help Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Valleys, West and North Wales design and test new mobile and emerging technologies to create products and services for commercial success. It will provide a comprehensive package of support to develop products through road-mapping and knowledge transfer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event was attended by Julie Morgan AM, who was representing the Welsh Government in her capacity as Chair of EU Funds Programme Monitoring Committee, USW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Langton, and Mark Griffiths, Co-Director of CEMET. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking at the launch, Mr Griffiths said: “CEMET believes that innovation is a vital part of business growth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As a result it aims to support Welsh businesses that are seeking to create new products, solutions and services through funded collaborative research projects. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We envisage a Wales where business continuously innovates and utilises emerging technologies to provide market leading product and services that shape our future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Prof Langton added: “We are delighted that USW’s’ expertise in the computer technology sector has been recognised and is taking the lead on the CEMET project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Higher education plays a vital role in helping to build economic growth and jobs in Wales, and this project demonstrates the commitment that USW and the Welsh Government have in strengthening that crucial role.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Julie Morgan said: “It’s great to see first hand how EU Funds are being invested to support the development of new technologies and services to enable businesses in Wales to become more competitive and boost our economy.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​