£23m boost to turn North Wales into green superpower

by Tom Bodden - 08/09/2010

"PLANS to make North Wales an international hub for marine sciences, creating up to 140 jobs, will receive a £23.6m investment boost today to stimulate research projects between business and universities."

The aim is to encourage more than 450 businesses across the country to grow by turning cutting edge ideas into new processes, services and technologies, especially in the renewable energy sector.

It is hoped the initiative, focused on Bangor University, could create up to 140 new high technology jobs and win global contracts for Welsh companies.

A new Innovation Centre will be established at the university’s School of Ocean Sciences at Menai Bridge, Anglesey, to provide laboratory and computing facilities for small and medium sized enterprises.

The Sustainable Expansion of the Applied Coastal and Marine Sectors project (SEACAMS) was given the go ahead at Bangor University after securing European Union backing of £12.6m.

Companies will have access to the school’s 40-metre research ship Prince Madog to focus studies on tackling the impact of climate change, such as coastal erosion, flooding, water quality and offshore energy generation.

Project manager Dr Gay Mitchelson-Jacob said that up to 450 existing and new businesses could be encouraged under the five-year initiative.

Some 24 new jobs will be created between the universities to work with business.

“Offshore renewable energy is very much a growth market at the moment and a lot of people are looking to get involved in it,” she said.

“Small companies may come up with ideas and not have the wherewithal to take it down the line with trials, or the expertise over where to locate them or choose the best technology.

“Wales has unrivalled academic expertise in coastal marine science.

“SEACAMS will provide access to this for the benefit of research and development in small and medium enterprises in the coastal and marine sector of Wales.

“It will also provide opportunities for marine science graduates to continue their careers in Wales instead of having to leave.”

Prof Colin Jago of Bangor’s School of Ocean Sciences said: “Wales is strategically situated to exploit the rapid expansion of the offshore energy industry that is already taking place in the Irish Sea.

“It is imperative that we coordinate our research and business initiatives so that Wales plays a leading role in this industry and SEACAMS is an important component in that process.

“Climate change presents challenges and opportunities for the coastal marine sector – issues such as offshore energy generation, coastal erosion and flooding, coastal water quality, ecosystem and human health, and sustainable marine resources have wide ranging implications at a local, regional and global level.

“It also impacts on a large proportion of the human population who are economically dependent on the coastal marine environment.”

Bangor University is collaborating with Swansea and Aberystwyth Universities who are also funding the project with further backing from the Countryside Council for Wales.

The investment is confirmed today by deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones.

Ynys Môn AM Mr Jones, who is also the economy minister, said: “Increasing commercial activity and promoting inward investment in the marine science sector will help secure high quality jobs and contribute to making Wales an international hub for this growing sector.

“Our new economic policy ‘Economic Renewal: a new direction’ outlines our commitment to help business thrive by exploiting the knowledge within our universities.

“We are also committed to creating opportunities for graduates to build successful careers deploying their skills within their own communities and creating new ventures.”

More Details: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business-news/business-news/2010/09/08/23m-boost-to-turn-north-wales-into-green-superpower-55578-27223222/