Presentation & Consultation: Innovation Strategy for Wales

Dr Alastair Davies, Welsh Government sought views on the Innovation Strategy being developed and how it might best support the commercialisation of R&D and promote innovation.

The event also featured five workshops, spotlight displays and a series of One-to-One Meetings.

Analysis

Total number of people registered: 120
Total number of people attending:  113 (94% of total registration)

Workshops

Corporate R&D Tax Credits - Andrew Yeo, HMRC & David Clift, Hazlewoods
THis was a follow-up workshop to our April event when HMRC and Hazlewoods explained how companies can claim up to 225% R&D tax relief, outlined the range of qualifying activity and advised how cash can even be claimed back on R&D for loss-making companies.

High Performance Computing - Dr Ian Grimstead, HPC Wales & Andrew Hilton, Calon Cardio
Ian explained how supercomputing can give you the power to achieve innovative breakthroughs in product, process or service development, strengthening your position in the market and helping you to compete on a global scale; HPC Wales supports business of all sizes and provides a full integrated service, from initial consultancy through to training. Andrew explained how HPC Wales worked with Calon Cardio.

Ground Source Heat - Dr Manju Mishra, SEREN & Dr Aled Davies, WDS Environmental Ltd
SEREN aims to develop innovative engineering technologies for commercial applications in four geo-energy themes. This workshop presented case studies of various heat pump projects as a low-carbon solution to heating and cooling in new and existing Welsh Buildings. The workshop also showcased the software tool aimed at assisting Welsh SMEs in the design of ground loop systems incorporating additional features such as local weather data and soil parameters.

Advanced Manufacturing - Andrew Hopkins, ASTUTE & Prof Richard Knox, Morvus Technology Ltd
ASTUTE-Cardiff supports Welsh businesses through activities in areas including Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Product Design and Innovation, Systems Engineering, Sustainable Manufacturing and Corporate Strategy. Case study: Morvus Technology Ltd.

Funding for Innovation - Neil Sandford, Welsh Government
EADS Foundation Wales (a Welsh Government, EADS, Cardiff University joint venture not-for-profit limited company) has a funding call to support early stage R&D projects in the fields of Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing, the Digital and the Low Carbon Economies.  Neil outlined how this dovetails with other R&D funding opportunities including the Digital Wales Research Hub (DWRH) and gave an overview of a new funding programme currently being developed in partnership with the Technology Strategy Board (TSB).

Presentations

Dr Alastair Davies, Welsh Government - presentation
Dr Alastair Davies, Welsh Government - video
Andrew Yeo, HMRC
David Clift, Hazlewoods
Dr Ian Grimstead, HPC Wales
Dr Andrew Hilton, Calon Cardio
Dr Manju Mishra, SEREN, Cardiff University
Dr Aled Davies, WDS Environmental Ltd
Andrew Hopkins, ASTUTE, Cardiff University
Prof Richard Knox, Morvus Technology Ltd
Neil Sandford, Welsh Government