Wales Higher Education in largest ever international trade event 
Four Universities from Wales participated in the largest ever international trade mission organized by International Business Wales (IBW), the economic development and trade arm of the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Centre of Excellence in Unmanned Systems R&D from the Department of Science at Aberystwyth University, the Institute of Life Sciences at Swansea University, the Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences at University of Glamorgan and Newport Business School at University of Wales Newport all joined over 80 Welsh companies from the technology, aerospace, defence, security and engineering industries as part of the IBW mission who visited Washington, D.C., New York and California in the U.S. to foster international corporate partnerships and promote international trade.
As part of the mission the multi-sector delegation attended a series of specialist programs and networking events to identify future partners, joint venture opportunities and strategic alliances. Programs include meeting high-profile executives and engineers at Boeing, NASA and Lockheed Martin as well as corporate members of the Baltimore World Trade Center.
Aberystwyth University has a global reputation for its work in Intelligent Robotics, and has been developing its Unmanned and Autonomous Systems (U&AS) capabilities for a number of years, including responsibility for several aspects of two Mars exploration programs. Aberystwyth University has been steadily building its R&D capacity – working with key players in the European Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) sector - and is currently working to consolidate its position as a Welsh Assembly Government endorsed Centre of Excellence for Unmanned Systems R&D with a further stage of expansion. The trade mission will be spent talking to organizations in the US keen to tap into the University’s considerable knowledge and skills base as well as its growing network of contacts in other UK universities and businesses, and considering potential collaborative projects.
The Unmanned Systems industry in Mid Wales has developed rapidly in recent years, with much of the activity centred on ParcAberporth, an hour’s drive from the University, which has superb operational Test and Evaluation (T&E) facilities. Wales has progressed a strategy of supporting the sector which is seen to have huge potential for defense, civilian and environmental management applications – from rapid disaster response and resource management through to mapping the nitrogen content of farm crops to optimise fertiliser use. Aberystwyth University has been designated as a research resource within the supply chain of this rapidly emerging industry – with substantial support from the public and private sector to make this a reality. “Our research facilities are truly world class,” says the University’s Business Development Manager Peter Simmonds. “And we have a proven record of taking concepts off the drawing board and making them technically viable.”
Like all universities, The University of Glamorgan has strong links with business, but there are some areas where it particularly excels. The Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences has a long track record in research and
consultancy – focussing on its expertise in Information Security, Geographical Information Systems, Computer Forensics, and Mobile Computing. On the US mission the University is talking to corporations keen to tap into their expertise or
partner research, and promoting their work with international students – which draws people from all over the world from BSc up to PhD level.
The Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences forms part of the Faculty of Advanced Technology, which concentrates on many of the developments that will shape our futures and the world we live in. The
Department has a long and successful research track record in Geographical Information Science, Mobile Communication, Computer Security, and Artificial Intelligence Paradigms. It has strong links with other universities in Europe
and has led on the development of Europeanwide courses in intelligent computer systems and computer games development. It works closely with University’s Centre for Electronic Product Engineering (CEPE) which was awarded the status of ‘Centre of Expertise’ by the WDA in 1994, and appointed as ‘Centre of Excellence’ in 2001. CEPE supports industrial clients in Wales and elsewhere in the fields of microelectronics, information technology and related fields.
“The University has a remarkable commercial focus that has driven some exceptional and very productive lines of research in recent years,” says Department head Andrew Ware. “This is what we’d like to talk about on the US trade mission.”
The global economic model, we are being told, is broken – and in the process of being radically reshaped by new consumer attitudes and financial imperatives. So how do businesses gain a competitive advantage in a post-recession world?
One of the key components of the Wales mission is a ‘Sandpit’ event organised by the Newport Business School – a Faculty of the University of Wales, Newport - designed to promote unfettered, innovative thinking and housed in a dynamic space where ideas can be quickly builtup, knocked-down and re-shaped over and over again, until finally the strongest emerges. The School is using Sandpits and other mission events to connect with other like-minded organisations in the US for collaborative projects.
The University of Wales, Newport has a distinguished track record of promoting
innovative thinking and has particular strengths in the creative industry – most notably digital media and broadcast. The School recently launched in the UK an
Entrepreneurship Foundation designed to stimulate creative thinking and novel approaches to solving problems. Its mission is to develop the business champions of the next generation. Now they are seeking to apply creative thinking to entrepreneurship – and to forge collaborations between institutions – and asking whether we can create a culture of doing business differently,
focused on new market needs.
“New situations demand new ways of approaching business,” said the School’s expert on entrepreneurship Jonathan Deacon. “To seize these opportunities we need the right environments, tools and techniques where creative exchange, innovation, risk-taking and even play can flourish.”
Participants attended a number of business development opportunities throughout the week including a Boeing Outreach Program where Boeing’s senior staff and supply chain managers described how to become a Boeing supplier; how to sell to Boeing subcontractors; and how to benefit from Boeing’s Industrial Participation. A NASA Langley Visit also took place where former NASA astronaut and IBW partner Scott Horowitz introduced Welsh aerospace engineers to NASA staff through a series of special programs about Langley’s partnerships, upcoming procurements and current research and development opportunities. Visitors explored NASA’s wind tunnels, structural test facilities, and exploration hardware. The University of Wales, Newport hosted a Creativity & Entrepreneurship Event where Welsh and US businesses discussed current and future business models and how to develop the next generation of business leaders. At a Taste of Wales evening networking event, U.S. and Welsh CEOs mixed and mingled at the Baltimore World Trade Center and First Minister for Wales, Rt. Hon Rhodri Morgan AM hosted senior government officials, U.S. company executives and Mission attendees at a British Embassy Reception.
“The United States is Wales’ largest export market. That’s why IBW worked tirelessly to develop a high quality program that would position Welsh executives in front of key decision makers at prime targets for their respective industries,” said Ieuan Wyn Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport. “The strong response that we have received from both countries illustrates that our innovative leaders are looking toward the future and proactively planning for the upturn in the global economy.”
"This trade mission will help strengthen the existing connections between the U.S. and Wales. In recent years, American giants including IBM, Amazon.com, Ford and General Dynamics -- plus growing companies like G24i and eMag Solutions -- have invested in Wales. Similarly, Welsh companies including Admiral and Penn Pharmaceuticals have announced new operations in the U.S.," said Geraint Jones, CEO, Americas, of International Business Wales. "Wales is an excellent gateway to Europe, as we are only two hours from London, and we offer lower overall business costs than the rest of Britain. Our 16 universities and colleges produce thousands of qualified graduates each year in technology, science and business."
The Right Honourable Rhodri Morgan First Minister for Wales said, “Some of the world’s most famous high tech companies now find Wales to be the right place to develop their intellectual property and the next generation of products and services. We take great pride in the achievements of our universities some of which have Nobel prize-winning scientists on the staff – and in our home-grown businesses which are now propelling our country forward to further success. Wales is growing ever greater more confident as a nation, as we mark the tenth anniversary of our statehood with the advent of our own National Assembly. Since then we have registered jobs growth of over 10 per cent - much higher than the United Kingdom average jobs growth. Thanks to our position at the cutting edge of new technology and our nation’s rich history, we are able to reach out to people across the globe.”