Orient - The Official Magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore - Issue 72 June 2019
Spotlight on:
Wales
By Trade & Invest Wales
In this issue the Chamber is delighted to introduce a new series, "Spotlight On", where we aim to shed light on various regions of the UK, discovering new key sectors and companies that have plans to expand into the Asia Pacific region. In this piece, we shine the spotlight on Wales.
All across Wales, bright new ideas are being put into action; in offices and laboratories, factories and festivals, on land, sea and in the air. We’re driven by an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit; not just dreaming big, but making it happen.
Situated at the western edge of the United Kingdom, Wales is a country that forms part of the UK and has a population of three million people. Geographically, it has a long open border with England, allowing free movement for centuries.
Since 1999, the country has had its own devolved Government, with control over its own economic development and spending. Wales has been welcoming businesses for many years, helping them to thrive, grow and realise their potential.
Companies that locate here have the advantage of easy access to the UK market, with its population of 65 million.
Many people will probably experience Wales every day. The chip in their smartphone, the wings of a plane that they’ve flown on, the film/TV series they enjoyed, through to their car’s engine. All Wales made.
In tech, Wales is a key destination in Cyber Security. In recognition of our reputation and growing expertise, Wales were invited to join the Global Ecosystem of Ecosystems Partnership in Innovation and Cybersecurity (Global EPIC) in 2017.
Working with partners, Welsh Government is involved in a series of initiatives that demonstrate our determination to grow the Cyber Security sector in Wales. These initiatives include: The National Cyber Security Academy (NCSA), a major UK initiative aimed at developing the next generation of cyber security experts. NCSA work with industry partners, including global tech giants Thales, Airbus and Cisco and undergraduates work on real world projects set by NCSA partners. Also included is the Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Analytics, the centre aims to detect cyber threats targeting various internet-enabled environments. ‘The centre was awarded Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research status by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in 2018’.
Wales is also leading in the development of Compound Semi-conductors which promises to be a key enabling technology for many applications including Industry 4.0. The £50m Compound Semiconductor Catapult, based in Newport, is a UK national centre of