ASTUTE (Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies 2010-2015) is a vibrant alliance between eight universities in Wales, specifically formed to stimulate regional and national economic growth.

The EU-funded project promotes collaboration between universities and the Welsh manufacturing industry, combining the latest innovations, specialist expertise and state-of-the-art facilities to offer Welsh manufacturers the opportunity to collaborate with renowned academics and industry experts.

Over 250 companies have engaged with ASTUTE, resulting in over £200m worth of economic impact, 383 new products, 174 jobs and 10 new enterprises created - significantly enhancing the Welsh economy.

Accomplishments of the ASTUTE project has driven the follow-on operation ASTUTE 2020 aimed at enabling greater levels of business innovation in future manufacturing.

Professor Johann Sienz, ASTUTE 2020’s Operation Director said:

“ASTUTE being nominated as a finalist at the RegioStars Awards recognises it as an exemplar of effective and productive industry-academia collaboration delivering for the Welsh manufacturing industry, enabling transformational and sustainable growth across Wales in manufacturing industries through research, development and innovation.

“I am extremely proud of the achievements of the ASTUTE partnership and the continued impact ASTUTE 2020 is generating in collaboration with manufacturing industries across Wales.”

The RegioStars Awards are a yearly competition, organised by the European Commission's Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy with the objective of identifying good practices in regional development and highlighting original and innovative projects that are attractive and inspiring to other regions.

The RegioStars Awards Ceremony is due to be held in Brussels on October 9. Voting for the public choice award opens on July 3 and you can vote HERE.

The ASTUTE project has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and the participating Higher Education Institutions and has been led by Swansea University in collaboration with the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan, Glyndŵr, University of South Wales and University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

The ASTUTE 2020 (Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies) operation, supporting manufacturing companies across Wales, has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and the participating Higher Education Institutions.