Alun Cairns MP was invited to Swansea University’s Bay Campus as part of Wales Festival of Innovation today to find out for himself how Wales is leading the way in health, life science and computer science innovation.

Swansea University-based think tank the Morgan Academy organised the innovation showcase. Morgan Academy director and Swansea University Vice-President Professor Mike Sullivan said:

“We were absolutely delighted to welcome Alun Cairns MP to the Swansea University Innovation Showcase today as part of the Wales Festival of Innovation.

“The University is on a strong upward trajectory and this event provides an opportunity to showcase the diverse, ground-breaking research and innovation taking place across both our campuses. We are proud to partner with global industry leaders such as Pfizer, Fujitsu and Sanofi. Being able to attract such collaborators demonstrates that Swansea University is indeed a hotbed of fresh and innovative thinking which aims to impact positively locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.”

The Wales Festival of Innovation runs from June 16 to June 30 and is a celebration of how innovation is changing our lives. The festival showcases how Wales is leading the way through first class academia, cutting edge technologies and how innovation underpins key industrial sectors.

Professor Sullivan added:

“The Swansea University Innovation Showcase included the Medical School’s recent collaboration with global pharmaceutical firm Sanofi with the establishment of the Sanofi Diabetes Centre of Excellence, the School of Management-hosted AgorIP project which is a £13.5million programme aimed at unlocking ideas and innovation and taking them to the marketplace to create new firms and new high value jobs.  The project has been backed by £6.7m from the Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund with additional funding from Swansea University. 

The University’s health and life science collaboration with Pfizer was also highlighted. The School of Management and the Medical School are working with the industry heavyweight to carry out real-world research and innovation projects in the health and life science sector with a strong focus on digital healthcare delivery.

“It was fantastic that the Secretary of State was able to hear about the progress of the University’s £31million Computational Foundry which is being built at the Bay Campus which will nurture and grow a dedicated community of computational and mathematical scientists who pursue transformative research.”

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

“Innovation and creativity are vital to the prosperity of the UK economy. Marrying the R&D expertise of universities and the entrepreneurial excellence of business is helping to cement the UK’s position as world-leader in research and design.

“My visit to the innovation showcase today showed that collaborative research between Swansea University and industry is stronger than ever. The UK Government is committed to doing everything it can to ensure that those relationships go from strength to strength and see that excellence transformed into real economic benefit for the whole of the UK.”

Professor Keith Lloyd, Head of the Medical School, said the quality of the innovation taking place in Swansea University is unparalleled.

Professor Lloyd said:

“It was wonderful to be able to give the Secretary of State a firs- hand view of projects which will ensure the expertise and research within the University is translated to improve the way people live their lives.

“For example the Sanofi Diabetes Centre of Excellence will work across all areas of diabetes research to help address the important social and healthcare needs in diabetes and support an under pressure NHS.”