UKINNOVATION UK149 Centres of Excellence Wales: UNIVERSITY OF WALES The scholarship holder will also receive a research grant of £ 5,000 to cover the cost of equipment, books and travel. To make the most of the talents available, the University of Wales is also establishing a full support programme to enhance the capacity and capability of each graduate, thus ensuring that they are fully contributing to the activi-ties of the participating company. Innovation scholars and participating businesses will be invited to participate in a number of events through-out the course of the programme, with the emphasis on innovation management, leadership and entrepreneur-ship. Entrepreneurs and executives from the best inter-national companies will act as lecturers and advisors, providing participants with the benefit of their experience and expertise in the field of business innovation. The Prince of Wales Innovation Scholarships will make a significant impact on innovation in Wales and has the capacity to help change the Welsh economy. Already, a number of high- technology innovative firms have signed up to the project to help the University ensure that inno-vation and enterprise become a by- word for the Welsh business sector and to show that a small economy can punch above its weight and compete successfully with the best in the world. The University of Wales has been in detailed discussions with some of the world's leading research universities in Europe, the USA and Asia to discuss ways of collaborat-ing on this project and bring some of the best students to Wales. Earlier this year, Professor Marc Clement - the Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales - met with the President of the University of California to examine how both institutions could work together to develop innovation within Wales. With over 50% of the high-technology firms established in Silicon Valley being started by non- Americans, California has demonstrated that the attraction of graduate talent from overseas can boost the economy. Indeed, the fact that the digital revolution is being led by companies such as Google, YouTube and Yahoo is testament to how young scientific talent can boost entrepreneurial potential. These sentiments were recently echoed by the former Lord Mayor of London, Sir David Lewis, who stated that " Wales needs to become less insular and more interna-tional if it is to match rival UK countries . We are not outward- looking and expanding the way that we should be. The way to grow is to look outward, not inward. That can be addressed through education, by welcoming for-eign expertise to Wales." The University of Wales fully supports Sir David's com-ments and welcomes the opportunity to bring the best of the world to Wales and, in return, take the best of Wales to the world. HRH the Prince of Wales, the Chancellor of the University of Wales, has given his full blessing to the programme and is passionate about supporting, whenever he can, its activities during the next six years. At the launch of the scholarship programme in May at Clarence House in London, HRH the Prince of Wales, said: " It seems to me entirely fitting that an institution which was created through the determination and enthusiasm of the ordinary people of Wales should choose to work in the service of those people and I am proud, as the Uni-versity's Chancellor, to lend my support to the Scholar-ships . " they are, I think, a very practical and very excit-ing answer to how higher education can help the Welsh economy in a time of crisis." The Prince of Wales Innovation Scholarships will develop Wales' knowledge and science base and enhance its con-tribution to economic prosperity as the world emerges from recession. In an increasingly competitive global envi-ronment, science is vital for a successful 21st century economy, and businesses need to have ready access to the latest developments in science and technology. These scholarships will help ensure Welsh companies incorpo-rate innovation into the goods and services they produce and export around the world. By focusing on bringing the best academic talent to bear on the Welsh business community, the University of Wales believes that this programme will make a real dif-ference to the potential of the Welsh economy and, more importantly, will signal to graduates and businesses alike that Wales is open for business and ready to innovate. For more information on the Prince of Wales Innovation Scholarships visit www. globalacademy. org. uk or e- mail powis@ wales. ac. uk LEFT: HRH the Prince of Wales launches the Prince of Wales Innovation Scholarship programme at Clarence House, London

150INNOVATION UKINNOVATION Centres of Excellence Wales: technium A catalyst for success Technium is an idea that was born in Wales, but is now recognised across the world as a model for incubating companies. Bringing together like- minded talents from complementary and similar markets under one roof is reaping fantastic rewards and is proving to be a true catalyst for progress and prosperity. Since it was founded in 2001, Technium has seen the development of 11 specialist innovation centres across Wales to support high- technology, creative and knowl-edge- based businesses, mostly focusing on the country's high- growth sectors such as Performance Engineering, Sustainable Technologies and ICT. Operated as a part-nership between the Welsh Assembly Government, higher and further education institutions and the private sector in Wales, Technium was supported by European Union Objective 1 funding. The objectives of Technium are to: » » Assist in the creation of new spin- out businesses from Welsh academia. » » Help develop existing businesses in Wales. » » Provide a seamless mechanism to attract R& D inward investment opportunities. It currently supports 117 companies across its 11 Technium premises and has generated around 2,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities within the Welsh economy to date, representing an economic benefit to the Welsh economy of approximately £ 135m. An excellent example of this success is North Wales technology company DMC, with its golf- course map-ping product CaddyAid. Since its inception in November 2007, DMC has already been valued in excess of £ 1m and taken orders for CaddyAid from a number of major sporting retailers, including Direct Golf, the UK's biggest golfing online store. The company's meteoric rise has continued with Europe's elite golfing stars, Lee West-wood, Darren Clarke and Sergio Garcia, also picking up the product on tour. The software development for CaddyAid has taken place at its offices in Technium OpTIC in St Asaph in Denbighshire. Here, DMC receives a full range of sup-port from the state- of- the- art clean- room facilities, mentoring programmes, marketing consultancy and funding and training. David Morris, Managing Director of DMC, says: " The Welsh Assembly Government has been a constant sup-port mechanism and we wouldn't be at our stage of growth now if we had to do this on our own. The finan-cial support is a tremendous help, but it is the 24- hour service we get from Technium OpTIC that is first class. For example, whenever we have had issues with patent and copyright, they have been on the end of the phone to consult. From what I've gathered, this kind of support is unheard of across the rest of Europe and we are very fortunate to have the Assembly's backing to a project that we believe can change the face of golf and the way the game is approached." In order to achieve this type of success, Technium innovation centres offer new, early stage businesses and international companies a choice of flexible accommodation, including: » » Modern office facilities - high bandwidth connectivity, telephone system, reception services and meeting and conference rooms. » » State- of- the- art technical facilities - clean rooms, laboratories, 3D visualisation suites, software suites and manufacturing testing facilities. » » Industry- specific centres - covering specialist areas such as opto- electronics, performance engineering, energy, electronics and digital devices. But Technium is more than just office space. Businesses also have access to: » » Research and development support - through Technium's links with academic centres of research excellence. Bringing together like- minded companies that really do mean business, Technium innovation centres in Wales offer advice, support and, most of all, success below: Technium OpTIC