Swansea University in business event

Swansea University, UK, is hosting a free-to-attend event, entitled “Improving Business Effectiveness”, where EU-funded projects will be showcased with a view to building links between researchers and business.

The organisers hope the event will help provide information on a range of university business services including R&D collaborations, student placements, new product development support and flexible training for workplace learners.

A number of Welsh universities will be represented at the event. An example of EU funds in action is the Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies project, which is helping researchers and industrialists in Wales to collaborate, backed by £27m (€32m) in funding.

Ceri Jones, Swansea University’s acting director of Research and Innovation commented: “The Department of Research and Innovation (DRI) offers a wide a range of services for industry, stakeholders and University staff.

“This support will typically include the profiling, delivery and promotion of the University’s research and innovation services in collaboration with research groups and major projects within our seven Colleges and from within DRI’s Business Development Unit.”

The Welsh Government’s Finance Minister Jane Hutt also said: “I am pleased to hear the positive impact EU funds are having in bringing together businesses and expertise from Welsh Universities to drive forward innovation and achieve commercial success. To date, through our successful management of the European Structural Funds we have invested almost £1bn to support businesses and research and innovation across Wales. In addition, £565m worth of contracts have been secured by businesses to deliver EU-funded activities, demonstrating the range of ways in which businesses are benefitting from EU funds.”