Creating the A483/A55 Knowledge Industry Corridor

Creating the A483/A55 Knowledge Industry Corridor Proposals by Glyndŵr University to stimulate the knowledge based economy of the region Presentation to: The Mersey Dee Alliance - Strategy Group 24 April 2009

About Glyndŵr University • Full university status July 2008 • Strong technological tradition since 1887 • Very high graduate employability rate (94%) • Judged by RAE to have “world leading” research in Materials Science and ICT • Close collaboration with industries in Wrexham and Deeside

Strategic Direction • Over-arching strategic goal to support economic and social development • Meeting the needs of employers central to our strategy • Many courses delivered in partnership with industry and the public sector • Applied research jointly with/for industry • Aiming to establish/develop centres of new knowledge based economic activity along the A483/A55.

To create centres of innovation along a new Knowledge Industry Corridor A proactive solution to help sustain regional industries and deal with the impact of the recession A483 / A55 Our A483/A55 Vision

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St. Asaph: OpTIC Technium (Opto-electronics) Northop: Proposed Biosciences Centre Broughton: Proposed Composites Centre Wrexham: Centres for Creative Industries & E-Health

More detail on each site…

ST. ASAPH: OPTIC TECHNIUM

OpTIC: Current Status • University has taken-over the assets and management of the OpTIC Technium • Currently hosts 3 Glyndŵr research teams: • Centre for Modern Optics • Centre for Solar Energy Research • Polymerization Reaction Engineering Centre • Plus teams from UCL, Cambridge and Cranfield collaborating in EPSRC funded IKC with OpTIC Glyndŵr

Future Prospects / Activities • Currently building prototype mirror segments for the largest telescope in the world –the ESO ELT • Significant opportunities to develop further opto-electronics businesses in Phase 2 development • 3D holographic displays, advanced photovoltaics, fibre optic communications & related technologies

NORTHOP: PROPOSED BIOSCIENCES CENTRE

Northop: Our Vision • New partnership between the University, the Welsh College of Horticulture, and Deeside College of FE • Aims: • to develop centre for animal health, vet sciences and animal behavioural sciences • partnership with Liverpool University • to create an International Research Centre in Hydrocolloids and Functional Biopolymers and stimulate spin-off industries

Hydrocolloids • Complex polymers derived from plant sources • acacia trees & others • Many potential uses • food stabilizers, wound dressings, oil well lubricants, adhesives • Sustainable chemical engineering (i.e. complex chemicals from renewable non-oil sources)

Investments to date • San Ei Gen (Japan) have invested £1.6M with us in R&D • Other major research grants obtained • e.g. £800k for joint Glyndŵr Univ, UCL, Durham Univ. research on hydrocolloid muds for oil industry • Need significant further investment to set up the international Centre at Northop • Possible major investment by the Japanese if sufficient initial investment can be obtained locally

BROUGHTON: PROPOSED COMPOSITES CENTRE

Composite Materials Engineering • Composites = strong lightweight materials • Next generation airliners: Airbus A350 • We are developing: • Higher level skills programmes and degrees in composites engineering • MSc in “lean manufacturing” with Airbus • Joint MSc and PhD composites programme with NWCC (Glyndŵr is a full member of NWCC by invitation of Manchester University) • Building on existing successful FDSc

Lancaster Bolton Manchester Liverpool Glyndŵr UNIVERSITY CONSORTIUM

Our Vision • Advanced Composite Materials Centre near Broughton: • Research & development • Knowledge Transfer Centre • Business incubation Centre • Graduate skills training

Key benefits of the Centre • Keep Airbus and supply chain at forefront of the technology and guarantee 8000+ jobs • Of equal importance, to stimulate the growth of new products and companies in the composites materials area • marine, automotive, sports, defence, construction

WREXHAM: GLYNDŴR UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS NEW DEVELOPMENTS - CREATIVE INDUSTRIES - E-HEALTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Creative Industries at Wrexham • Constructing new Creative Industries Building • interdisciplinary academic centre: art and design, computing, engineering, media • aim also to have a Creative Industries Innovation Centre • potential areas of new economic activity e.g. computer games, digital fashion design, animation, CGI

E-Health: The Vision • Using latest ICT to support the ageing population and rural communities • Ageing population a major issue for the health service (and governments worldwide) • Building on state of the art mobile technologies & existing Glyndŵr EU project • Developing strong links with “Informing Healthcare” (NHS IT Programme for Wales)

Complementary actions • University establishing new Leadership and Management Centre on the Wrexham Industrial Estate • Intend to replicate this at St. Asaph, and possibly establish satellite centres at Northop and Broughton • e.g. to offer MBAs in Technology Management

Innovation Connectivity NORTH WESTCOMPOSITESCENTRE OPTIC GLYNDŴR: OPTO- ELECTRONICS NORTHOP: BIOSCIENCES BROUGHTON: COMPOSITES DARESBURY: SCIENCE & INNOVATIONCAMPUS: Biomedical, Chemicals, Energy, Nano-technology GLYNDŴR UNIVERSITY WREXHAM: E-HEALTH WREXHAM:CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

In Conclusion • Glyndŵr University aims to lead the economic and social development of NE Wales -with strong links to NW England • University investing in key personnel, science and technologies, & management devt centres • Support needed for new Innovation Centres to create a new Knowledge Industry Corridor • We welcome engagement with key regional bodies to take this forward.

Diolch yn fawr. Thank you.

Creating the A483/A55 Knowledge Industry Corridor