Cardiff Shines Spotlight on Research and Innovation Prowess

Cardiff University has showcased key areas of its leading research and innovation activity at a London event to celebrate Wales’ vibrant higher education sector.

Cardiff joined Wales’ eight other universities for the exhibition at Lancaster House, attended by Science Minister George Freeman and Welsh Secretary David TC Davies.

Hosted by the Wales Office and the Wales Innovation Network, the event’s 20 R&D exhibits were designed to show Welsh strengths and encourage continued investment in Welsh research.

Professor Roger Whitaker, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Innovation and Enterprise at Cardiff University, said: “The event aligns with Cardiff’s global-civic mission to ensure our work has a positive impact on society and that we are well-placed to contribute to the health, prosperity, security and well-being of future generations in Wales, the UK and internationally.”

The event highlighted work by Media Cymru – a University-backed consortium of 23 organisations focused on turning Cardiff Capital Region into a global hub for media innovation with a focus on green and fair economic growth.

Lee Walters, Media Cymru’s Fund Manager, said: “One year in from Media Cymru publicly launching, we’re proud to have 18 thriving Consortium research and development projects, a fully functioning Innovation Pipeline which will invest more than £4.5m into industry in the next three years, a packed events schedule and vital sector research in progress. Our values of fair, green, global growth are being realised through this extensive programme and today was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our research and innovation activity to policymakers.”

Featuring projects ranging from decarbonisation and cyber innovation to virus detection and semiconductor technology, the event brought together representatives from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Wales Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to encourage more funding for Wales-based research.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said: “I was delighted to welcome Welsh universities to this very special event and demonstrate the UK Government’s commitment to the higher education sector. I want Welsh universities to play a vital role in positioning the UK at the forefront of R&D, and I hope this event has helped us make progress towards that common goal.”

In the Research Excellence Framework 2021 – the latest UK-wide assessment of the quality of Research – 90% of Cardiff’s Research was recognised as world-leading or internationally excellent.

The UK Government has pledged to invest nearly £40 billion in research and development between 2022 and 2025, with a push to increase funding to areas of the UK outside the southeast of England by at least 40% by 2030.

Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive, UKRI, said: “Welsh universities are highly successful at winning research funding from across UKRI, with success rates similar to the rest of the UK. These projects powerfully demonstrate how Welsh universities are advancing research across a wide range of areas, and driving innovation and economic growth, benefiting the whole UK and beyond.”