Technium Swansea Presentation

Richard Harris Technium Swansea – Manager

24 November 2006

Technium – A Welsh Assembly Government Initiative Department Of Enterprise, Innovation & Networks (DEIN) A Winning Wales Wales: A Vibrant Economy Innovation Action Plan

Technium – Background Heavy Industry Manufacturing Need for Economic Regeneration Move to a Knowledge Based Economy R&D Entrepreneurship & Innovation Supportive Environment

What is Technium?

Technium is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative. Technium is a Partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government,

other parts of the Welsh Public Sector, Academia, & the Private Sector. Technium is a Business Development Project aimed at creating a

sustainable engine for economic development in Wales. Technium is a pan-Wales incubation network that provides the

relevant knowledge, support and physical facilities to help young technology businesses realise their potential for long-term growth.

What is Technium?

Technium is a Welsh Assembly Government Programme that is a key part of A Winning Wales. It is a catalyst that encourages:-

University, public & private sector partnerships

University spin-outs & technology-based start-ups

Knowledge transfer/commercialisation

Graduate employment opportunities

Investment into Technium DEIN has committed investment to the roll out of Technium across Wales in

a mix of Assembly Government Funding and European Union Objective 1 Funding.

8 sites already operational, 2 about to come on line and a further 2 planned. Facilitating 200 knowledge based companies.* Employing 1,200 people in added-value employment.** Repeated as a cycle as companies graduate.

Technium Network - Pan WalesCurrently 8 Operational Technium buildings:- Knowledge Economy – Swansea (2), Aberystwyth. Digital Media – Swansea University Electronics & Digital Devices - Pencoed Optoelectronics – St. Asaph Sustainable Technologies – Baglan Performance Engineering – Llanelli Energy – Pembroke (Opening Autumn 2006) Visualisation & communications technologies – Bangor

Technium Model

On Site Business Support In House Technology Support Direct links to local academia and Welsh Centres of Research Excellence. Access to Legal Support, IPR Support and Financial Support State-of-the-art buildings with reception service, meeting rooms &

networking areas. Specialist research laboratories & equipment. High speed data access via virtual private network

What does Technium Offer?

Innovative, high growth potential companies Based in a high-tech or knowledge-based sector Exploiting IPR Engaged in Research & Development Have / wish to develop academic links Have a capable management team in place Sustainable financial status Have a credible business/marketing plan Expectations of Support / exit strategy from Technium

Technium - Eligibility Criteria

Occupancy Levels – 31st July 2006

Technium Swansea (building 1) Opened in 2001 15 base units from 389 – 1900 sq ft Currently 93% occupiedTechnium Swansea (building 2) Opened in 2004 16 units from 621 – 2604 sq ft Currently 69% occupied

Benchmarked in 2003 after two years of operation Technium Swansea on

average across its first 14 companies saw:- Staff levels grow by 306% Of which 75% were graduates With 72% of staff focused on research & development Commercial Turnover also increased by 39%

Since 2003 staff levels have increased a further 85% at Technium Swansea with

249 staff employed across 19 Companies. ( September 2006). The benchmarking

exercise is currently being repeated.

Statistics 1

Technium Swansea was the highest placed UK incubator in the Science

Alliance “Global Award for the Best Science Based Incubator 2005.” Independent assessment by the Centre for Strategy & Evaluation

Services (CSES) and an Expert Jury including representatives from the

USA, Germany and UK placed Technium Swansea:-

- 4th in the Return on Investment Category

- 5th in the Fastest Growing Category

Statistics 2

Knowledge-based companies Optoelectronics Medical devices Lasers Telecoms Mechanical Engineering Design Software Finite Element Analysis Digital Media and Web Design Specialist film production Mobile communication applications Marine simulation systems

Company Graduation 7 Technium Swansea companies are actively finalising growth strategies

to enable graduation out of Technium Swansea in 2006-07 creating a market for the private sector.

5 are looking to enter the Ethos Project, a 30,000+ sq ft building starting construction during the Summer of 2006 next to Technium Swansea’s flagship building on SA1 led by the private sector and partially funded by European Union Objective 1 funding.

1 company is assessing options on extended facilities with clean rooms along the M4 corridor, with the stated aim of the Management team returning to a new build in the Swansea area.

Technium Stakeholder Programme

Private Sector Specialist consultants (local & International) Delivering free specialist business advice and expertise to Technium

resident and associate member companies across Technium Network Range of sector including legal, finance, marketing, sales, HR, IP,

management, accountancy Support in form of workshops, presentations, articles, one-to-one,

mentoring.www.technium.co.uk/stakeholder

International Business Incubator

Soft Landing for Companies

Provides a foothold in the European market

Provides a supportive infrastructure

Provides an Account manager

Low cost environment, with known costs

No long term commitment necessary

Focus: Scientific & high performance computation,next generation optical & wireless comms.systems, graphics software, high volumedigital graphical data.

Occupancy Info: 100% occupied8 companies employing 47 staff 13 units from 30 m2 to 63 m2

Key Partners: Welsh Assembly Government & SwanseaUniversity. Supported by IBM, AgilentTechnologies, City & County of Swansea andEuropean Union Objective 1 funding.

Focus: Range of technology sectors. Particularlysuitable for electronics & digital devicescompanies.

Occupancy Info:Total Units: 8Housing 2 companies(1 additional company has graduated intoSony’s production facility)

Key Partners: Welsh Assembly Government, SwanseaUniversity & Sony.

Focus: Range of technology sectors. Focus onenergy, materials & geo-environmentaltechnologies.

Occupancy Info:Total Units: 32Housing 3 companies employing 27 people.

Key Partners: Welsh Assembly Government & SwanseaUniversity. Supported by Neath Port TalbotCounty Borough Council, BP, GE & EuropeanUnion Objective 1 funding.

Focus: Automotive, motorsport and aerospace sectors.  

Occupancy Info: 13 incubator unitsSwansea University R&D staff located on-siteIBM centre of excellence in PLM located on-site

Key Partners: Welsh Assembly Government & Swansea University. Supported by IBM, Swansea Institute of Higher Education, Welsh Automotive Forum, Aerospace Wales Forum, Carmarthenshire County Council, Carmarthenshire College, BARC & European Union Objective 1 funding.

Focus: Range of technology sectors withemphasis on energy sector.

Occupancy Info:Scheduled for completion duringAutumn 2006.

Key Partners: Welsh Assembly Government,Pembrokeshire County Council & SwanseaUniversity. Supported by IBM andEuropean Union Objective 1 funding.

Focus: Range of technology sectors.

Occupancy Info:Currently houses 7 companies employing23 people.

Key Partners: Welsh Assembly Government andUniversity of Wales Aberystwyth.Supported by Institute of Grassland &Environmental Research, University ofWales Lampeter and European UnionObjective 1 funding.

Opto-Electronics Technology & Incubation Centre

Focus: Opto-electronics and enablingtechnologies.

Key Partners: Welsh Assembly Government & the OptoElectronics Forum. Managed by Optropreneurs Ltd. Supported by European Union Objective 1funding.

Centre for Advanced SoftwareTechnologies

Focus: Visualisation & communicationtechnologies.

Key Partners: Welsh Assembly Government & University of Wales BangorManaged by SERCO.Supported by European Union Objective 1funding.

Thank you

Any questions?