Welsh wizards get a tidy boost

Welsh high-tech entrepreneurs received a helping hand this week as the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) launched a £49m project to build a series of innovation centres across the country.

The Technium project will fund the development of research and incubator facilities across Wales designed to house local companies and complementary international investors.

The first Technium centre, built on the old dockside area in Swansea, already houses companies such as HP spin-off Agilent Technologies and Welsh new media firm s8080.

The centres will work in partnership with universities throughout the country.

Sir David Rowe-Beddoe, chairman of the WDA, said the approach of mixing together students, entrepreneurs and established companies was unusual. "We'll allow them to grow and prosper and fertilise each other," he told silicon.com.

The WDA has spend ten years trying to establish the country as a favoured location for high-value businesses, using Scotland's Silicon Glen and Ireland as successful examples.

The centres will come complete with research and testing equipment, and broadband links are being provided in partnership with BT.

Rowe-Beddoe dismissed claims that the current economic climate could damage the project's rollout.

"Economic downturn tends to create more opportunity for entrepreneurs," he said. "Big companies will shed innovators and Wales is the ideal place for them to come with their idea, work with it and expand."

Welsh high-tech billionaire Terry Matthews, founder of Mitel and Newbridge Networks, officially opened the Swansea site.

Development of a second Technium complex on the Swansea site has already begun, along with plans for shops, restaurants and homes.

Eighteen other Technium centres, including specialist ones to house automotive, biotechnology, electronic, and multimedia firms are in the pipeline.

silicon.com will be publishing an exclusive video interview with Terry Matthews soon.