ISM Powers Up at Swansea

Welsh Government Economy, Science and Transport Minister Edwina Hart visited Swansea University’s Bay Campus and switched on the power in new Institute of Structural Materials (ISM), which will house a mix of academic research and commercial activities. This will provide an ‘open innovation’ environment for industry to collaborate and engage with academic expertise to help develop manufacturing products and processes and introduce new ones, contributing to the economic regeneration of the region.

Edwina Hart said: “Manufacturing is one of our key sectors for growth and academic collaboration is vital to drive the research and development Welsh companies need to compete. Manufacturers are not just competing on cost but providing value by delivering products and services through excellent innovation. The new Institute of Structural Materials will be a welcome boost to the local economy and the wider industry in Wales.”

The UK’s leading regeneration specialist, St. Modwen, is developing the £450m campus with its construction partner, VINCI Construction UK, and Swansea University’s framework contractor, Leadbitter, a Bouygues UK company.

The development, which will welcome its first students on site in September 2015, has benefitted from £50m of Welsh Government funding, including £35m from the European Regional Development Fund.

In addition, the Bay Campus is providing significant local employment opportunities. As of June 2014 almost 2665 people have worked at the site, with almost 75% of the workforce from Wales, 1242 training and apprenticeship weeks, and 83 Welsh companies winning contracts at the Bay Campus.