Daresbury Laboratory Hosts Welsh Advisory Team

Professor John Harries, Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, visited the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire on 25th January, and saw how some of the latest technology could be converted into wealth-creating products and services with potential markets at home and abroad.

This key visit provided the opportunity to discuss the science strategy for Wales currently under development and to explore the scope for potential collaboration. The visit was hosted by STFC's Chief Executive, Professor John Womersley, and Professor Colin Whitehouse, Head of Campus Strategy for STFC.

During the visit the delegation, which included Richard  Rossington, Head of Science Policy at the Welsh Government, and Marcia Jones from the Department of Innovation toured STFC's ALICE and EMMA particle accelerators, followed by the Innovations Technology Access Centre. Here they gained an insight into how start-up companies, SMEs and teams from established companies engaged in bioscience innovation are benefiting from the leading research & development facilities provided by the Centre.

Discussions took place on the recent investment by the UK Department for  Business, Innovation and Skills in high-performance computing within STFC's Computational Science and Engineering Department.

Professor John Harries said: "Today's visit has demonstrated significant scope for potential  collaboration and has provided an excellent opportunity to see first-hand how cutting edge science, skills and facilities are key to industrial innovation and to the creation and growth of pioneering, high-tech companies."

Professor John Womersley said: "We're delighted to have welcomed Professor Harries and his colleagues to STFC's Daresbury Laboratory for a two-way exchange that was both highly productive and mutually beneficial. We're extremely keen to provide the Welsh Government with any insight, advice and support it requires to translate scientific know-how into industrial innovation, economic growth and the creation of high-tech jobs that will help underpin Wales's economy in the years and decades ahead."