Date: 2003-12-15 Category: News
15.5m boost for North Wales software industry
By Staff WriterConstruction work has begun on the Welsh Development Agency’s latest Technium project, the Centre for Advanced Software Technology. Based at Parc Menai, Bangor, Gwynedd, the CAST Technium is expected to underpin the development of a global software cluster within North-West Wales.
Like other developments within the Technium strategy, CAST will support start-up enterprises, existing companies with high growth potential and academic spin-out companies.
Wales’ potential to profit from the growing global market for software development will be boosted by the latest Technium development, according to Economic Development and Transport Minister, Andrew Davies.
Davies joined WDA chief executive Graham Hawker and other guests at the construction site to see the latest phase of the 15.5million CAST Technium, which is due to be completed in July 2004. Over 1.95 million of Objective 1 money is being invested into the project along with Welsh Assembly and WDA funding which will lead to the creation of more than 520 new jobs within the software sector.
Hawker said, "The CAST Technium further cements Wales’ - and particularly North Wales’ - credibility in the software sector. It has strengths in the future growth area of distributed computing and particularly in visualisation/virtual reality, communications and networking, and systems modelling using distributed computing techniques."
"It will provide advanced software businesses with a range of vital support services and facilities, including incubator facilities, research and development projects, and consultancy and technology services."
