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This week marked the start of Ramadan - the holiest month of the year for the 1.9 billion people who follow the Islamic faith, worldwide. It’s a time to reflect on the valuable role played by the Muslim community in making South East Wales a dynamic outward-looking region - respecting all religions and beliefs, as an inclusive region where no one gets left behind.

International Women’s Day understandably dominated headlines in early March. But inclusivity is wider than gender equality - and something that inspires innovation every day at the Cyber Innovation Hub - as we found out when we spoke with Dr Yulia Cherdantseva, Director of the Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education at Cardiff University, and the University’s lead on skills at the Cyber Innovation Hub.

The vision for a c.489 acre green energy park in the Vale of Glamorgan has taken a significant step forward - through Cardiff Capital Region City Deal’s (CCR) completion of purchase of the Aberthaw coal-fired power station that once symbolised fossil-fuel energy production in Wales.

This week (13th-19th March) is Neurodiversity Celebration Week across the world - and CCR is celebrating this fascinating and crucial field, by exploring what employers and society as a whole can do to embrace the diverse spectrum of neurodivergent people who make up between 10% and 20% of our population …

CCR’s Cyber Innovation Hub launched its first ever Challenge Programme on 3rd March, inviting innovators to respond to some of the most urgent cyber challenges being faced by the UK. With the application date closing on 28th March, we spoke to Professor Pete Burnap about this pioneering programme, and how it can help transform cybersecurity in our country …

When October 2022 saw Chepstow-based Creo Medical win the ‘Tech for Healthcare & Wellbeing Award’ at the Wales Technology Awards, it was yet another milestone on a journey that is revolutionising surgery worldwide. We spoke with Professor Chris Hancock, founder and CTO of this extraordinary company, to find out more about an enterprise viewed as one of the jewels in the crown of the CCR MedTech sector ….

Today is International Women’s Day and to celebrate, we’ve spoken to female leaders from local authorities across South East Wales, to discover their views on our progress towards becoming a gender equal region free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination - exploring how CCR is reshaping to become more diverse and inclusive, valuing and embracing the differences that make our world stronger and more resilient.

Imagine a gender equal world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse and inclusive, where difference is valued and celebrated. Since 1911, that vision has been embraced by International Women’s Day - and on this special day, we hear the views of leaders from CCR’s five Priority Sectors, spotlighting the importance of forging female equality in our society and workplace …

February brought news of a major skills funding boost for Creative Industries in our region, together with two studies showing a surge in apprenticeship uptake and the importance placed by Gen Z on training and development. Those reports made Welsh Water’s record apprenticeship offering look inspired - but celebrations were muted by news of a continued gender pay gap, even in female-dominated industries ...