CCR continues to re-shape Southeast Wales around the four goals of innovation, sustainability, inclusivity and connectivity – with September’s headlines featuring Space Forge’s out-of-this-world ingenuity, the Western Gateway’s UK-first Hydrogen Ecosystem, Chwarae Teg celebrating both their new board members and Womenspire event, and the Wales STEM Awards 2022 recognising those who are connecting our region like never before…
INNOVATION
Space Forge nominated for Most Innovative Company of the Year by the IET
Space Forge – the scale-up that’s transforming ‘return-from-space’ to create revolutionary products for the benefit of humanity – has been shortlisted for the Most Innovative Company of the Year awards by the IET (Institution of Engineering & Technology).
Founded in 2018 and an alumni of the CSA Catapult, this remarkable enterprise is looking to lead the clean industrial revolution by harnessing the potential of space – developing fully reusable satellites that can manufacture next generation super materials in orbit, for return to Earth.
The IET awards celebrate the latest engineering Innovations worldwide, so this coveted nomination is a major accolade in itself, representing a real endorsement of Space Forge’s belief that the next industrial revolution isn’t on earth – and giving a global stage to its potential as catalyst for a quantum leap in the manufacture of materials, for sectors that include alloys, electronics and pharmaceuticals.
The recognition is certainly well deserved. Space Forge’s 7,500 square feet satellite manufacturing facility in Rumney, Cardiff employs 40 full-time colleagues and has already secured a €2 million contract from the European Space Agency for a commercial space transportation service as part of ESA’s Boost! program.
SUSTAINABILITY
South Wales & SW England to become UK’s first Hydrogen Ecosystem
South Wales and South West England is on course to become the UK’s first Hydrogen Ecosystem, leading the development of low carbon energy in the race to reach net zero goals.
The Western Gateway Partnership, which includes Cardiff Capital Region, has unveiled a new vision to turbocharge the development of this green energy ecosystem, with businesses, local authorities and universities working together to share expertise and solutions.
The vision is accompanied by a brand new interactive online map which highlights the wide range of organisations already working on a range of different potential uses for this crucial new energy source – reinforcing the credentials of CCR and the Western Gateway as key drivers of decarbonisation.
This pan-regional partnership is pursuing a wide ambition to build a Green Energy SuperCluster that can help generate £34 billion into the UK economy by 2030 – using cross-border collaborations to level-up communities as well as becoming the UK centre for a low carbon energy source (with hydrogen currently being trialled to power transport, distribution and shipping needs, as well as heat our homes and decarbonise our industry).
INCLUSIVITY
Chwarae Teg welcomes new board members – and celebrates Womenspire Awards 2022
Chwarae Teg, the Cardiff-based charity leading the drive towards a gender equal Wales, has welcomed five new members to its Board of trustees – with each of the new non-executive directors bringing a wealth of cross-sector knowledge and diverse experience to an organisation that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
The five new members are Carol Adams, manager of RCMA Social Enterprise and founder of Food! Sustainable Livelihoods, Health & Communities; Matt Davies, Chief People Officer for Target Group, the CCR-based FinTech company; Kathryn Llewellyn, who has been working at senior levels in global development for 20 years, most recently as CEO for United Purpose; Stewart Odwadally, a Community Organiser and Media Officer at the Welsh Parliament; and Georgina Voogd, Diversity & Inclusion Engagement Manager for Eversheds Sutherland.
The appointments reflect the evolution of Chwarae Teg and its work to embed a greater focus on intersectional equality, diversity and inclusion – and this will be spotlighted in part at Chwarae Teg’s Womenspire Awards 2022 being held on Thursday 29th September to recognise the outstanding achievements of women in Wales from every aspect of life.
The event is being supported by ITV Cymru Wales and can be joined on social media Tag@ChwaraeTeg on Instagram and Twitter, using #Womenspire.
CONNECTIVITY
Wales STEM Awards 2022 celebrates organisations and individuals connecting our region
CCR’s very own Blaenau Gwent Borough County Council, Bouygues UK, Cardiff University, CatSci, EESW STEM, Exotopic Ltd, Industrial Automation & Control Ltd, Laser Wire Solutions, Llusern Scientific Ltd, Lunia 3D, POET Systems, Simbec-Orion Group Ltd, SparkLab Cymru, STEM Untapped CIC, Thompson STEM Engagement, University of South Wales, Wales Interactive and the Welsh Contact Centre Forum are amongst the 34 enterprises and people shortlisted for the 2022 Wales STEM Awards.
All finalists are being celebrated for championing the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) building blocks that are connecting our communities and businesses, making a huge impact right across CCR – helping make us the UK’s fastest-growing digital economy outside London.
Nominees in all 12 categories will be showcased at the prestige awards ceremony to be held at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel on 27th October 2022, with an industry-leading panel of judges choosing ‘the winner’ in the following categories:
- Innovation in STEM
- STEM Ambassador of the Year
- STEM Company of the Year (over 50 employees)
- STEM Company of the Year (under 50 employees)
- STEM Educational Programme of the Year (Not-For-Profit)
- STEM Educational Programme of the Year (Private Sector)
- STEM Educational Programme of the Year (Public)
- STEM International Business of the Year
- STEM Rising Star of the Year
- STEM Start-up of the Year
- STEM Sustainability Award
- STEM Woman of the Year
To discover more about how CCR is being reshaped around our four strategic goals of Innovation, Sustainability, Inclusivity and Connectivity, go to www.cardiffcapitalregion.wales
#CCRinaction
