Skip to main content
Home

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Parents
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
  • Cymraeg
My country:

Main Menu

    • Study Options
      • Study Home
      • Why Study at Bangor?
      • Undergraduate Study
      • Postgraduate Taught Study
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Part-time Courses
      • January Start Courses
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study Abroad
      • Work Experience
    • Study Advice
      • Apply
      • Already Applied?
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Get Ready for University
    • Explore Bangor
      • Open Days and Visits
      • Virtual Student Experience

    Find a Course

    Order a Prospectus

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Student Experience
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Accommodation
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad
      • Exchanges

    Country Specific Information

    Join us on a Virtual Open Day

    Bangor University International College

    Covid-19 Information

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Energy
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Doctoral School
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development
    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Strategy 2030
      • Annual Review
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • Vice Chancellor’s Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Health and Wellbeing
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
      • Management and Governance
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
      • Funding for Collaborative Research and Development (R&D) & Innovation
      • Business Facilities and Networks
      • Consultancy, Specialist Expertise and Knowledge
      • Commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP)
      • Student Placements and Internships in Business & Enterprise
      • Training and Continuing Professional Development
      • Degree Apprenticeships
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Contacts
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Get In Touch
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events

    • Study Options
      • Study Home
      • Why Study at Bangor?
      • Undergraduate Study
      • Postgraduate Taught Study
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Part-time Courses
      • January Start Courses
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study Abroad
      • Work Experience
    • Study Advice
      • Apply
      • Already Applied?
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Get Ready for University
    • Explore Bangor
      • Virtual Open Days and Visits
      • Virtual Student Experience

    Find a Course

    Order a Prospectus

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Student Experience
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad
      • Exchanges

    Country Specific Information

    Join us on a Virtual Open Day

    Bangor University International College

    Covid-19 Information

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Energy
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Doctoral School
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development
    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Strategy 2030
      • Annual Review
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • Vice Chancellor’s Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Health and Wellbeing
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
      • Management and Governance
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
      • Funding for Collaborative Research and Development (R&D) & Innovation
      • Business Facilities and Networks
      • Consultancy, Specialist Expertise and Knowledge
      • Commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP)
      • Student Placements and Internships in Business & Enterprise
      • Training and Continuing Professional Development
      • Degree Apprenticeships
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Contacts
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Get In Touch
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Parents
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
My country:

Search

Close

Breadcrumb

  • Cymraeg

Share this page:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Finance Minister to see how EU-funded research project is boosting business growth

Finance and Government Business Minister Jane Hutt visited North Wales on Thursday 12 February to see how an EU backed project is helping to boost business competitiveness through collaboration with Welsh universities.

Led by Bangor University, the £31m Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) project, backed with EU funds of over £20 million, is helping Welsh businesses to work with academics and students from Welsh universities to develop new and innovative products for commercial success.

The project is helping to boost the research capacity of Welsh companies, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, by supporting them to undertake research, develop key technologies, and recruit researchers.

The scheme is also helping universities to build their research excellence by preparing and training people to become research professionals as part of a Masters or PhD qualification. Students also have the opportunity to achieve a postgraduate skills development award as part of the scheme.

Almost 400 employers have benefited from new and high-level research undertaken by graduates in key growth areas such as the digital and low carbon economy, health and bio-sciences, and advanced engineering.

The Minister met with companies which are benefiting from KESS including Astral Dynamics, an SME based in Bangor that is developing innovative apps for nurses for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and Llanfairfechan-based Sarvari Research Trust, which undertakes research to produce food crops that are disease free, and more cost-effective and carbon friendly by reducing the need for fungicides and heated greenhouses.

During her visit to Sarvari Research Trust, the Minister was shown around the trial areas at the Trust where research is being developed that could reduce the cost and carbon footprint of potato production.

Welsh Government Finance Minister, Jane Hutt, said:

“Vital EU funds are helping to increase the numbers of excellent researchers in Wales, in turn building Wales’ research capacity in key areas to create clear and long term impact in business productivity and turnover.

“As well as assisting companies to diversify and grow, the project has also secured employment and economic benefits to the people of Wales.”

Director of Research at the Sarvari Trust, Dr David Shaw, said:

‘We are carrying out research on resistance to late-blight disease in crops by breeding hardy, low-input potatoes that resist late blight.

“Growing these will reduce the heavy pesticide load on the environment during potato production and the KESS project is supporting this research by helping us tap into the latest techniques in molecular breeding.

“Through the project, we have been able to explore certain research ideas that would not have been possible without the support provided by KESS.”

Stuart Bond, Director of Astral Dynamics, said:

“Astral Dynamics is a fast growing knowledge-based technology transformation company, but like any other SME we face real challenges of balancing delivery with the need for continued R&D.

“Working with KESS we have been able to sponsor two students on projects that deliver real R&D benefits to us, while also providing funded Masters for them. Through KESS we now better placed to address key societal challenges while also building towards real long-term employment opportunities for skilled local individuals. Not only is this a win-win for both Astral Dynamics and the Masters students, but investment in R&D is also a key part of the solution to help us all exit from today's economic crisis.”

Professor John Hughes, Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University commented:

“We are pleased to welcome the Minister to Bangor again and thank her for her support with KESS. The project has enabled Welsh Universities to work with local companies and organisations to undertake research which will directly benefit the company and bring substantial economic benefits to Wales as a result.

“The KESS initiative is one of many areas in which the University is working with the Welsh Government and Europe to bring economic benefits to the local area and to Welsh businesses.”

The Minister added:

“Further EU funds investments worth over £310 million will be invested in research and innovation in Wales so we can build on the success of projects like KESS and drive world-class research expertise that will benefit business and our communities and enhance Wales’ reputation in the world.”

Publication date: 13 February 2015

Home

  • News
    • Latest News
    • News Archive
    • Events
Home

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn

Bangor University

Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG, UK

+44 (0)1248 351151

Contact Us

Visit Us

Maps & Directions

Policy

  • Legal Compliance
  • Modern Slavery Act 2015 Statement
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy and Cookies
  • Welsh Language Policy
Map

Bangor University is a Registered Charity: No. 1141565

© 2020 Bangor University