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The Learned Society of | Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru

PAGE PAGE PAGE GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY & 3 STANDING 5 COLLABORATION 12 QUALITY OF LIFE

WALES AND THE WORLD 1 SMALL, SMART COUNTRY Croeso Welcome

With its rugged coastline, mountainous national parks, Growing Science Research in friendly cities, pleasant maritime climate and affordable Wales: Seˆr Cymru Programme quality of life, Wales is part of the south-west region of the UK with extensive research, cultural and commercial Committed to ensuring a strong, sustainable, world-class relationships with the rest of the UK, Europe and the world. higher education system, the in 2012 launched an ambitious new science strategy, which set out a compelling case to build a stronger research base for Wales in Wales is a vibrant nation with its own devolved government and a support of the country’s economic and national development. multicultural society that is open to the world. Known perhaps more for its The first phase of Sêr Cymru (Star Wales) was launched in poets, artists, language, sport and UNESCO world heritage sites, Wales also 2013 with the aim of attracting the brightest and best scientific boasts a growing research profile characterised by excellence, impact, talent, researchers and their teams from around the world to Wales. collaboration and international engagement. International awareness and This was initially backed by £50 million of public funding and recognition of this excellence however, is less well known. Recognising that collaboration from the Higher Education Funding Council a country’s intellectual vitality remains one of its most valuable assets and Wales and Universities. a geo-political marker of a nation’s intrinsic quality and future economic potential, this supplement showcases some of Wales’s international research, The initiative paved the way for the Government and connections and innovative national profile. Universities to work together to support three ‘Grand Challenge’ areas: Life Sciences and Health; Low Carbon, A small country of 3 million people, Wales has a proud tradition of Energy, and Environment; and Advanced Engineering and achievement in many areas of research, science and innovation. From Materials. The first phase secured five world-class academics its recent past, as one of the first industrialised nations based on natural as Sêr Cymru Research Chairs, (two from the US, one from UK, resources to the present knowledge based economy where Airbus, one of the and one from Switzerland) and supported the development of world's leading aeroplane manufacturer makes its wings, and where IQE is three national research networks in each of the three 'Grand a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced semiconductor Challenge' areas and funding for large scale doctoral training wafer products, Wales has produced an impressive list of achievements, schemes. many of which are among the first of their kind. 2015 saw the launch of the second phase of Sêr Cymru when The theory of natural selection, the early development of crystallography, £57 million, much from European Union Funding, was secured the ideas of Richard Price, the Renaissance philosopher and mathematician for growing greater capacity for Wales’ leading university who influenced America's founding fathers, and Aneurin Bevan, architect of research groups by attracting over 160 rising stars (early-mid the world’s first National Health Service are just some examples of Wales's career scientists) and promising research leaders, together innovative contribution. The discovery of free radicals and meson decay, with support for scientists (particularly with women in mind) the invention of the microphone, the fuel cell and the teleprinter, ground- returning after a long absence. In addition to appointing breaking research into embryonic stem cells and more recently establishing another prestigious chair from Australia, Sêr Cymru II has unique legislation requiring all public bodies to consider the impact on to-date appointed competitive fellowships to researchers future generations, are all further tangible evidence of Wales' proud from 28 countries including Austria, Australia, Bulgaria, intellectual tradition. Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, , Italy, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Today, Wales’s eight universities contribute significantly to the world-leading Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, UK research base, second only to the US in its share of global citations. , UK, Ukraine and USA. Several of Wales’s universities boast examples of outstanding science research – from Nobel Laureates in the Life Sciences research at The Sêr Cymru initiative has already begun to make University, to the award-winning Institute of Biological, Environmental and significant progress into building Wales’s future research Rural Sciences at , ’s innovative advances in materials capacity, an essential element for growing a successful, research and testing, and Bangor’s impressive work in the fields sustainable national economy. of environmental protection.

2 WALES AND THE WORLD Contents

3 | Global Standing

5 | Research Quality

5 | International Collaboration WALES HAS 4 UNIVERSITIES 6 | Socio-economic Impact of Welsh IN THE WORLD Research TOP 500 7 | Higher Education QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS (2016/17) 8 | Wales: globally connected by research, business, education and innovation Global Standing

International university rankings provide an influential indicator of comparative institutional and national higher 10 | From King Coal to education systems standing. With over 26,000 universities Smart Energy worldwide, being ranked in the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings is recognition for both Wales's universities and for the country as a whole.

While it comes as no surprise Figures 1 and 2 (page 4) more universities positioned in the that leading countries on most provide a snapshot of national top-500 per million of population league tables tend to be the performance for countries with than many larger countries. 12 | Sustainability, largest, rankings that rely on three or more universities ranked Equality & size-dependent indicators such as in the top-500 ranked in the In addition, Welsh universities Quality of Life wealth or population inevitably QS World University Rankings also perform well by subject overlook smaller, efficient nations. 2016-17 league table. With four discipline. In the QS Subject universities ranked in the top-500, rankings (2017), Wales’s When the ranking playing Wales has one of the highest universities secured 21 top 200 field is leveled by controlling concentrations of top ranked rankings and 13 top-100 ranked for population or economic universities both in terms of positions covering 46 different resources, the achievement population and GDP per capita. subject areas. of several well performing but smaller countries such as Wales, The results on page 4 confirm 14 | Culture & Denmark, Ireland, that for a small country, Community and New Zealand come to Wales punches above its the fore. demographic weight, securing 15 | Directory

WALES AND THE WORLD 3 Fig. 1 QS Top 500 Universities per million population, 2016 (only top 30) (only countries with 3 or more universities in the top 500 included)

2.0

1.8 New Zealand

1.6 Scotland 1.4 Finland Wales 1.2

Ireland 1.0 Switzerland Australia Denmark Hong Kong Sweden 0.8 Norway Netherlands 0.6 Belgium Singapore Israel Canada Austria Taiwan 0.4 Lebanon Portugal South Korea Germany Top 500 Universities per million population 500 Universities Top United Arab Emirates France United States Spain 0.2 Chile Italy Kazakhstan Malaysia

1.0 10.0 100.0 1000.0

Population (logarithmic scale)

Fig. 2 Universities in the QS 2016 top 500 World University Rankings per billion USD GDP (top 15 only) (only countries with 3 or more universities in the top 500; OECD 2013; current prices, current PPP)

0.0600

0.0500

0.0400

0.0300

0.0200 OECD GDP billion USD OECD

QS Top 500 Universities per 2013 500 Universities QS Top 0.0100

0.0000

Wales (4) Israel (4) Finland (9) Ireland (5) Scotland (8) Denmark (5) Sweden (8) Belgium (7) Portugal (4) Australia (23) England (38) Switzerland (8) New Zealand (8) Netherlands (13) United Kingdom (51) Country (number of Universities in the QS top 500)

Sources: Figure 1 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited QS World University Rankings 2016-17 https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2016 [accessed 07 March 2017] United Nations World Population Prospects 2015 https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/ [accessed 07 March 2017]: UK Office for National Statistics Population Estimates 2015 https://www. ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates [accessed 07 March 2017] Figure 2 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited QS World University Rankings 2016-17 https:// www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2016 [accessed 07 March 2017]: OECD GDP Dataset: Regional Accounts http://stats.oecd.org/ [Accessed 15 March 2017]. Note: 20 countries with universities in the QS top 500 were omitted because they were not included in the OECD Regional Accounts data. The Regional Accounts dataset was used because it provided comparable data for the UK Regions and other countries.

4 WALES AND THE WORLD In 2014, 46% of Welsh publications Research Quality were internationally co-authored.

A nation’s research base is only as good as the people who work within it. In 2014, the Research Excellence Framework (REF), the UK Government’s five yearly assessment of the quality of research at the UK’s 154 universities showed that Wales had significantly boosted its performance with more than three-quarters of all research submitted to the REF panels assessed as being world-leading or internationally excellent, and almost a third rated as world-leading.

In 2013 and 2016, Elsevier Key findings included: Wales's field weighted citation Wales receives more produced 2 independent reports impact exceeded that of England, citations per one million (International Comparative With just 0.14% of the Finland, Norway, New Zealand dollar equivalent of research Performance of the Welsh world’s researchers, Wales and Ireland. investment than any other Research Base) showing how accounted for 0.24% of the comparator country. academic researchers from Wales world’s published papers and By 2014, Welsh publications were compared internationally on a 0.47% of global citations. being cited 68% more often than Wales is one of the most efficient series of established bibliometric the world average, compared to countries at translating its relative measures, compared to other Wales's share of the top 1% highest 59% back in 2011. low levels of research income parts of the UK and countries of a cited papers was over twice that into high impact research for similar size. expected based on its overall 1 in 10 research papers countries of a comparable size. publication share. from Wales were ranked in the top 5% of most cited publications worldwide. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

Many of the challenges that the world faces requires global responses. Research excellence also depends on international collaboration. A key contributor to Wales’s impressive research performance has been growing its level of international research, demonstrating the productive outcome of years of international networking.

International collaboration not only accounts for the growing number of the Welsh articles, it also results in the highest field-weighted citation impact. The increase in international collaboration is striking for a small country moving from 25% in 1997-2001 to nearly 46% by 2014.

This collaborative partnership forms part of a virtuous circle of economic growth that benefits Wales while also attracting international researchers. Figure 3 provides a snapshot of Wales's research publication collaborations with other countries 2007-2011.

Fig. 3 Wales's International Research Publications England 9110

Scotland 1671 Germany 1611 United States 3422 China 1212 Ireland 559 Sweden 580

Netherlands 934 Japan 578

Spain 1049 Canada 1132 France 1364

Italy 1097

Switzerland 532

Australia 1176

Source: The Elsevier report 2013 WALES AND THE WORLD 5 SOCIO-ECONOMIC With only 2% of IMPACT OF WELSH the total UK spend on research and RESEARCH development (R&D), Wales’s research base In 2014, the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF), required universities for the first is a national time to select and submit their best case studies demonstrating the societal, cultural and asset, delivering economic impact of their research. economic, social, cultural and A report commissioned by the Learned Society of Wales Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) health benefits (Impacts of Academic research from Welsh universities Commercial sector - a third of case studies submitted for the nation and 2017) prepared by the Policy Unit at Kings College by HEIs described some form of commercialisation London highlighted the impressive research impact of Policymakers. for others around Welsh universities to Wales, the UK and wider society. the world. Despite comprising only 4% of the total UK submissions, The study found that the research impacts from Wales's REF impact results showed that almost half Welsh universities covered 102 countries across of the research submitted was evaluated as world- six continents, with the Life Sciences and selected leading, with Wales securing the highest proportion disciplines from Engineering and Physical Sciences of 4 Star impact for any the UK countries. having the greatest tendency to translate into impacts abroad. Small and medium-sized enterprises This authoritative report showed that universities in (SMEs) in Wales were a key beneficiary with many of Wales carry out research into a wide range of areas the impacts relating to economic growth in Wales including bilingualism, policing, flooding, , highlighting complementary research and policy childcare, mental health, public housing, renewable initiatives to support the growth of start-ups and small energy, community violence, poverty, transport businesses, and to encourage industry, enterprise and management, cancer and agriculture. Research entrepreneurship within Wales. from Wales impacted on a wide number of beneficiaries including: Figure 4 provides a summary of the top 20 countries where case studies from Wales had a research-related impact.

Fig. 4 Wales International Research Related Impact

Canada 33 United Kingdom 239

United States 80 Japan 15 Germany 30 Ireland 21 Austria 10 China 18 Sweden 21

Poland 10 Netherlands 22

Belgium 15

New Zealand 10 France 23

Spain 22 Italy 18

Brazil 11 India 18 Switzerland 13

Australia 39

6 WALES AND THE WORLD Source: Kings College London Policy Unit Report 2017 Research, Innovation & Business Ecosystem Higher Education Strong links between industry and Wales’s tertiary education ensures a skilled workforce with a broad range of technical and research expertise. The automotive industry in Wales features Universities play a crucial role in the Welsh economy by around 150 companies and employs 18,000 people generating conducting world-class research and innovation, and £3 billion each year. Wales has around 10% of the UK’s aerospace developing graduate skills that support local and national industry involving 160 aerospace and defence companies economic growth. In addition, universities employ tens of employing 20,000 people and a combined turnover of more thousands of people in Wales creating an industry in its than £5 billion. own right. In 2013, Welsh universities and their students Wales has particular strengths Creative Industries contributed £2.4 billion of GVA to the Welsh economy and in several key industries that The creative industries in Wales, supported 46,000 jobs. collectively contribute to its range from architecture to national research innovation software design to TV and film profile. Many connect closely production, employing around A sector with a proud history, in further study six months to areas of significant 50,000 people and generating a Wales’s eight universities and after leaving. Three and a half university expertise including: £1.6 billion annual turnover. the Open University educate years after graduation, the more than 140,000 students vast majority are in full-time Advanced Engineering, Financial Services every year, ranging from employment. Materials & Manufacturing There are over 150,000 skilled undergraduate and Wales has a 165,000-strong people working in financial postgraduate degrees to Welsh universities are also skilled workforce in this sector. and professional business lifelong or work-based successful in recruiting Welsh universities produce services across Wales, engaged learning modules. international students. In 2013- over 2,000 engineering in key operational areas such 14, Wales welcomed over 25,000 graduates every year. as banking, insurance, legal Over 30% of the Welsh international students from over services, accountancy, financial population aged 21 to 64 145 countries comprising 19% of ICT & the Digital Economy technology and shared service are college graduates. the total student population. There are some 3,000 tech centre operations. Figure 5 shows a breakdown of businesses in Wales, including With academic provision students from across the globe. over 400 electronics businesses Food and Drink spanning all major areas and more than 250 telecoms- Around 170,000 people work including Arts and Humanities, International students related companies. in the food and drink industry, Creative Industries, Science and contribute significantly to generating £17.3 billion to Technology, Business, Education, Wales’s economic and cultural Low Carbon, Energy the economy. Social Sciences, Medicine and prosperity. In 2014, universities and Environment Healthcare, around half of the generated £530 million of export Around 58,000 people work in Tourism university courses are vocational earnings equivalent to 4% of the energy and environment With three National Parks, or professional, providing all Welsh exports. Encouraging sectors in Wales, generating three UNESCO World Heritage training for teachers, lawyers, domestic students to develop over £4.8 billion in revenue. Sites, five Areas of Outstanding doctors, nurses, and social an international outlook is Natural Beauty and an award- workers, as well as the public also important. Universities Life Sciences and Health winning 1,400 km Wales Coast servants of the future. encourage Welsh students This sector is recognised Path, Welsh Tourism is a £5 and staff to participate in internationally for its research billion industry drawing visitors In 2016, 92% of graduates from international exchange and and development excellence from all over the world. full time first degree courses research collaborations. and is home to 12,000 Life in Wales were employed or Sciences university students.

Fig. 5 Wales's International students come from all over the Globe Poland 470 Germany 1025 Canda 285 Qatar 330 Kuwait 485 Italy 395 India 865 360 Russia 85

France 835

Ireland 545 China 4320 Spain 480 Japan 75

Greece 540 Hong Kong 635

United States 575 Pakistan 445 Singapore 110 Bangladesh 510

Nigeria 1040 Malaysia 990 Brazil 60 Kenya 150 Oman 355

Australia 75 Saudi Arabia 675 Source: HESA student record 2013/14-2015/16 WALES AND THE WORLD 7 Wales: globally connected by THE RESEARCH, INNOVATION & INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE Figure 6 provides a selective overview of the rich landscape of current and emerging research, educational, innovation and business activities in Wales. research, business, education 7

Life Sciences and Health 5. Flexible Integrated Energy Information Security Research and innovation Systems (FLEXIS) (Cardiff Group 1. Life Sciences Hub Wales University and others) Centre for Financial and Following a shift from an industrial economy based on natural resources to a knowledge 2. Jellagen 6. BEACON Biorefining Centre Professional Services based manufacturing and services economy, Wales has over the past 2 decades begun to 8 1 3. Magstim of Excellence (Aberystwyth 3. Endeavr Wales (Airbus & Bangor 9 4. Bionema University and others) ) develop a more diverse technologically advanced open economy, involving partnership University 12 5. 6 7. Horizon Nuclear Power 4. Centre of Excellence in Cyber between its universities, small industries and anchor companies. 2 Institute of Life Sciences Station at Wylfa Newydd Security Analytics (Cardiff 11 Glyndwˆr Centre for NanoHealth (Hitachi) University) University AgorIP Intellectual Property Office (IPO) The Royal Mint National Museum Wales 8. 5. Compound Semiconductors EHealth Industries Menai Science Park Ltd IQE The official UK government A UK government owned mint Dedicated to preserving, 10 Innovation centre (M-SParc) Microsemi Corporation body responsible for intellectual located in Llantrisant that under presenting and promoting the 6. Cardiff University Brain UK National Nuclear Thermal SPTS Technologies property rights in the UK an exclusive contract supplies at 7 sites across Research Imaging Centre Hydraulic Facility (with Imperial 6. Cardiff University located at Newport in Wales. all the UK’s coinage. The mint the country. (CUBRIC) College London) Institute for Compound exports to an average of 60 3 7. Proton Partners International, Boiling Water Reactor Semiconductor Technology; Rutherford Cancer Centre Driver and Vehicle Licensing countries a year, making up 70% The National Library of Wales Research Hub and Network The Compound Agency (DVLA) of its total sales. The Royal Mint 8. BBI Group 9. SEACAMS (Bangor University Semiconductor Centre The largest library in Wales, supplies over 40 countries 9 in 9. Cotton Mouton Diagnostics Ltd and others) with IQE A UK government organisation holding over 6.5 million books Europe, 9 Asia and Oceania, 10 10. PCI Pharma 10. Sustainable Product The Compound located in Swansea responsible and periodicals. The library holds Americas and Caribbean, 12 Africa 11. Siemens Healthcare Engineering Centre for Semiconductior Applications for maintaining a database of the largest collections of archives, Diagnostics Ltd and Middle East. Innovative Functional Catapult (UK Government) drivers in and a portraits, maps, paintings and 12. ConvaTec Industrial Coatings The Futures Compound database of vehicles for the entire topographical prints and images 13. ReNeuron Office for National Statistics (SPECIFIC)(Swansea Semisconductors United Kingdom. The agency in Wales. 14. TrackCel University) Manufacturing Hub (EPSRC) issues driving licences, organises (ONS) 15. GE Healthcare Innovation collection of vehicle excise duty A UK department located in Village National Botanic Garden road tax and road fund licence. Newport which reports directly 16. Cardiff Medicentre Advanced Engineering, Arts, Humanities of Wales to the UK Parliament and is 17. Materials and and Social Sciences Manufacturing charged with the collection and Houses an amazing collection of Aberystwyth Institute of Biological, 1. Welsh Institute of Social and publication of statistics related over 8000 different plant varieties, University Environmental and Rural 1. Advanced Manufacturing & Economic Research and Data to the economy, population and spread across 560 acres of 2 Sciences (IBERS) Research Institute (AMRI) methods (WISERD) 17 society of the UK. beautiful countryside. 6 7 Aberystwyth Innovation and 2. AirBus UK, Broughton 2. Centre for Advanced Welsh Enterprise Campus (AIEC) 3. Snowdonia Aerospace Centre and Celtic Studies (CAWCS) 18. ARCH: A regional collaboration 4. GE Aviation Wales (Aberystwyth) for Health (Swansea University 5. University of 3. CREW Centre for Research and Health Boards) Aerospace Centre into the English Literature and 19. International Centre for 6. Cardiff University Language of Wales (Swansea Anchor Companies Product Design and Research Morgan Botti Research University) (IPDR) (Cardiff Met) Centre 4. SPARK: Cardiff University Social The Welsh Governments 'Anchor Company' programme recognises 20. GE Healthcare Gas Turbine Research Science Research Park 21. Cardiff University Centre 5. The the strategic economic importance of large, global or international Welsh Wound Innovation companies that work with in Wales to create jobs, growth and 7. Advanced Engineering (Cardiff University) Centre (WWIC) Materials Research Institute 6. Pontio Innovation (Bangor wealth within the Welsh economy. These include: MRC Centre for (AEMRI) University) Neuropsychiatric Genetics and 8. Automotive Design Non- 7. Mercator Institute (Aberystwyth Trinity Genomics Destructive Testing (University University) Plc IQE Plc 3 Cardiff Dementia Research Institute of Wales Trinity St David) 8. Creative Industries Research Airbus Operations Ltd JCB Metropolitan 9. Astute 2020 (Swansea and Innovation Centre 10 University Biomet UK Ltd Legal & General Assurance DVLA University) (University of Wales Trinity St Society Ltd Low carbon, Energy British Airways Engineering Swansea University of Office for National and Environment 10. Advanced Composite Training David) South Wales University South Wales Statistics and Development centre British Telecommunications (BT) Plc Norgine Ltd 4 2 1 2 Intellectual 1. University of South Wales ( Glyndwˆr University) National Museum Wales 8 4 5 8 Property Office Celsa Manufacturing (UK) Ltd Nuaire Ltd 10 8 The Hydrogen Centre Siemens Healthcare 12 5 9 3 11. Catalysis Institute (Cardiff Centrica Penn Pharmaceutical Services Ltd Diagnostics Products The Royal 19 7 The Centre for Automotive St Fagans National Museum UPM-Kymmene (UK) Ltd 18 Mint 15 University) Dawnus Group Pinewood Studios Wales SIMEC/Liberty House 3 & Power System Engineering of History UPM Shotton 7 4 Cardiff 12. Zienkiewicz Centre for Deloitte Principality Building Society Ltd Sony UK Technology Centre Valero University 1 2 (CAPSE) Computational Engineering National Waterfront Museum Dwˆr Cymru Welsh Water Qioptiq Ltd SPTS Technologies Ltd 13 5 6 5 5 2. The Materials Research Centre (ZCCE) (Swansea University) Big Pit National Coal Museum Wales and West Utilities Ltd 3 20 Ford Motor Company Ltd Tata Steel Europe 9 4 (Swansea University) Western Power Distribution 6 16 21 14 1 3. The Electrical Vehicle Centre of ICT and Digital Economy National Roman Legion Museum GE Aircraft Engine Services Ltd Royal Bank of Scotland Tinopolis Plc (South Wales) Plc 11 6 4 1 GE Healthcare Sharp Manufacturing Toyota Motor Zodiac Seats (UK) Ltd Excellence (Cardiff University) 1. The National Software 4. Sustainable Environment General Dynamics UK Company Manufacturing (UK) Ltd Academy (Cardiff University) Research Centre (SERC) 2. University of South Wales Fig. 6: An Overview of some of (University of South Wales) National Cymber Security Sources: Diamond Review Interm report 2015. Study in Wales Brochure (2015). Universities Wales web site (http://www.uniswales.ac.uk/). The Economic Impact of Higher Education in Wales 2015. The Economic Wales's Educational, Research, Research Group impact on Wales of International students (2015). Business wales (https://businesswales.gov.wales). Trade and Invest Web site ( https://tradeandinvest.wales/ Wales in the World: The Welsh Government’s International Agenda (2015). Welsh Crucible : http://www.welshcrucible.org.uk/ Innovation and Industry Activities

8 WALES AND THE WORLD WALES AND THE WORLD 9 FROM KING COAL TO SMART ENERGY

The Welsh economy is rooted in the natural resources of the landscape. Agriculture was Wales’s first industry, and it remains important today. But Wales has also been shaped by what lies under ground.

Although renowned for its The world’s first million-pound Sciences Research Council development and commercial breath-taking views, the earliest business deal was agreed at (EPSRC), Innovate UK and the know-how. The long term vision surviving illustrations of the Welsh Cardiff’s in 1907. Welsh Government together is the development of a new landscape are of two lead mines, with investment from Swansea £1 billion industry with thousands from 1670. The mineral resources Wales remains a world-leading University and strategic industrial of jobs created and enhanced of the land saw the development energy pioneer today, but has partners, the project will value in the construction supply of the copper, iron and coal shifted focus to low carbon, progress the commercialisation chain, addressing one of the industries, and by the mid- renewable and sustainable of technologies to transform biggest global challenges by nineteenth century Wales energy solutions. ‘buildings into power stations’ providing secure, affordable, was one of the world’s first by enabling them to generate, sustainable energy. Recent developments include: industrial societies. store and release their own solar energy. SPECIFIC By the eighteenth and nineteenth A research-led and industry- centuries, Wales was transformed The project brings together inspired innovation centre The long-term vision from a primarily pastoral thematic areas of research delivered by Swansea University is the development economy into one of the world’s including photovoltaics, battery with Tata Steel, BASF, NSG powerhouses of the industrial technology and heating coatings of a new £1 billion Pilkington and Cardiff University. revolution. Its resources of that will revolutionise the industry with The Sustainable Product copper, slate, manganese, gold, construction sector – with the thousands of jobs Engineering Centre for Innovative iron ore and especially coal were strategic ambitions to generate Functional Industrial Coatings key to industrial expansion, but over one third of the UK’s total (SPECIFIC) is one of seven also brought very distinctive target renewable energy by 2020; Innovation and Knowledge In 2016, SPECIFIC began phase health problems for the reduce CO2 output by six million Centres set up to foster emerging two with £26 million in funding workpeople of this country. tonnes per year and create new industries and close the gap from EPSRC, Innovate UK jobs in high-value manufacturing. between scientific research and and the European Regional By the late 1800s, a quarter of the its commercial exploitation. Development Fund through the global trade in coal came from SPECIFIC has brought together a Welsh Government, as well as Wales; it was exported around wide range of industrial partners Set up in 2011 with a £20million further investment from Swansea the world, from Singapore to to share expertise in functional commitment over five years University, the industrial partners Valparaiso and fuelled global coatings, energy storage, comprising grants from the and matched funding from economic development. technology scale-up, business Engineering and Physical Cardiff University.

10 WALES AND THE WORLD Minera Lead Mines Country Park, Wrexham County. © Crown copyright (2017) Visit Wales. All rights reserved.

Public Health and Industry The history of public health in Wales is inextricably linked with its changing economic and social conditions.

Studies of the mining communities of south Wales carried out by Professor Archie Cochrane in the 1950s helped pioneer randomised control trials; Cochrane argued that since resources will always be limited, only health care proven to be effective should be implemented.

In 2008, Cardiff University established the world’s first Chair in Public Health, named in his honour. The Cochrane Collaboration is now a global network of 37,000 contributors from 130 FLEXIS The project aims to prepare countries working together to produce accessible high-quality Cardiff University’s FLEXIS project for the development of new information that inform healthcare decisions. brings together world-leading technologies and job creation expertise from Welsh universities in the energy sector, and attract Recent research projects have considered the legacies of to tackle some of the most new companies to locate heavy industry in Wales. The Disability and Industrial History pressing issues currently facing themselves in Wales. project looked at how understandings and experiences of society, such as climate change, disability were affected by industrial development from the late rising energy prices and fuel By 2020, over £20 million of eighteenth century until the end of the Second World War. poverty. FLEXIS is designed to additional competitive research meet the diverse, complex and income is expected to be secured. inter-dependent challenges that FLEXIS aims to establish Wales as arise when new sources of energy a pioneer in energy systems and www.dis-ind-soc.org.uk/en/index are integrated into the grid deliver significant benefits to the by suppliers. nation as a whole, attracting new businesses, creating jobs and Leading researchers from the UK training the research engineers and Europe are being of the future. science, with an early focus on low servicing projects, Energy Island recruited to Welsh universities carbon energy, the environment provides major potential to as part of the project, helping and ICT sectors. achieve economic, social and to strengthen Wales’ position competitive environmental gains for as a leader in research and research income Anglesey is also home to the and the wider region. innovation within the energy £20m expected Energy Island Programme, a More information can be found industry. This will address the collective effort between several on the Energy Island website: challenges of: accommodating stakeholders within the public www.anglesey.gov.uk/business/ power supply from multiple and private sector working in energy-island-isle-of-anglesey- places; storing energy when it is In north Wales, Bangor University partnership to put Anglesey at north-wales not needed; coping with extreme is leading M-Sparc, the Menai the forefront of energy research flows of energy into the system; Science Park, which will build on and development, production accommodating an ailing Wales’s tradition of energy and and servicing. Harnessing a rich infrastructure; and making sure innovation. As one of Wales’s first mix of energy streams, including all challenges are met in a socially science parks, it aims to drive nuclear, wind, tidal, biomass acceptable, affordable way. growth in knowledge-based and solar; and with associated

WALES AND THE WORLD 11 SUSTAINABILITY, EQUALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Wales is on a journey to become a place of global significance. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 created a unique framework and opportunity for the development of a low carbon, resource efficient, healthy, well-educated, culturally engaged, and enterprising society, thriving within environment limits.

What a wonderful thing: to walk the entire length of a country’s coastline, to trace its every nook, cranny, cliff-face, indent and estuary. How better to truly appreciate the shape – and soul – of a nation?

Lonely Planet

The Green Bridge of Wales off the Coast.

12 WALES AND THE WORLD 26% of Wales’s land surface is designated as either a National Park or as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Betws y Coed, North Wales. © Crown copyright (2016) Visit Wales. All rights reserved.

The Welsh laws of Hywel Dda (Hywel the The Welsh Government's Good), of the tenth century included elements Environment (Wales) Act 2016 aims to of mercy, common sense and respect for deliver at least an 80% reduction in women and children, unlike the Anglo-Saxon emissions by 2050. laws of the time.

The Welsh word 'cynefin' captures the sense The seven well-being Welsh universities were amongst the of community in place – a sense of habitat goals of the Well-being first institutions in the UK to admit and belonging. Cynefin is that place to which of Future Generations female students. one belongs, and how it is understood as a (Wales) Act 2015 are: place in time. The landscape, environment and communities are key to the Welsh experience. Cardiff and Swansea Universities were amongst A prosperous Wales the first to appoint female professors in the early twentieth century. A resilient Wales A Welshman was the driving force behind the A healthier Wales In 2003, the National Assembly for establishment of the world’s first free at point Wales became the first legislature of access national health service in 1948. A more equal Wales in the world to achieve Aneurin Bevan, as the UK’s Minister for Health, 50:50 GENDER BALANCE. was inspired by community health projects he A Wales of cohesive saw in Tredegar, South Wales. communities The first Welsh universities were funded by A Wales of vibrant culture ‘crowd-sourced’ donations from communities and within Wales, signalling the nation’s Wales is currently the only country in the commitment to education and opportunity. world to have a continuous coastal path A globally responsible Wales The universities in Wales remain rooted in stretching its entire length. The Wales Coast Welsh society, whilst engaging with the rest Path travels through some of the most beautiful of the world. countryside anywhere, and there are 870 miles The goals seek to create a of public path to explore. It joins with the 177 more equal society that enables mile long Offa’s Dyke Path national trail along people to fulfil their potential no In 2008 Wales become the the Welsh-English border, to create a complete matter what their background FIRST FAIR TRADE NATION circuit of Wales. or circumstances. This builds IN THE WORLD. on a long tradition of equality in Wales. Aberystwyth University established the world's first Chair in International Politics in 1919 futuregenerations.wales/about- named in honour of the American President us/future-generations-act Woodrow Wilson.

WALES AND THE WORLD 13 CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

Wales has a vibrant, outward looking, distinctive and welcoming cultural identity, rooted in its traditions. The people of Wales have hundreds of stories which over the centuries have shaped the collective identity of the country today.

Wales has a lively, bilingual from Wales and the world, as well The National Museum of Wales in since 1947 Wales has staged the culture. Cymraeg (Welsh) is as those who do not speak Welsh. Cardiff houses one of the world's Llangollen International Musical one of Europe's oldest living The two literatures of Wales are most remarkable collections , one of the world’s languages used every day by a central part of Welsh culture. of French Impressionist and most inspirational music festivals. thousands. It can be seen and One of Wales’s most iconic Post-Impressionist painting. heard throughout Wales, buildings, the Wales Millennium Since 2003, the Venice Biennale Sport is another important part and is part of what makes Centre, features two poetic has featured a Welsh pavilion, of the Welsh way of life. Rugby Wales distinctive. inscriptions by , and in the same year the Artes remains popular, but Wales in six-foot tall letters of stained Mundi prize was established. excels at other sports too. Cardiff The annual Eisteddfod glass. and Roald This Cardiff-based award is held was the European Capital of Genedlaethol (National Dahl are arguably the best- every two years and is one of the Sport in 2014, and the nation has Eisteddfod) is the biggest Welsh known Welsh literary figures, but largest visual art prizes in the established itself as a leading language cultural event, and there are many more writers to world. venue for major sporting events one of Europe’s largest roaming, explore. Wales is also home to including Ryder Cup and the cultural festivals. With a history the internationally renowned Hay With its reputation as the ‘land of UEFA Champions League Final. dating to the twelfth century, it Festival of Literature and Arts. song’, Wales has a strong musical The magnificent Welsh coastline encompasses aspects of the arts, heritage. The nation boasts a and landscape also provide the literature culture and science. An Art in Wales dates back to the constantly evolving music scene. perfect playground for sporting inclusive and welcoming festival, prehistoric era, and the Mold The Cardiff Singer of the World activities. it attracts thousands of visitors: Cape (1900-1600BC) is one of the has been recognising excellent Welsh learners, Welsh speakers most well-known artefacts. singers since 1983, and

The future of Wales is as exciting as its past

To learn more about Wales from a variety of perspectives, visit the Open University in Wales’s Hafan website: www2.open.ac.uk/openlearn/hafan

14 WALES AND THE WORLD Reports and further information

Science for Wales – Welsh government science strategy (2012) gov.wales/topics/science-and- technology/science/?lang=en International Comparative Performance of the Welsh Research Base 2010-2014, 2016 update www.elsevier.com/research- intelligence/research- initiatives/wales2013 www.elsevier.com/ research-intelligence/ research-initiatives/ DIRECTORY international-comparative- performance-of-the-welsh- research-base-2016 Universities Higher Education Funding Culture and Heritage NationalThe Economic Parks Wales Impact of and Related organisations Council for Wales ( HEFCW) www.nationalparkswales.gov.ukInternational Students in www.hefcw.ac.uk Wales (2015) National Theatre Wales www.uniswales.ac.uk/ Aberystwyth University www.arts.wales www.nationaltheatrewales.org University of Wales Press new-report-launched- www.aber.ac.uk www.uwp.co.uk British Council Wales Theatrthe-economic-impact-of- Genedlaethol Cymru Bangor University wales.britishcouncil.org www.theatr.cymruinternational-students-in- www.bangor.ac.uk Welsh Government and wales the National Assembly CADW Welsh Books Council Cardiff University www.cadw.wales www.cllc.org.ukThe Economic Impact of www.cardiff.ac.uk National Assembly for Wales Higher Education in Wales Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cardiff Metropolitan University www.assembly.wales (2015) www.eisteddfod.wales www.wmc.org.uk www.cardiffmet.ac.uk www.uniswales.ac.uk/wp/ Sêr Cymru Hay Festival Walesmedia/The-Economic-Impact- National Opera Glyndwˆr University businesswales.gov.wales/ www.hayfestival.com www.wno.org.ukof-Higher-Education-in-Wales. www.glyndwr.ac.uk expertisewales pdf Open University in Wales VisitWales www.literaturewales.org Science in Wales (2012) www.open.ac.uk/wales www.visitwales.com National Botanic Garden of Wales www.sciencemag.org/ Swansea University Welsh Government www.botanicgarden.wales careers/features/2013/04/ www.swansea.ac.uk www.futuregenerstions.wales science-wales www.wales.com National Museum Wales University of South Wales Wales wants more Scientists www.tradeandinvest.wales www.museum.wales www.southwales.ac.uk (2016) National Library of Wales www.sciencemag.org/ University of Wales Trinity Saint www.llgc.org.uk careers/features/2016/10/ David www.uwtsd.ac.uk wales-wants-more-scientists Global Wales The Case for Growing STEMM wales.britishcouncil.org/en/ Research Capacity in Wales global-wales-welsh-higher- The Learned Society of Wales (LSW) is an independent, all- (2015) education-partnership Wales, self-governing, pan-discipline educational charity. www.learnedsociety.wales/ Study in Wales growing-stemm-research- www.studyinwales.ac.uk The Society is Wales’s first national academy of science and letters and was capacity-in-wales established in 2010. The Society draws upon the considerable strengths Universities Wales of over 400 distinguished Fellows based in Wales, the UK and beyond. Impact of academic research www.uniswales.ac.uk It provides public benefit including expert scholarly advice on a variety from Welsh Universities, by of public policy issues related to science, engineering, medicine, arts, the Policy Unit Kings College Welsh Crucible humanities and social sciences. London (2017) www.welshcrucible.org.uk www.learnedsociety.wales/ Welsh Higher Education Brussels societal-economic-impact- www.learnedsociety.wales www.wheb.ac.uk/en welsh-universities

Acknowledgment: The production of this supplement was supported by Welsh Government and Higher Education Funding Council. WALES AND THE WORLD 15 Williamπ Jones BANGOR CENEDL AIRBUS Sêr Cymru Eisteddfod M-SPARC energy WREXHAM Sir John Houghton ADVANCED MATERIALS CYMRAEG Frances Hoggan VITALITY INNOVATION ABERYSTWYTH SUSTAINABLE IBERS cynefin SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT Robert Recorde ARCH COLLABORATION IAITH CULTURE = RICHARD PRICE Dylan Thomas Brian Josephson William Grove SPECIFIC POLICY TREFOREST FLEXIS SWANSEA ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE GE Aviation CUBRIC NEWPORT LIFE SCIENCES IQE CARDIFF

The Learned Society of Wales | Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru 16 WALES AND THE WORLD