Renishaw hosts launch of Welsh Government’s new innovation strategy

At the event, the Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, outlined the Welsh Government's vision of an innovation strategy for a stronger, fairer, greener Wales, with its plans to cover four mission areas — education, economy, health and wellbeing, and climate and nature. To support the strategy at the event, Renishaw showcased its STEM education centre for local schools, spoke to visitors about its £65 million investment to increase manufacturing capacity with a focus on sustainability, and gave tours of its advanced manufacturing facility including the production of metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) systems.

“We chose to launch our strategy at Renishaw because it represents an employer investing here in Wales,” explained the Minister. “The company delivers on every mission area; providing STEM outreach opportunities for our children in local schools, previously working collaboratively with our NHS to develop 3D printing processes for surgical procedures, and investing heavily in low-carbon buildings which will increase manufacturing capacity, while helping to meet their Net Zero emissions targets.”

Speaking about the new national innovation strategy, the Minister stated, “Our economy, education, wellbeing and climate missions are underpinned by our drive for Wales to be a leading, innovation-based nation. To be a society where skills, innovation and collaboration can flourish. Where increased performance, productivity and entrepreneurship is achieved, while at the same time minimising the negative effects on our environment.”

The development of an innovation strategy for Wales is included in both the Programme for Government and the cooperation agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, whose leader Adam Price, also spoke in support of the new strategy.

Rupert Jones, Managing Director of Renishaw Medical, also spoke at the launch event, informing guests that Renishaw's first years as a fledgling business were spent in Wales, at the Chepstow home of one of the Company's co-founders. He said, “We are proud to have been chosen as the host for this important strategy launch and it was a pleasure to be able to showcase our own innovation in Wales to the Minister, the leader of Plaid Cymru and other attendees. We purchased the Miskin site from Bosch in 2011 and today we employ around 700 people at the site from all across South Wales, who are primarily involved in the manufacture of our world-leading measurement and production systems.”

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