Innovation Summit exceeds expectations

Some of Britain’s biggest names in entrepreneurship and innovation heard of a raft of new initiatives being launched in the city this year.And Rob Stewart, who is also a member of the city region board, said the event will be a platform to increase the pace of economic change and innovation over the coming years right across the region.

“BT’s decision to invest in the next generation of broadband right here in Swansea is a major step forward and massively significant for our reputation for innovation.” he said.

“Also at the summit we’ve unveiled a new innovation brand for Swansea as the ‘City of Innovation’ and a new brand for innovation across the wider city region too.

Cllr Stewart said BT’s decision to trial ultrafast broadband among 100 homes and businesses in Swansea was extremely significant.

“Any business will tell you what a huge benefit there is in superfast broadband compared to slow-speed dial-up. Ultrafast broadband will be a giant leap further and the fact that BT have chosen Swansea as one of its testing areas will put us at the cutting edge of this new and exciting technology.

“The BT announcement is something tangible – ultrafast technology will be able to transmit data at hundreds of megabits a second. Their investment also includes a test laboratory being set up at their Swansea headquarters. BT could have chosen any number of places for their trial, but Swansea is one of them because BT recognises the potential and ambition there is here in Swansea.”

Cllr Stewart said: “Coupled with the new branding for Swansea and the commitments we at the council and our two universities have agreed on to work even more closely together in the years ahead, the Innovation Summit is putting us firmly on the map.”

The Innovation Summit at the Liberty Stadium included an address by entrepreneur and city region chair Sir Terry Matthews and by Edwina Hart, Welsh Government minister for Economy, Science and Transport.