New £39m fund will bolster Wales’ world-class scientific research capacity

More than sixty science research fellowships will benefit from a new £39m fund to expand Wales’ world-class scientific research capacity, Economy and Science Minister Edwina Hart will announce today when she launches the second phase of Sêr Cymru II at Swansea University.

The first phase was launched in September 2015 after £17m Welsh Government and European funding enabled 90 new research fellows from across Europe to work with stellar researchers in Wales.

This element of the project is about building capacity by attracting and developing the next generation of talented researchers in Wales. Backed by nearly £23m of EU funds and £16m from the Welsh Government and Welsh Higher Education Sector, the project has three strands:

• Rising Star fellowships. Up to 26 five-year fellowships for the very best ‘rising stars’ of academic research.
• Welsh Fellowships. Around 30 three-year fellowships for stellar candidates, to be recruited from anywhere in the world to come to work in Wales.
• Recapturing Research Talent. Approximately 12 fellowships for talented researchers returning to work following a career break or who have left the scientific world.

Sêr Cymru II builds on the success of the £50m Sêr Cymru programme, which launched in 2012 and brought leading international scientific talent to research chairs at Wales’ universities and created three new national research networks.

Mrs Hart said:

“The Welsh Government is investing in scientific research to drive economic growth and create high quality jobs. It is well documented that Wales is producing world class research but in order to reap real economic and social benefits we need more work in a number of areas like clinical medicine, engineering, mathematics and physics, ICT and applied social science. Sêr Cymru II aims to deliver that by recruiting more high quality research fellows to Welsh universities.”

Jane Hutt, as Minister responsible for European funds, said:

“EU-funded programmes are playing a very important role in developing world-class research and innovation here in Wales. It’s great news that a further £22.6 million of EU funds will be invested in the Sêr Cymru II project which will help us continue to attract and retain the very best scientists, researchers and engineers to the country.”

Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Professor Julie Williams said:

“We already have high quality, productive, impactful research happening in Wales and this is helping us attract world-renowned research stars and businesses. But we need to develop more researchers to fulfil our true potential, create long term benefits and ensure Wales remains competitive in the global economy.”