The GW4 Alliance has joined forces with businesses and local authorities from across South Wales and Western England as part of a new activity designed to connect business and establish a leading destination for technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology and advanced manufacturing.
With cyber-attacks from hostile states and fraudsters becoming increasingly prevalent, ensuring the UK can protect innovative businesses is becoming increasingly important.
The new “Cyber Supercluster”, initiated by Western Gateway, aims to address this by bringing together over 28 local authorities from South Wales and Western England, alongside business and academic representatives, to explores ways to strengthen connections between separate clusters, create new opportunities and ensure the UK can compete on a global stage to attract new cyber and technology companies and investment.
With innovative, collaborative research across Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter universities, alongside UKRI centres for doctoral training, GW4’s inclusion in the Supercluster comes as a result of its cross-institutional expertise spanning disciplines from human behaviour to hardware, providing technical solutions and addressing socio-technical challenges.
Dr Joanna Jenkinson, Director of the GW4 Alliance, said: “Tackling global challenges through advanced cyber and digital is a core strategic priority of the GW4 Alliance. Across the Alliance, we have already seen technological success and scientific breakthroughs with the GW4 supercomputer Isambard and, later this year, Isambard-AI, a new national Artificial Intelligence Resource, will be established. We look forward to working with the Western Gateway and partners to play a key role in advancing cyber and digital transformation.”
The Supercluster was launched on 8th May 2024 at Cheltenham’s soon-to-be-opened £9.27million Minister Exchange(MX) Innovation Centre, which has been designed to be a state of the art workspace for the cyber tech, digital and creative sectors, a Growth Hub to support business development.
Sarah Williams-Gardener, chair of the Western Gateway, said: "A tech supercluster is not defined by one particular physical place working in isolation; it is where great minds collaborate, challenge and convene across business, government and academia. Our combined vibrancy across Bristol, Cardiff and Cheltenham, with 12 universities and support from Tech Spark, Engine Shed, Tramshed Tech, Alacrity and others, is allowing start-ups and spinouts to flourish. Protecting our citizens, customers and colleagues is critical and will be best served by collaboration. I am confident that, by working together across the pan-regional area, we can compete on the world stage."
At GW4, we are uniquely placed to take a prime role in advancing cyber and digital transformation. You can read more about our work to tackle global challenges through advanced cyber and digital in our Strategic Vision 2023-2028.
