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Observatory of Innovation
Wales
The National Assembly for Wales, sitting in
Cardiff, first elected in 1999, is elected by the
Welsh people and has its powers defined by the
Government of Wales Act 1998
Economy of Wales
• Parts of Wales have been heavily industrialised
since the eighteenth century. Coal, copper, iron,
lead, and gold have been mined in Wales, and
slate has been quarried
• Light engineering is still an important activity in
the main population areas of the South and
extreme North-East, but the economy, as
elsewhere in the UK, is now focused on the
service sector
Some Facts
• Population: 2,903,085
• GDP per head as a percentage of the EU15 average: 82.4
• Over a fifth (21 per cent) speaks Welsh, nearly a quarter
(24 per cent) can understand Welsh
• 4 in 5 of working age have a qualification (including A
levels & GCSEs)
• 78% per cent of men and 68% of women economically
active
• 6% unemployment rate
• Up to 1/4 in low-income households
Observatory of Innovation
The Observatory of Innovation at Cardiff
University is located in the Cardiff
Business School one of the largest and
most successful Business Schools in
Britain
The Observatory of Innovation was established in
1996 with the objective;
“To observe, analyse and advise on innovation
and regional development policy and practice in
Wales, the UK, Europe and beyond.”
The Observatory carries out research, consultancy
and project management on innovation and
economic/sustainable development across Europe
The Team
• Meirion Thomas
• Martin Rhisiart
• Yannis Pierrakis
• Andrew Osborne
• Suzanne Jones
Director
Deputy Director
Research Associate
Communications
Executive
Administrator
The Observatory has an excellent track
record in forming strong alliances and
working partnerships. At the EU level,
many of the Observatory’s programmes
require close partnerships with institutions
and bodies of all types and from different
backgrounds
Key Projects
Current
• Metaforesight
• NPD Network
• Sustainable Development Executive Leadership
(SDEL)
• Culture, Language and Economic Development
• Futurreg
Key Projects
Completed
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Innovative Actions (TASK)
ERSDN
Autochain
Mobilising Regional Foresight Potential
VERITE
FOREN
Innoregio
Observatory income generation 2002 – 2004: £779,228
Forthcoming Developments
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Futurreg Programme
Appointment of a new staff
Redesign of website
Relocation
Cardiff, a rapidly changing city