Superfast Cymru expanded to reach more premises

Over 42,000 premises are set to benefit from the expansion of Superfast Cymru programme - bringing it into new areas.

Superfast Cymru has already made excellent progress with around 480,000 premises now able to access faster broadband speeds.  This latest stage of the programme has been backed by funding from the Welsh Government, European Regional Development Fund and UK Government. 

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World class facilities puts Dragon ahead of the game An investment to create a world leading film post-production, restoration and digitisation facility, which will create highly skilled jobs for Welsh graduates, is being supported by £200,500 from the Welsh Government’s Economic Growth Fund. The £445,000 project by South Wales & London based Dragon will create 13 jobs and safeguard 7 existing whilst creating a unique twin location facility for film & television. Read more

Connecting 900-year old castle with the high-tech world Superfast Cymru is connecting Cardigan Castle with the world and enhancing the visitor experience, First Minister Carwyn Jones has said. He was officially re-opening the iconic castle following a major refurbishment and heard how having access to fibre broadband is making a big difference. Read more

Cardiff cyber security specialist Australian office A Cardiff firm’s expansion, backed by £135,000 business finance from the Welsh Government, is creating thirteen new highly skilled jobs. Netconsulting, an IT consultancy, that specialises in providing cyber security solutions to businesses and governments, has opened an office in Australia - and is expanding operations in Cardiff to meet the growing international demand for its services. Read more Image - Paul Thomas, Managing Director at NetConsulting, along with Jonathan Ryan, Head of Marketing and Rachel Bonney, Sales and Marketing at their Cardiff offices

Supersonic goes Superfast RAF Valley on Anglesey has become the latest place in Wales to benefit from the Superfast Cymru Programme. While those on the base may be used to travelling at supersonic speeds in the air, they will now be able to enjoy superfast speeds online as they join over 425,000 other households and businesses in Wales which are able to enjoy faster internet speeds as a result of the partnership. Read more

Thirty six new jobs at new software Cwmbran business A new development and managed service centre specialising in robotic process automation is being established in Cwmbran creating 36 new skilled jobs with support from the Welsh Government. Read more

Welsh Government and Microsoft launch Greenshoots A pilot project aimed at supporting start-up games developers in Wales will see four successful companies get a one off £25,000 grant to build new titles – and gain access to expert guidance from Microsoft. It follows a partnership between the Welsh Government and Microsoft to launch a Welsh version of Microsoft’s Greenshoots games development project for start ups. Read more

Wales strengthens its position in the £1bn UK gaming industry Game makers, players and industry leaders were in Cardiff recently for the Wales Games Development Show, as Wales strengthens its position in the £1bn UK gaming industry. With Cardiff having been already identified as an emerging hub for video game production, the Welsh Government is supporting this growth industry and its potential to create more high skilled jobs. Read more

ICT’s leading lights at Digital 2015 Digital 2015 drew to a close following two days of inspiration, collaboration and skills-sharing. Over 2,000 global organisations, academia and indigenous inventive start-ups descended on the Celtic Manor to hear the latest in digital thinking and how trends such as data analysis and application, Internet of Things, cyber security and Cloud are shaping the world around us. Read more Image - ‘Father’ of Tomb Raider Ian Livingstone CBE giving a keynote speech

Best in Digital Wales Do you know the exceptional people in Digital? People doing remarkable things and making a real difference? If you do, now’s your chance to put them in for the St David Awards -  the highest accolades given by Welsh Government to outstanding individuals and teams deserving national recognition. We are especially keen for the biggest successes and movers and shakers in the Digital sector to be in the running for the St David Awards for Enterprise and Innovation & Technology. There are 7 other Award categories for Bravery, Culture, Citizenship, International, Sport and Young Person plus the First Minister’s Special Award. It’s time to get cracking - you can only nominate until 27th October 2015 online here.

New £7m Swansea Digital Economy Centre

Swansea University’s College of Science is to become home to a new digital economy research centre worth in excess of £7m, which will help create and deliver digital innovations with real-world impact.

The new CHERISH-DE Centre – or Challenging Human Environments and Research Impact for a Sustainable and Healthy Digital Economy – has received a £3.8m Government funding boost, at full economic costing, through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with £3.8m investment from industrial and research user contributions from partners.

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HS2 meets welsh companies to talk business

High Speed Two Ltd and representatives from the Welsh Government have visited Cardiff to speak to over 100 Welsh businesses about how to bid for contracts worth around £10bn to build Britain’s largest infrastructure project- High Speed Two (HS2).

The event, hosted by Welsh Government, presented Welsh companies with an excellent opportunity to find out more about HS2’s procurement process and ensured that they have all the information required to access opportunities within the supply chain.

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New service to provide “talking technology” 

A new all-Wales service to provide high-tech communication equipment for people with severe speech and communication problems will be set up, Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething announced.

There are an estimated 15,500 people in Wales who suffer with severe speech and communication problems who will benefit from some form of communication equipment and at least 1,540 of these will require high-tech communication equipment, which can be very expensive.

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Hi-tech Chepstow firm secures deals with clients across the world

Chepstow based SOMNIUM® Technologies - a hi-tech company with big ambitions - has been selected to support some of the world’s major international semiconductor vendors with their next generation of embedded software development tools.

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£6.7m investment in new IT system to integrate NHS and social services in Wales

A multi-million pound investment will be made in a new IT system to further integrate health and social care in Wales, Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford announced.

The Welsh Government is investing £6.7m to develop a new Community Care Information Solution (CCIS), which will allow information to be shared between different health and social services instantly, helping to deliver improved care and support for people across Wales.

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Funding boost for Med-Tech companies developing next generation products

Six highly innovative small and early stage Med-Tech companies in Wales have been selected for a £600,000 R&D funding boost from the UK’s innovation experts Innovate UK to develop and commercialise the next generation of medical technology devices and products.

The announcement coincides with a visit to Cardiff by Dr Ruth McKernan, the new Chief Executive of Innovate UK, to discover more about the Welsh innovation landscape and her meeting with key figures including Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science & Transport, the Permanent Secretary for Wales, and the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales.

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Conference spreads innovation in digital competence

Teachers from across Wales had the opportunity to hear and learn from some of the best UK digital thinkers and innovators at a conference in Cardiff.

The Welsh Government’s third National Digital Learning event focused on sharing good practice in digital competence and put teaching professionals in touch with colleagues already utilising digital platforms and resources to enhance their teaching.

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New website shows how Welsh laws differ from rest of UK

A new website has been launched to help people understand the way laws in Wales are starting to diverge from the rest of the UK. The National Assembly can pass laws for Wales in 20 specified devolved areas of economic, social and cultural importance to citizens, including health, education, agriculture, transport, housing and the environment.

The Cyfraith Cymru / Law Wales site has been spearheaded by the Welsh Counsel General, Theodore Huckle QC to raise awareness of the growing body of Welsh law being passed by the National Assembly for Wales and made by the Welsh Ministers.

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The Welsh Economy:  in numbers published

The Welsh economy is performing reasonably well over the medium term compared to many other parts of the UK and is materially improving the well-being of citizens in Wales, according to a new website launched today.

‘Welsh Economy: in numbers’ provides a high level, easily accessible, broad picture of the Welsh economy and economic outcomes in Wales.  It brings together for the first time a rounded picture of economic performance for eight key indicators – over time and in comparison with other parts of the UK.

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Digital Tuesday

Digital Tuesday is a networking community which meets on the first Tuesday of each month usually at the Celtic Manor, Newport - to exchange knowledge, debate and do business around the digital theme.

Find out more and register your interest here.

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You can now stay up-to-date and engage with Welsh Government’s department for Economy, Science and Transport by following us on Twitter.