Member Profile

Wales

Presentation of the Region

Wales is one of the four nations of the United Kingdom, with a population of 3.13 million. The Welsh Government has responsibility for economic development and other devolved policy areas.

Our vision for economic growth and prosperity is Prosperity for All , the national strategy to deliver key priorities for the rest of this Assembly term (2026).
Our International Strategy sets out Wales’ approach to international engagement, including an emphasis on co-operation with other European regions in areas of shared interest, like research and innovation. The EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) provides a framework for our engagement with the EU, including the UK’s association to the Horizon Europe programme.

Wales supports the ‘Learn’, ‘Connect’, ‘Demonstrate’, and ‘Commercialise’ ethos of the Vanguard Initiative. We will positively engage with the European networks and pilot projects with the aim of increasing collaborative activity to support leading-edge innovation projects.

RIS3 Priorities

Wales was an early adopter of Smart Specialisation, back in 2013. We have now published Wales Innovates and an accompanying Delivery Plan as our Smart Specialisation blueprint. The Vanguard Initiative’s key principles align with Wales Innovates, in that whilst we need to support innovation across all areas of our education, economy, healthcare and environment, key investments should be made in our strategic priorities, founded on Wales’ national and international industrial strengths.

We have an active and innovative business community with a strong research and innovation eco-system, including internationally recognised universities and research & technology centres, and our own health service. Industry collaboration with public sector partners helps set the ambition and direction to drive sustainable growth of a resilient and adaptable economy.

Wales has a proud industrial heritage dating back to the Industrial Revolution, particularly in coal, iron & steel production. In the 21st Century, Wales is looking to re-invent itself by future-proofing our existing businesses through building the infrastructure to support the industries of the digital age. The development of Europe’s first industrial cluster in Compound Semiconductors, which will be European in scale but global in reach is a key example of our Smart Specialisation in action.

Political Representatives
Jeremy Miles MS

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy & Welsh Language

Regional Contact Persons
Gavin George

Senior Innovation Manager (International Collaboration)

Stella Llewellyn

Innovation Promotions Executive

Richard Morgan

Collaboration Specialist

Brussels Contact Persons
Gavin Lewis

Head of Economic, Social and Regional Policy

Regional Address

Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
United Kingdom

Brussels Office Address

Wales House
Rond-Point Schuman 11
1040 Brussels
Belgium

Our Pilots

3DP Pilot implements process to ensure the Pilot’s agility, readability and resource efficiency

Over the last months, extensive efforts have been made to continuously adapt the 3DP Pilot activities to emerging industrial needs.

turn on, turn off, innovation
EVENT POSTPONED: How Smart is your RIS3? Cardiff 25-26 March

UPDATE:  Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 this conference has been postponed; we will provide further details once we are in a position to reschedule.  If you had registered to attend, yo

Vanguard Initiative Annual Political Meeting: Regional Ministers and Representatives shape the Network’s Future Strategic

On 21st November 2019 in Brussels, the Vanguard Initiative’s Annual Political Meeting (APM) took place, with Regional Ministers and senior representatives from Vanguard Initiative’s 36 Member Regio

The CSconnected semiconductor eco-system: a regional cluster making a global impact

The Welsh Government is pleased to invite you to Wales House on Monday 17 April for a talk and networking event with Chris Meadows from CSConnected to learn about Wales’s experien

Empowering youth and strengthening digitalisation for territorial cohesion

This workshop will highlight different regional best practices to showcase, from multiple angles, how regions can support youth empowerment by using cohesion and other types of funding at the core

VI Regional Conference "Connecting innovation strengths across regions: a place-based approach to stronger European

      The recording of the event and the presentations ara available here