The University of Wales Trinity Saint David was pleased to welcome businesses to the new home of the Assistive Technologies Innovation Centre (ATiC) in SA1 Swansea Waterfront’s Technium 1 building.
ATiC, part of UWTSD Swansea College of Art, has a demonstrable track-record in providing practice-based research and development to support medical companies and healthcare related charities. The Centre’s work is primarily human-centred and innovation-led which enables researchers to collaborate with businesses to develop creative interventions that improve health and wellbeing. It is designed to support research collaborations in the life-sciences across Wales and builds upon UWTSD’s record of delivery in developing R&I excellence in the field of Health and Social Care.
ATiC is part of Accelerate, a £33 million European Regional Development Fund and Welsh Government-supported partnership between the Life-Science Hub Wales, the Schools of Medicine at Swansea and Cardiff Universities and UWTSD Swansea College of Art, which aims to support the accelerated development and introduction to practice of new medical and healthcare innovations.
The Centre’s work has recently been featured in the UK’s best 100 breakthroughs as part of Universities UK #MadeAtUni campaign.
Professor Ian Walsh, Director of ATiC and Dean of Swansea College of Art said: “The launch marks a new chapter for ATiC as we open new facilities in Technium 1. Our move to SA1 Swansea Waterfront will enable us to draw upon the expertise of colleagues from across UWTSD’s portfolio in order to make a transformational impact on the lives of those requiring our support. Our approach is user-led; looking at the user’s journey as they engage with technology to shape the products and services that we develop. We are working with colleagues in private companies as well as health boards across Wales in order to establish public/private collaborations involving smart specialisms and the development of smart devices and assistive technologies”.
Dr Sean Jenkins, ATiC Principal Innovation Fellow said: “We were delighted to showcase the excellent facilities and resources that we have at our new research labs in Technium 1. The new centre enables us to demonstrate how businesses can transform their innovation process through adopting a user-centred approach to R&I”.
Dr Shelley Doolan, ATiC manager added: “During the event companies were able meet the ATiC team and pre-book one-to-one consultations with ATiC and Acclerate innovation experts as well as network with a range of organisations”.
Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, Vice-Chancellor said: “Today is an important event to celebrate partnership and the real opportunities of working in collaboration with others. These are powerful coalitions that make a difference, an aim that is at the heart of the University’s innovation strategy; we want to make a difference so that we can transform lives for the better”.
