WIREDGOV

First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones encouraged universities and businesses across Wales to take advantage of a new EU research and innovation fund, worth €70 billion across EU regions, to help improve Wales’ global competitiveness.

Launching the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme in Wales at the Wales Forum on Europe event, alongside Finance Minister Jane Hutt, the First Minister said he wanted Wales to lead the way in maximising the benefits of Horizon 2020.    

The First Minister said:  

"Here in Wales we have academic institutions and forward thinking businesses that have carried out world-leading research and innovation.  I want to see that continue and grow.  Horizon 2020 can play an important role in supporting them in collaborative research projects and other innovation-related activities.  

"The aims and objectives of the Horizon 2020 programme are closely linked to our own strategies for boosting science, research and innovation and I’m sure the significant funding that is available through the new programme will go a long way to helping us achieve our aims in this field.

"I want to see Wales as a European leader in maximising the benefits of Horizon 2020 so that we can create sustainable jobs and growth and firmly secure our global competitiveness. In conjunction with the excellent academic institutions and forward thinking businesses we have here in Wales, I am confident that we can make this vision a reality.  

"The Horizon 2020 programme is yet another example of how the EU is benefitting Wales and adds further strength to the case for continued UK membership.  The Welsh Government will continue to engage with the EU in a positive and pro-active manner and will do all that it can to ensure that this remains the case going forward."    

Finance Minister Jane Hutt added:

"Wales is already recognised as a leader in the management and delivery of Structural Funds – we have been commended by the Commission and are considered as exemplar to many other EU regions.

"EU projects supported by the current Structural Funds have already helped create 7,000 enterprises and 22,000 jobs, as well as helped nearly 53,000 people into work and 157,000 to gain qualifications across Wales.

"EU Structural Funds are playing an important role in building skills and infrastructure to help our economy become more competitive.  I hope Welsh companies and universities will now build on this success and take advantage of the opportunities the new Horizon 2020 programme presents."