Cardiff, Wales, 24 November 2021

CSconnected is pleased to partner with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) for their Annual Conference. For the first time the CBI are taking the Annual Conference around the UK to support the “levelling up” agenda with the Wales regional session hosted by CSconnected and taking place at The Great Hall at Swansea University.

The theme of this year’s event is “Seize the Moment” and will welcome an audience of senior business leaders, as well as the opportunity to exchange ideas, and build and extend networks across a diverse range of contacts.

The agenda includes a welcome from Professor Paul Boyle, Vice Chancellor at Swansea University and Ian Price, Director of CBI Wales, a Keynote speech from Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL, President of CBI, a pre-recorded video delivered by Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy, Welsh Government and a CSconnected presentation on “Clusters and their impact on the economy” with Chris Meadows, Director of CSconnected, Professor Max Munday Director of Welsh Economy Research Unit at Cardiff University and Steve Whitby, Director of MicroLink Devices UK Ltd.

Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL will also be participating in a live panel discussion alongside Chris Meadows, Director of CSconnected, Nimesh Patel, Chief Financial Officer at Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc, Heba Bevan, CEO & Founder of Utterberry, and Rich Clothier, Managing Director at Wyke Farms. This panel will specifically address how trade plays a major role in our economy and explore the major growth opportunities in key overseas markets. The session host is Liz Moseley, Editor and Partner at Tortoise.

About CSconnected

CSconnected is the collective brand for a growing number of advanced semiconductor related activities in Wales, home to a unique community of academic institutions, prototyping facilities and global, high-volume manufacturing capabilities that collaborate across a range of research and innovation programs. CSconnected is uniquely positioned to develop a global advantage in a sovereign, key enabling technology which will allow Wales and the UK to increase trade globally in critical sectors such as 5G communications, autonomous and electric vehicles, advanced medical devices, and consumer electronics of the future.

In 2020, CSconnected received government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund (SIPF). The 55-month CSconnected SIPF project has a total value of £43million, supported by £25million of UKRI funds. It builds on Wales's regional strengths and integrates research excellence with a unique regional supply chain in compound semiconductor manufacturing.