Nuclear Futures Institute and National Nuclear Laboratory enter into strategic collaboration

Bangor University, and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), the UK’s national laboratory for nuclear fission, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see them work together to advance education and research in the field of nuclear energy, including skills and training for the nuclear industry. The MoU also outlined a commitment two work on joint research projects and share access to infrastructure, facilities and equipment that will advance nuclear technologies.

With the receipt of the first year of equipment, the Centre has established demonstrators in four key areas: Network architecture; Network convergence; Transmission systems; and Transceiver and networking devices.

The official launch of the DSP Growth Deal project in July 2022, was attended by the First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS and the Parliamentary Under–Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies MP. The event highlighted the vast potential of the DSP technologies including sensors, traffic management, secure data transfer, virtual reality, visualisation and at its most simple level vastly improving the data capacity and Capability of our fibre–based networks.

Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn, Chair of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, said, “With the development of globally important technologies here, the DSP Centre is putting North Wales on the map and at the forefront of this exciting sector.”

As well as internationally leading research and innovation the Centre also provides training and skills development in collaboration with partners and through Masters and PhD programmes.

The North Wales Growth Deal is a £240m programme dedicated to providing investment in the North Wales region with the specific aim of stimulating economic growth. The programme, managed by Ambition North Wales in partnership with local authorities and partners from higher and further education, focuses on building a more vibrant, sustainable and resilient economy in North Wales based on existing strengths.

Dr Paul Howarth, Chief Executive Officer of the NNL, said: “As we look to secure the UK’s clean energy future through more new and advanced nuclear technologies, we recognise the impact and value of Wales as a centre of nuclear science and innovation. The development of our relationship with Bangor University demonstrates our commitment to driving the research, skills and capabilities that will be needed here and across the UK.”