Professor Roger Whitaker explains how the Wales Innovation Network is accelerating research and innovation across Wales.
On 25 March 2025, the Wales Innovation Network (WIN) launched its Impact Report at the Senedd, revealing a compelling story of what happens when universities across Wales collaborate effectively: accelerating research, fostering innovation, and delivering tangible economic and social benefits.
The report highlights a striking achievement: projects supported by WIN’s £2 million investment have leveraged over £38 million in additional investment. This 19-fold return is no small feat and speaks volumes about the power of collaboration in tackling big challenges.
At its core, WIN’s mission is to facilitate cross-institutional collaboration by uniting all Welsh universities, regardless of their specialisms, harnessing our dynamic and diverse research ecosystem. Unlike networks that cluster similar institutions, WIN fosters interdisciplinary connections that maximise the unique strengths of each university. This model not only drives groundbreaking discoveries, but also strengthens the Welsh economy, supports businesses, and enhances our global research profile.
At its core, WIN’s mission is to facilitate cross-institutional collaboration by uniting all Welsh universities, regardless of their specialisms, harnessing our dynamic and diverse research ecosystem.
By facilitating these connections, WIN ensures that the sum is greater than its parts. The result? Research projects that might not have been possible in isolation are now flourishing, supported by a network that fosters interdisciplinary thinking and cross-sector partnerships.
Delivering real-world impact
WIN’s success is not merely theoretical – it is delivering real, measurable outcomes that benefit Wales and beyond.
- Driving economic growth
The additional £38 million investment secured through WIN-supported initiatives is not just a financial success story – it represents an investment in Wales’ future. This funding supports projects that create jobs, develop new technologies, and attract industry partnerships, strengthening Wales’ position as a hub for innovation.
Bangor University’s One Health Wales initiative demonstrates how strategic support can unlock major investment and drive innovation. WIN’s initial funding enabled a cross-sector scoping study that led to over £5 million in secured funding, including a major commercial contract. By fostering collaboration across sectors and communities, the initiative is pioneering innovative solutions to urgent public health and ecological challenges, while creating lasting partnerships and sustainable impact across Wales and beyond.
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- Enhancing research excellence
By breaking down silos between institutions, WIN has enabled researchers to access new expertise, resources, and facilities. This has led to enhanced research outputs, improved grant success rates, and a more competitive research environment that attracts top talent and funding opportunities to Wales.
A prime example is the Cymru Wledig Local Policy Innovation Partnership, led by Aberystwyth University, which was made possible through WIN seed funding. This early support enabled a successful bid for over £5 million, bringing together interdisciplinary teams from multiple universities and stakeholders to drive policy innovation and wellbeing in rural Wales.
- Strengthening industry partnerships
WIN has played a pivotal role in forging closer ties between academia and industry. Whether through joint research projects or technology transfer initiatives, WIN strives to transform academic discoveries into real-world solutions that benefit both businesses and society.
After losing European funding, the Advanced Design Engineering team at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David partnered with the National Research Network in Advanced Engineering and Materials to chart a new path forward. With support from WIN, the team developed a new business plan to support SMEs and industry, deepened collaboration with partner universities, and secured over £2 million in new funding, revitalising advanced engineering research and strengthening industry ties across Wales.
- Addressing societal challenges
From tackling climate change and food security to strengthening health resilience and digital transformation, Welsh research is addressing global challenges while delivering tangible benefits for communities across Wales.
WIN’s All-Wales Policing Academic Collaboration (AWPAC) supported a joint project between The Open University and the University of South Wales, which is playing a crucial role in shaping policing policies on domestic abuse within law enforcement. This work is influencing discussions at the National Police Chiefs’ Council and has the potential to drive significant change in safeguarding and justice practices across Wales and beyond.
Research projects that might not have been possible in isolation are now flourishing, supported by a network that fosters interdisciplinary thinking and cross-sector partnerships.
Sustaining the momentum
The success of WIN so far is just the beginning. Further support will be critical if we are to build on this momentum.
- Expanding industry engagement
To maximise the economic benefits of WIN’s work, deeper industry engagement is needed. This includes more joint ventures, increased commercialisation of research, and stronger partnerships with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can benefit from university-led innovation.
- Policy support for collaboration
Policymakers play a vital role in creating an environment that encourages and rewards collaboration. By embedding support for cross-institutional research partnerships into national and regional strategies, Wales can reinforce its position as a leader in innovation.
- Strengthening international links
While WIN has demonstrated the power of collaboration within Wales, we have also supported initiatives where Welsh institutions have successfully partnered with researchers from 13 different countries. By leveraging our strengths and increasing these international partnerships, we can continue to grow our research impact and global competitiveness. As part of this effort, we are partnering with colleagues in Welsh Higher Education Brussels (WHEB) to facilitate collaborations across Europe and boost Wales’ competitiveness in securing Horizon Europe funding.
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A vision for the future
As Chair of WIN, I have seen first-hand how collaboration can unlock new opportunities and drive transformative change. The impact we have achieved to date is a testament to the talent, dedication, and ingenuity of researchers and innovators across Wales. But there is more work to be done.
Our vision for the future is one where collaboration is not just encouraged but embedded in the fabric of Welsh research and innovation. Where universities, businesses, and policymakers work hand in hand to drive economic growth, solve societal challenges, and position Wales as a global leader in research excellence.
The Wales Innovation Network has already demonstrated what is possible when institutions come together with a shared purpose. Now, with continued support and investment, we have the opportunity to build on this success and shape a future where Wales leads the way in innovation, research, and collaboration.
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