The Welsh Assembly Government in the UK has set up a Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications and Services (CEMAS) at the University of Glamorgan. The US$7.80 million venture is backed with US$3.82 million from the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government.
The centre will be a test bed for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to design, develop, test and protect the creation of new mobile phone services and applications.
As part of the initiative a dedicated commercial manager will assist SMEs to identify market opportunities, demonstrate products to a wide range of existing telecommunications firms and help ensure that their products reach their intended markets.
The creation of the Centre follows publication last month of the Assembly Government’s Delivering a Digital Wales framework, which capitalises on the opportunities of the digital age. The policy will support key aspects of the digital agenda – including building a thriving and competitive digital economy – and complements the UK Government’s Digital Britain report.
According to Professor Khalid Al-Begain, Director of the Centre, for the first time, SMEs and external service innovators can contribute to the offering of applications and services – but only if they receive access to appropriate support and infrastructure. In response to this emerging need, the Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications and Services will provide a unique web-based platform and telecommunication infrastructure, enabling academic experts to assist Convergence region SMEs to create, develop, and test innovative mobile applications and services prior to market launch.
The Centre will appoint seven new highly skilled professionals in addition to existing staff to enable provision of a first class service to SMEs in the Convergence region of West Wales and the Valleys.
The Centre has been testing its next generation network facility with a number of local companies. This piloting phase proved highly successful and with this funding, the Centre will be in the position to roll this facility out to many more businesses.
