Carwyn opens new digital media centre
A Centre designed to support the digital media industry in Wales was this week launched by the First Minister.
Carwyn Jones was invited to the University of Glamorgan’s Atrium building in Cardiff to unveil its new Centre for Media Innovation and Enterprise.
The modern medialab provides entrepreneurs, designers and researchers with the facilities they need to create new digital content.
It is designed to give students the best possible environment to engage with leading media companies on a world stage.
Mr Jones said: “The medialab is a real example of the innovative thinking we will need to continue building the creative industries in Wales which play a key part in our the economy.
“These facilities will enable Welsh companies to compete on the world stage with the very best in the digital industries. The Assembly Government wants to make sure this sector is in the strongest possible position to compete and bring about long-term, sustainable growth. Facilities like this will help us achieve this vision.”
A High Definition TV studio with cameras, a mixing desk and high density storage will help media companies generate new movies and games.
While a high-end digital graphics and moving image facility, known as a Render Farm, will help create animated cartoons and computer generated imagery (CGI).
It is the first facility of its kind in Wales to be made available to businesses on a commercial basis.
The Render Farm will be commercialised as part of an 18-month initiative to transfer knowledge between Glamorgan’s academic centre of excellence and the digital media industry.
It is supported by the Assembly Government’s Academic Expertise for Business (A4B) programme and Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (Hefcw).
Julie Lydon, vice-chancellor at the University of Glamorgan, said: “This is a superb facility that builds on the strong links between Glamorgan, the Assembly Government and industry in Wales. It is a significant milestone in a major programme of investment.”
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9 September 2010
Source: Wales Online
