Awards to celebrate Welsh tech industry success

The best companies, entrepreneurs and professionals in Welsh technology are to be recognised at the Estnet Awards 2016 next month.

This year’s line-up of finalists recognises the success of some of the country’s most promising technology start-ups as well as the contribution of Wales-based multinational firms.

The 2016 ceremony will take place at the Welsh Millenium Centre on March 2nd and will be supported by IQE plc, Coleg y Cymoedd, Smart Solutions, General Dynamics UK Ltd, SPTS Technologies Ltd, IntaPeople, IR Newport (An Infineon Technologies Company), EBV Elektronik and TTI Group.

It’ll see the return of the Sir Michael Moritz tech-start up award. The category is named after one of Wales’s most successful venture capitalists and aims to shine a spotlight on the successes of young Welsh tech companies.

Businesses shortlisted for the award this year include: Digital Profile, Leadin UK, VisScore, Echosec System Limited, Delio and doopoll. Nudjed, Eysys, Zipporah and multinational semiconductor company Microsemi will compete for the Estnet’s innovation awards.

As well as recognising outstanding Welsh companies, the awards also set out to commend the successes of people who’ve just entered the industry and the businesses that are supporting their development.

Sam Scott and Oliver Davies from IAC and Corey Lewis from SPTS will be going head-to-head for apprentice of the year, while Andrew Griffiths from IQE plc, Nick Gibbons from Gwent Cables and Chris Jenkins from Yard Digital will compete in the young engineer category.

Other categories include company of the year, collaborative partnership of the year and the industry role model of the year, which will highlight individuals who support and inspire the next generation of Welsh technologists.

Simon Powell, chairman of the ESTnet, said: “Wales is home to some of the world’s most dynamic technology companies. Their innovations are driving the development of technologies that underpin almost every other sector and are revolutionizing the way we all work and live.

“The purpose of the ESTnet Awards is to highlight these great achievements to the world and celebrate the talented individuals who are vital to its success.”

Mr Powell, who’s a serial tech entrepreneur, believes that Wales has the potential to become one of Europe’s leading tech locations due to its rising level of innovation.

He said: “As the pace of innovation in our SME and start up sectors continues to rise, Wales has the potential to become home to the new high-tech clusters needed to underpin the future of the wider European technology sector. The achievements and drive needed to realise that potential exists in each of our shortlisted companies.”