Palomar Technologies and EPIC formally started their relationship last week with the installation of a 3880 die bonder. The arrangement will see Palomar invest $1 million in equipment into the centre.

EPIC’s current and future tenants will benefit from access to this and other equipment to increase their technical capability. The partnership with Palomar is just one of many that will see EPIC’s Prototyping Suite populated with several items that businesses would not have ordinarily have been able to access.

To find out more about EPIC or to arrange a visit to the centre call 01803 714714, email [email protected] or visit www.epic-centre.co.uk

A funding programme has been created to encourage foreign owned companies to expand, relocate, grow and create jobs in Torbay.

The Invest in Torbay ‘soft landings’ growth package offers foreign owned SMEs up to £10,000 to relocate all or part of their company to Torbay. Foreign owned companies already with a presence in the UK but not in Torbay can also apply.

TDA, on behalf of Torbay Council, is working with several foreign owned companies across Europe and the US to support investment. In February next year, TDA will be attending the Photonics West trade show to develop further relationships with US companies and US photonics clusters such as Bozeman, Montana.

Jason Buck, Investment Development Manager at TDA, said: “We have some excellent examples of foreign owned companies continually investing in Torbay and thriving. At EPIC, we have brand new, dedicated lab and clean room facilities ready for companies to relocate to. The soft landings programme provides a further incentive and helps support companies with the initial financial challenges of relocating. The UK also offers R&D tax credits and low corporation tax which are a big plus for tech companies, particularly those from the US.”

The world-class Torbay cluster offers a highly skilled and expert workforce, and an exceptional education sector with links to leading colleges and universities. Specialist capabilities that exist within the cluster include; quantum technologies, RF & wireless, GNSS, industrial lasers, optical systems technologies, photonics integrated circuits, telecommunications and nano technologies. Companies such as Lumentum, II-VI Lasers, Gooch & Housego, EFFECT Photonics, Spirent Communications, and Prior Queensgate all continue to grow in Torbay.

Jason Buck continued: “Torbay and the wider region has unique strengths in robust and resilient photonics and microelectronics. This is built on world-class experience in supplying the aerospace, military and marine sectors which are also key sectors regionally. Foreign owned companies who integrate critical photonics and electronics based solutions should consider Torbay. The capabilities within our companies, and those in the wider region, will drive forward future technology in the development of sensors and systems for autonomous vehicles. There is also a focus on new technologies to meet the ever increasing global demand driven by bandwidth, content storage and data consumption.”

Wayne Loschi, EPIC Centre Director, said: “EPIC is a brand new centre which provides over £1m of specialist equipment within its prototyping suite, including both wire and die bonders, a scanning electron microscope with more items to follow. EPIC also has a dedicated ISO7 classified cleanroom, purpose-built labs and modern offices for lease. The facilities here at EPIC are starting to attract enquiries from overseas companies that are considering opening a UK site. The soft landings funding will help make expanding or relocating to Torbay easier.”

To find out more about the soft landings funding visit www.investintorbay.com/soft-landings or contact Jason Buck on 01803 208799 or [email protected]

Torbay is the home of an established photonics and microelectronics cluster and its new Electronics and Photonics Innovation Centre (EPIC) has the facilities and equipment to attract more tech businesses to the region.

At a recent Open Day, businesses and partners of the hi tech sector saw first-hand the exceptional facilities in the £8m Centre. The Centre houses the only open-access classified cleanroom in the South West, providing tenants and members with the ability to develop and test their products and remain at the cutting-edge of the industry.

Over £1m of specialist equipment is being installed into the prototyping suite to enable research and development opportunities. This supports collaboration between the businesses, helping to drive innovation and the emergence of new technologies in a thriving sector.

Wayne Loschi, EPIC Centre Director, said: “The Open Day was a great opportunity to share this fantastic facility with key businesses and partners. Being able to show them how the Centre will support technology businesses with future growth is really important. The message is being shared across their networks and we are seeing interest from a number of hi tech businesses that are looking to relocate either a department of their company or the whole organisation.”

Councillor Swithin Long, Torbay Council Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing, said: “EPIC provides excellent facilities for hi tech businesses in Torbay and beyond. The Centre provides the ideal environment to support growth through collaboration, funding opportunities and access to apprenticeships. The new facility will no doubt attract early stage tech businesses as well as growing innovative tech companies, supporting Torbay’s Economic Strategy.”

Tenants and members are using the dry labs and offices in the facility to showcase their business and technology, while having access to the Centre’s technology and facilities.

Josef Schmidl, EMEA Managing Director for Palomar Technologies, said: “Being part of EPIC is a great opportunity for Palomar. Our equipment delivers the highest quality, flexible electronic packaging solutions, which will support many key businesses in Torbay’s photonics and microelectronics cluster. Our focus is to enable our customers to realise the high growth potential opportunities that are available in these exciting, rapidly evolving industry sectors.”

Tom Freda, CEO at Prior Scientific, said: “The move into EPIC enables us to operate from a modern facility and grow our business in the Torbay region. This beautiful facility will also enable us to encourage more customer visits. The Centre provides us with the opportunity work collaboratively with other hi tech companies and research institutions.”

October sees the launch of a fully funded programme called EPIC Sessions. The EPIC Sessions consist of a series of seminars both on latest manufacturing techniques, technology and the grass roots of running your business. These sessions are designed to support early stage tech businesses with strategies and plans to improve how they approach innovation and challenges in the industry.

Wayne Loschi added: “Over the next 18 months, EPIC will host several specialist seminars to help tenants and the wider business community. Key areas of support have been identified and EPIC has appointed industry leading specialists in fields such as Funding, Strategic Digital Marketing, Business Transformation & Growth, Business Management, Commercialisation and various other Microelectronics technology-focused sessions.”

All sessions are free for eligible SME businesses thanks to funding by the European Regional Development Fund.

For more information about EPIC and EPIC Sessions visit www.epic-centre.co.uk

The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership with support from partners at TDA have won a competitive bid to promote the area’s High Potential Opportunity in Photonics & Microelectronics, working as part of UK wide programme with the Department for International Trade (DIT) to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the area.

Already this designation is reaping rewards with two international visits having been arranged for later this summer.

The Heart of the South West has unique strengths in robust and resilient photonics and microelectronics, built up from a world-class experience supplying the aerospace, marine and nuclear sectors which also key sectors in the region.

Companies who integrate critical light and electronics based solutions needed by the global connected and autonomous vehicles industry can utilise the capabilities the Heart of the South West can offer to help future technology development.

Working closely with the global network of the Department of International Trade the Heart of the South West LEP and partners will actively be targeting FDI through face to face meetings and industry events and will facilitate visits to the region to enable investors to see the opportunity first hand.

An early outcome of the HPO programme sees Torbay hosting a visit from a US company in early August at the Electronics & Photonics Innovation Centre (EPIC) at Whiterock, Paignton. The company specialises in high power horticultural LED lighting to increase growth yields; as well as the photonics & microelectronics expertise in the region the company is also excited by the agritech capabilities that the Heart of the South West can offer. They will also meet leading University academics and a PCB manufacturer as part of their wider visit.

Later in the summer the Vice Consul from the British Consulate in San Francisco will travel to Torbay where he will visit EPIC, the South Devon College Hi tech & Digital Skills centre and meet photonics companies to see their capabilities first hand.

Jason Buck, Investment Development Manager, TDA and member of the HotSW Investment team said: “It has been fantastic working with Department for International Trade to surface this clear offer to foreign owned companies.

“Our compelling case that makes our area the right choice for businesses in this sector – location, supply chain, skills and research, cost and industry networks – has been recognised and will be promoted internationally through the DIT’s High Potential Opportunity programme. 

“Resilience and reliability of connected sensors and systems are barriers for the effective development of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies. The global industry needs these solutions and they can be found here in the Heart of the South West.”

Chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, Steve Hindley, CBE DL said: “The Heart of the South West is making good progress on its Local Industrial Strategy to focus on the really valuable economic sectors that this area has to offer, such as Photonics & Microelectronics.

“We’re the only LEP in the country to have been selected this special designation. “We’re pleased that DIT have recognised our strengths in Photonics & Microelectronics, showing that our area has genuinely world-class opportunities for businesses from overseas to invest and expand here.”

DIT said: ““The Department for International Trade in collaboration with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership will deliver growth and ensure that the benefits of global investment support the creation of new jobs and drive prosperity into local communities across the South West.”

For more information please visit www.investintorbay.com/high-potential-opportunity