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Date Announced: 16 Apr 2019
TDA appoints a Centre Director for Torbay’s £8m Electronics and Photonics Innovation Centre (EPIC).
Torquay, UK -- EPIC's new Centre Director, Wayne Loschi, has a strong background in the electronics sector having spent a large part of his career as an Export Manager. He has managed global customers in military aerospace, medical and telecommunications sectors, some of the technologies and products that will be developed at EPIC.
Loschi commented: “This is a really exciting opportunity to call upon my experience in the electronics sector to support and engage with some of the businesses that will be relocating to EPIC. The centre will build on the strengths of the hi tech sector in Torbay and provide a centre of excellence for photonics and electronics businesses across the South West.”
EPIC will be a centre of excellence, supporting technological innovation and promoting collaborative activity between businesses and research institutions. It will also accommodate and support start up and spin-off companies and encourage foreign direct investment to Torbay and its microelectronics and photonics sector.
The centre is being developed and operated by TDA, on behalf of Torbay Council. The construction, which is being delivered by Interserve, remains on programme for the centre to be open in May, 2019. EPIC secured £3m from the Heart of the South West LEP’s Growth Deal funding. In addition to this,£1.375M has been secured from the European Regional Development Fund, and £1.1m Coastal Communities Funding. This funding supports a £2.5m investment in the Centre made by Torbay Council.
EPIC will provide open market access to purpose built hi tech facilities and specialist equipment to support R&D, prototyping, innovation and collaboration in emerging technologies, and developing new intellectual property. The development of EPIC and the South Devon College’s Hi Tech and Digital Skills Centre represent two significant multi million pound investments within the local area which are designed to support the growth of the hi tech sector, and support the development of Torbay’s economy.
About EPIC
EPIC is one of a number of prime investment opportunity sites in Torbay which Torbay Council and TDA are committed to bringing forward ambitious, high quality, new developments with partners to deliver transformational schemes. Key partners for the EPIC project are AHR Architects, Interserve, Michelmores, and Ashfords.
South Devon College’s Hi Tech and Digital Skills Centre will be a £17M facility located on White Rock next to the College’s current building. It will provide individuals with the skills that employers need to support their growth in a range of important local hi tech businesses such as; electronics, lasers, fibre, satellite and communications, aerospace, marine, medical and data analysis of ‘Big Data’. The offer will also extend to creative industries including gaming, app design, digital design, film and digital media, smart clothing and textiles and many others.
The photonics sector nationally is estimated to contribute over £12.9 billion annually to the UK’s economy, growing at around 5.3%. It employs around 65,000 people across 1,500 photonics companies. Torbay is renowned for its unique specialisms and capabilities in new innovations and R&D within the sector.
E-mail: wayne.loschi@tda.uk.net
Web Site: www.epic-centre.co.uk
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