CAST Technium appoints Simentra to develop market proposition and target international clientele

CAST Technium, a recent addition to the prestigious Welsh Development Agency Technium national incubator plan, have appointed Simentra to develop the marketing proposition for the centre and drive commercial interest in the venue both nationally and internationally.

San Jose, Bracknell, Belfast, Johannesburg, Sydney 12th April 2004

Simentra, a company providing a low-risk, cost effective and fast route to the international market for venture capital backed high-growth technology firms, today announced their appointment by the Welsh Development Agency in the UK to support the growth and development of their Technium project through the most recent development at Parc Menai in Bangor for a Centre for Advanced Software Technology. Welsh Development Agency's latest Technium project, the Centre for Advanced Software Technology or CAST Technium as it is known is based at Parc Menai, Bangor, Gwynedd, the development is expected to underpin the development of a global software cluster within North-West Wales. Like other developments within the Technium strategy, CAST will support start-up enterprises, existing companies with high growth potential and academic spin-out companies. Over £1.95 million of Objective 1 money is being invested into the project along with Welsh Assembly and WDA funding which will lead to the creation of more than 520 new jobs within the software sector.

Graham Hawker, Chief Executive of the WDA said:

"The CAST Technium further cements Wales' - and particularly North Wales' - credibility in the software sector. It has strengths in the future growth area of distributed computing and particularly in visualisation/virtual reality, communications and networking, and systems modelling using distributed computing techniques!"

"It will provide advanced software businesses with a range of vital support services and facilities, including incubator facilities, research and development projects, and consultancy and technology services."

Glenn Hardy, founder of Simentra commented that the exercise was testament to the continued support that the company offered Technium internationally and the confidence that he had in the concept;

"Technium is a unique approach to the provision of Sector based technology incubation. The WDA has to be commended for its proactive development of venues that offer growth for the local economy but offer, in parallel, an opportunity for international participation in truly modern and interactive environments. I am sure Simentra can ensure that Technium will be a brand to be recognised in the future as a pioneer in the changing face of technology incubation"

The Simentra campaign will include recommendations for the development of an international marketing proposition for the CAST Technium site in addition to a sales and marketing campaign to attract international clientele from the areas of 3D visualisation and grid computing.

About Simentra Ltd

Simentra Ltd is an International Risk Assessment company dedicated to providing intelligent and cost effective solutions to government, private corporations and the emergency services sector. The company Charter Series offers a range of assessment, fusion and training products and services to mitigate the risks associated with modern society and business practice and prepare for associated response protocols. Simentra is a subsidiary of AssetCo PLc in the UK www.assetco.com . Simentra has offices in Belfast (Northern Ireland), London (UK), and Houston (USA).

For more information, please visit http://www.simentra.com/