Torbay's Tech by the Bay is a large part of who we are but not many people know about it or what it is.

There are leading electronic and photonic businesses who call Torbay home. These businesses have gained significant success globally, which means Torbay is on the international map. The type of work these businesses do really does push the boundaries in environmental services, marine engineering, water testing and the science of light.

So how has Torbay become an epicentre for Tech businesses? Torbay is a specially designated High Potential Opportunity area in Photonics & Electronics, which has even been recognised by the Department for International Trade. This means Torbay is promoted to overseas investors and businesses as a place for them to be.  Working with the Hi Tech cluster the focus now is on setting out that Torbay has the ability, expertise and the opportunities for more foreign owned business like this to grow here. To use our area as their base to expand in the South West and beyond.

The Bay now has a reputation as an internationally important location for research and development, new product design and innovative hi-tech manufacturing. Mix this with Torbay having a legacy of strong local supply links, highly trained employees, excellent access to markets and world renowned research facilities we are the perfect location for these innovative businesses.

Global leaders in technology like Lumentum, Gooch & Housego, Spirent, Prior Queensgate, EFFECT Photonics, II–VI Photonics and Nanusens are all located here. These companies are all committed to continuing to invest and grow in the Bay.

Torbay has a dedicated Electronics & Photonics Innovation Centre (EPIC) which is based at White Rock in Paignton. EPIC, which opened in May 2019, is an exciting £8 million facility which offers state-of the art offices and laboratories, which helps businesses in this area to start and grow. EPIC has grown Torbay’s reputation as a centre of excellence in the ever increasing area for photonics and microelectronics.  The concept of EPIC is not only to provide both a class leading facility, it also sources equipment and services to support innovation.

EPIC supports new product development, prototyping, testing, research & development and offers a shared space for innovative hi-tech companies. The centre houses one of the only open access class 7 cleanrooms in the South West. If you know what this is then you know how important it is! EPIC also offers tenants access to a fully equipped prototyping suite.

It is great having these innovative companies using Torbay as their base but they also need the workforce. Which is why EPIC and TDA work closely with South Devon College.

The College now have a co designed and industry specific training programme that is providing future talent for the companies that are choosing Torbay as their home. This programme welcomes both entry level students looking to enter the sector at a practical level, to those furthering their career to achieve high level engineering qualifications to degree level.

From all this growth the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster has emerged. The Cluster is a place for all those working in this area to network with similar hi-tech businesses, universities and trade associations.

EPIC and the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster are focussed on raising their profile internationally and they frequently exhibit at major international photonics and electronics events. This has helped promote the Bay and the region as somewhere that is a globally recognised area for technology and innovation. Next steps include looking for funding to provide space to grow increase the experience around low carbon photonics.

To find out more about EPIC, who is based there and what these businesses do visit: www.epic-centre.co.uk