Attending on behalf of M-SParc were Pryderi ap Rhisiart, Managing Director, and Steff Thomas, Operations and Innovation Officer, who leads M-SParc’s football innovation activities, including the FAW Innovation Centre programme, support for football-focused businesses and the delivery of our football hackathon programme.
The event brought together an impressive range of organisations from across Europe and beyond, including UEFA, EA Sports, topflight clubs, major European stadiums and leagues and football federations.
The purpose of Champions Innovate is simple but ambitious: to bring together the brightest minds from football, technology, business and academia to develop solutions to challenges facing the game and create opportunities to scale successful innovations across Europe.
For Wales, the event reinforced a growing belief that we have a genuine opportunity to become a leader in football innovation.
Throughout the event, delegates explored how innovation can improve participation, wellbeing, fan engagement, safeguarding, coaching, inclusion and grassroots football experiences.
What stood out was the willingness of major football organisations to collaborate and to share their experiences. Rather than viewing innovation as something that happens inside large organisations, many of the most exciting initiatives are being developed through partnerships between governing bodies, clubs, universities and emerging businesses.
This collaborative approach aligns strongly with the work already taking place within the Welsh football ecosystem.
M-SParc’s role as the FAW’s Innovation Centre is focused on identifying, developing and supporting innovative businesses and ideas that can have a positive impact on football and wider society.
This includes initiatives such as the football hackathon programme which has already produced exciting ideas and entrepreneurial talent, alongside support for businesses operating within the sector.
We’re incredibly proud to be supporting and championing Welsh innovation on this stage. From the Bangor University hackathon winners, to businesses such as Brandified, Pelly and YEM working in wellbeing and engagement, there is genuine creativity and ambition coming out of Wales with opportunities to collaborate with friends and partners across Europe.
The event provided an opportunity to showcase the strength of Welsh innovation and build relationships with organisations across Europe that could create future opportunities for Welsh businesses.
We took home all 3 Points (sorry!):
The challenges being discussed across Europe are not unique to major football nations. Wales possesses strong research capability, entrepreneurial talent and a collaborative culture that enables innovation to happen quickly and effectively.
The quality of ideas emerging from Welsh startups, universities and innovators is every bit as strong as those seen elsewhere in Europe.
The most successful innovation ecosystems are those where governing bodies, universities, businesses and entrepreneurs work together.
Wales is uniquely positioned in this regard. The close relationships between organisations such as the FAW, universities, innovation centres and businesses create an environment where ideas can be tested, refined and scaled rapidly.
Perhaps the strongest message from Budapest was that football innovation is still an emerging field.
That presents a significant opportunity.
Rather than trying to catch up with others, Wales has the chance to establish itself as one of Europe’s leading football innovation ecosystems. By continuing to support entrepreneurs, connect innovators with the game and create opportunities for collaboration, we can position Wales at the forefront of football innovation.
The connections made in Budapest will help strengthen relationships between Welsh innovators and international partners, opening new opportunities for collaboration, pilot projects and business growth.
As the FAW Innovation Centre, we remains committed to supporting innovators, entrepreneurs and organisations that are using technology, creativity and new ideas to shape the future of football.
The opportunity is clear. Wales has the talent, the ambition and the collaborative spirit to become a leader in football innovation.
The challenge now is to make it happen.
tom@m-sparc.com
Tom used to work at the KFC in his hometown of Colwyn Bay before it mysteriously burned down. He then spent several years “on the lam” in East Germany, where he worked as an animator in Berlin. When the wall fell, Tom came home.
He enjoys climbing and hates ice-skating.
