Welsh Gov lures US military contractor to Wales with over £700,000
The Welsh Government has lured a US military contractor to Wales by giving it £737,000.
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced today that American cloud-based tech company SIMBA Chain is due to set up a base in Ebbw Vale, creating 26 jobs.
The firm was founded in 2017 with a grant to develop a secure, un-hackable messaging and transaction platform for the United States military.
It now has high-value contracts with the US Department of Defense, US Air Force and US Navy.
It has been speculated that SIMBA Chain could become the first so called unicorn company to emerge from the University of Notre Dame, which would see it achieve a $1 billion valuation.
The Welsh Government has backed the firm through its £100m Tech Valleys programme, which was established to support high value, sustainable jobs, attract investment and create new opportunities in Blaenau Gwent and the surrounding areas.
The Welsh Government says its backing will further support SIMBA Chain’s global expansion plans to become the go-to name for effectively utilising Blockchain technology.
‘Tech businesses’
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “Through our ambitious Tech Valleys programme we are committed to attracting, supporting and driving innovative tech businesses in Blaenau Gwent and the surrounding areas.
“I am delighted SIMBA Chain has seen the huge potential of this area and has decided to base its operation in the tech-rich ecosystem we are building.
“We want to see long term economic prosperity for residents and these well-paid, highly skilled new jobs are exactly the sort of employment opportunities we want to support. I wish SIMBA all the best in its global expansion plans.”
SIMBA Chain CEO Joel Neidig said: “We are pleased to make Wales the home of our first international office, which will help expand SIMBA Chain’s presence among corporations, government entities, and universities that want to leverage the unquestionable benefits of blockchain technology not only in the United Kingdom, but across Europe as well.
“Demand for our Web3 smart contracts platform, which enables has accelerated much quicker than we anticipated. Users across multiple spectrums have embraced and validated the SIMBA Chain model, which simplifies development of smart contracts. This partnership will also allow us to tap into the local tech talent we need to support the company’s rapid growth.”
Cardiff University professor Dr. Ian Taylor, who is recognised among the world’s top blockchain influencers, is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of SIMBA Chain. He said:
“It is an honour to create opportunities in Wales for those who have a passion for blockchain technology, which is the future of digital information security and value creation and the source of exciting careers.
“SIMBA Chain is literally changing the world by making this highly complex technology easy to use and apply across all major blockchain platforms. Being born in Wales, I am so proud to see our company establish an entity in Wales and help support a new vibrant tech savvy Welsh economy.”
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Goodness knows Cymru needs these kinds of ‘high end’ tech jobs, but really, the US military? Surely the Welsh Government can do better than invest in the American war machine?
It almost makes me want to back tourism, rather than this kind of thing.
Not the best week to be singing the praises of the US war machine…
Complaining about links to the US defence industry on the internet is hilariously ironic. Check out DARPA and Arpanet.
If you donated to earthquake relief in Haiti it is probably being delivered right now by the “UK war machine”. Life is complex and this is Blockchain not direct US military.
Very much agree. The only people who have benefited from 20 years of Afghan wars are the armaments industry. Who are golding their annual fair to show of new killing gadgets next month.
Do we want this innovative company or do we not want this imperialist firm? I am sure some of your readers will be able to tell me,indeed I am surprised that I do not have firm views on this question,
So Welsh Gov is paying £737,000 to get 23 new jobs. That’s £28,346 per job. I suppose that’s low pay for skilled programmers so yes the third party is necessary.
They’re being funded from the bottomless treasure-chest of the US military, but still need a £737,000 ‘gift’ from the taxpayers of Cymru? Will it be paid back with massive interest when they sell their technology to the Saudis?
That £737,000 could have been invested in local small businesses to help them expand. But, as usual, WG prefer to spaff our cash on bribing foreign ‘investors’.