Tech firms in Torbay are thriving during the coronavirus as global internet demand grows and the clamour for new products increases.
Torbay Hi-tech Cluster said that since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis firms involved in the have seen demand for products grow.
And the need to ship products to global and domestic internet service providers such as BT, Vodafone, and Virgin Media has increased, fuelled by the need for more bandwidth.
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These services and applications use advanced and innovative technology and telecom products designed in Torbay mean established international organisations such as Lumentum, II-VI, Gooch & Housego and Spirent, and new innovative businesses such as Bay Photonics, Davies & Bell and Effect Photonics have flourished.
“Whether to support home-working or download your favourite movie in an instant, tele-shopping or surfing the web, or live gaming with a challenger anywhere in the world, or maybe just a daily video call to a loved one far away, the demand is there,” said Dr Philip Mitchell, vice chair of the Torbay Hi-tech Cluster.
He said Torbay’s heritage of innovation goes back years and includes mathematician Oliver Heaviside, the Singer sewing machine family, STC and Nortel.
Today, the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster provides products and services to a global multi-national community, Dr Mitchell said.
He added: “The past four months have seen significant changes in all our lives, and those working in hi-tech have also had to adapt our ways of working to the new norm.
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“Torbay, like our neighbouring cities of Plymouth and Exeter, has a well-established and diverse hi-tech cluster. There are many international companies with a presence here in Torbay, utilising ingenuity, advanced technologies and processes to develop world-leading, state of the art products.
“The companies use a multitude of technologies and expertise including; micro-electronics, opto-electronics or photonics, micro-positioning, radio, satellite, medical and life sciences, computer software, and internet security consultants.
“There are many other companies involved in specialist areas of complementary skills such as professional talent acquisition and finance, which tie all these diverse yet amazing specialist areas of technology harmoniously together.”
He said that during the past four months, many companies have implemented tele-working from home, and safe distance practices when in the office.
“It’s not been easy trying to safeguard an office with many tens or even hundreds of employees,” he said. “Many companies have now distributed face masks to all employees, a new ritual of body temperature measurement and alcoholic hand washing on arrival is mandatory, communal eating areas are out, and a one-way system around the office setup. Hand shaking is certainly is a ‘no-no’ even with the most admired colleague or visitor.
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But he stressed the crisis, along with the global advancement in internet and communications technology, with some of it designed in Torbay, has enabled “a new way of engaging with the world”.
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“Tele-working, webinars and tele-conferences are now considered normal practice,” he said. “That will continue even when the pandemic is finally over, so maybe the need to commute each day or move to another city will come to an end, or at least less often.
“Certainly good for the environment, quality of life and more career opportunities for those who live in Torbay.
Torbay Hi-Tech Clusters is composed of firms supported by academic partners including South Devon College and regional universities, local government too, Torbay Development Agency, and the Electronics and Photonics Innovation Centre (EPIC) in Paignton.
Torbay has been identified as a Westminster parliamentary constituency containing photonics and hi-tech industries.