Join students, academic staff and professionals to consider trends in innovation practice within the field of technology and science.
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and the Royal Society of Arts, which promotes arts, manufactures, and commerce through innovation and social change, are hosting the second in a new Innovation Lecture Series for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Industry Speaker: Ben Altwasser – Head of Research & Technology, Safran S.A. (Cwmbran)
Ben Altwasser leads Research & Technology at Safran Seats, driving innovation in aircraft seating. A First-Class MEng graduate from Bristol, he has contributed to advancements across aerospace, medical, and manufacturing sectors, including 3D printing and robotics. At Safran, he oversees technology strategy, expert team development, and multimillion-pound R&D portfolios.
Academic Speaker: Dr Andrew Killen Senior Research & Innovation Fellow, University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Andrew is a Fellow at the Wales Institute of Science and Art, with an MEng and EngD. He leads interdisciplinary industrial research in mechanical design, materials characterisation, and digital manufacturing. His work promotes sustainable design, circular-economy materials, and Industry 4.0 innovation, As a lead academic Andrew is also actively involved in the Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme.
This quarterly series brings together thought leaders, academics, and industry experts to explore the role of innovation across diverse sectors, with all events taking place in Swansea and live-streamed for wider audiences.
The series will focus on the following themes:
Current theme:
Upcoming themes:
Past theme:
Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. Each lecture will be livestreamed so we will welcome audiences from across Wales as well as in person at our Swansea campus. There will be time for questions and discussion at each one, hosted by Alan Mumby, RSA Fellow and Lecturer in Innovation Management at UWTSD.
About the RSA: Founded in 1754, the RSA has a long history of promoting innovation across arts, manufactures, and commerce. Today, the RSA continues to inspire and support initiatives that foster a resilient, rebalanced, and regenerative future for people, places, and the planet.
Similarly, the university founded in 1882, the birthplace of higher education in Wales, aims to transform education and by doing so transform lives for the benefit of the learners, employers and communities we serve by investing in innovation both academically and through its direct and collaborative support of Welsh organisations and companies.
