The spring bulletin always provides me with an opportunity to put before you our plans for the forthcoming year. It is at this time that we prepare our business plan and highlight the important areas for our future programme. We believe that the format we have adopted over the last twelve months for our bulletin is still very appropriate.

Once again, therefore, we will be focussing on the metals processing, non-metallic materials including polymers and composites, sustainable materials and research of interest to members at Universities and Centres of Excellence. However, your steering committee think that many of our members would also appreciate information on how they can fund projects and promote their technology.Therefore starting with this quarterly bulletin, one of the publications each year will focus on funding opportunities.Thus inside you will find high profile case studies from Smart Cymru, Innovation Credit Programme for Wales, Help Wales and the Technology Exploitation Programme.

In addition to the bulletin the business plan covers the continued evolution of our website where you will find details from member companies and a members only section containing up-to-date information of interest. One thing we would encourage with our website is for members to use it regularly as a means of communication with your steering committee and other MTFW members working in your field. Do not be afraid to pose relevant questions or to voice your opinions on the activities of the MTFW.We wish to grow in strength in order that we can provide an even better service for you.

We can only do this if we have your views presented to us.

Another important issue at this time of the year is the annual prestigious event. This year, we have a sustainable materials theme in relation to architectural design. The main speakers at the event are Graham Phillips who is Chief Executive for the Foster Group and Professor Richard Weston from the School of Architecture at Cardiff.The event will be held at the the Museum of Welsh Life, St. Fagans where we will have the opportunity of also viewing the House for the Future. This is an exciting event that will be of interest to materials people, designers and architects alike. I look forward to meeting you on May 14th when this event is being held.

Finally, we are currently putting together an interesting programme of seminars and workshops for the forthcoming twelve months. One of our intentions in this programme is to work more closely with some of the other Fora sponsored by the WDA.After all, materials are a central requirement in many businesses, industries and other walks of life.