Critically, a small nation cannot have strength in depth right across the board. We can, however, point to clusters of technology in Wales that lead their field. The south Wales compound semi-conductor cluster is one. Combining industrial excellence and world-leading research, this cluster delivers the components that make our modern world work.

Today, I confirm our clear ambition for Wales to grow another technology cluster, while also tackling a fast-approaching challenge for medical treatment around the world. This concerns the continued production of medical radioisotopes, critical to cancer diagnosis and treatment. The equipment in facilities making these lifesaving radioactive substances is coming to the end of its useful life and being closed down. Without action, we face a real prospect in the medium-term future of not having medical radioisotopes, or the ethical nightmare of having to ration them.

The vision that we have is the creation of a critical mass of nuclear science—research, development, and innovation. Not only can Wales become the leading place in the UK for medical radioisotope production, but, with this, we can attract higher skilled jobs; create a surrounding infrastructure; support local communities; and build localised supply chains. Employment from delivering this project would cover a variety of skills and occupations: drivers, operations, production, technical staff, office staff, research scientists and engineers. It could provide well-paid, sustainable and attractive employment during both construction and operation.

As with our compound semi-conductor cluster, Sêr Cymru has already pump-primed the process, through funding a nuclear technology research chair at Bangor University’s Nuclear Futures Institute. This, and a past legacy of working with nuclear energy technologies, show north Wales as the most suitable place to develop such a cluster. Complementary research, industry expertise and activity in Wales and the wider UK will contribute and play their part in creating this new cluster.

Our initial aim is to secure the supply of medical radioisotopes for Wales and the UK through an advanced radioisotopes technology for health utility reactor, which I will now refer to as ARTHUR. The pilot project ARTHUR contributes to several aspects of the current programme for government. It reflects our commitment to build our research, development and innovation capacity in health and life sciences, while ensuring that Wales is a full partner in delivering the UK's 'Life Sciences Vision'.

This will be a major Wales and UK-wide strategic initiative. It will develop a sustainable supply of medical radioisotopes for diagnostics and treatments. Together with the north Wales medical school development, it will help to stimulate the wider north Wales economy. This represents a major collaborative development between the department for health and social sciences and the economy department within the Welsh Government. The potential from a new medical school, aligned with project ARTHUR and other health technologies, represents the best regional solution to a sustainable and secure radio-diagnostic and radio-medicines capability in north Wales.

More than that, NHS Wales and partner NHS services in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be key customers and stakeholders. To succeed, we must secure funding from different sources to create a public sector national laboratory for the supply and use of medical radioisotopes. We have all seen the consequences of supply interruptions through recent experiences, such as the temporary loss of isotopes from Cardiff University's PET imaging centre. This impacted diagnostic scans for several diseases, especially cancers. This demonstrates just how significant an impact a more general loss of supply would have on patient outcomes.

Project ARTHUR would be a multidecade endeavour, a commitment of some 60 to 70 years. Jobs created, both direct and in the associated supply chain, would be long-term and sustainable. Our facility, up and running, would then be one of only half a dozen across the world. And looking locally, successfully delivering project ARTHUR would help to sustain and improve the economy, especially in north-west Wales, an area, of course, with a long history of employment in the nuclear industry.

The ARTHUR vision includes creating a technology campus in north Wales to parallel other UK campuses with a nuclear element. These include Harwell, which is the Rutherford Appleton laboratory, and Culham, the UK Atomic Energy Authority in Oxfordshire, and at Daresbury in Cheshire.

The research component of ARTHUR would not confine itself to health research alone, but could also inquire into materials research for application in both fusion—that's fusing hydrogen isotopes—and fission energy, which is the conventional nuclear energy. This research could help to deliver reliable, sustainable and affordable low-carbon energy, and improved nuclear technologies with less waste and environmental impact and with greater efficiency.

The scale of achievement needed to deliver this is considerable. I will continue to make the case with the UK Government to co-operate in supporting our efforts. This development benefits and supports future cancer diagnostics and treatments right across the UK. I have raised the issue with a number of UK Government science Ministers, and my officials maintain a constructive dialogue with UK Government counterparts. The challenge of medical radioisotope supply and the opportunity of a research reactor is well recognised. Now is the time for some decisive action and commitment. The implications of not acting will be counted in poorer patient outcomes that could have been avoided, and a lost economic opportunity.

As everyone knows, we are now experiencing significant economic pressures, but that is not a reason or an excuse for failing to plan for this clear future need. We must prevent a future health and economic crisis. I have therefore approved expenditure for a technical feasibility study and the development of an outline business plan. This plan will build on the technical work already undertaken in the earlier strategic outline business plan.

Our ambition is to provide a paramount technology cluster in north Wales. It would offer significant opportunity in a vital technology and substantial collaborative opportunities with like-minded countries, including Australia and Canada. This could clearly become a global centre of excellence and a source of pride for Wales and the wider UK for decades to come. I hope that we can generate cross-party and cross-Government support to do just that.