By 1851, Wales was the world's first industrial nation — the first country where more people worked in industry than agriculture. Swansea smelted one-third of the world's copper. North Wales produced one-third of global roofing slate. Merthyr's ironworks powered the British Empire. We invented the ball bearing, the hydrogen fuel cell, packet switching for the internet, and the eight-hour workday. We gave the world Viagra, radar, and the first mail-order business. Given that legacy, Wales should be among the world's wealthiest nations. It isn't — yet. Cymru Compass exists to help every Welsh business get found, because the next chapter of Welsh innovation starts with the businesses we have today.

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Packet Switching

Donald Davies built it in Wales — the technology that makes the internet work.

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Ball Bearing

Philip Vaughan, 1794.

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Sir William Grove, 1842.

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First Passenger Railway

Mumbles Railway, 1807.

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Mail-Order Business

Pryce Pryce-Jones, Newtown, 1861.

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Copper Capital

Swansea smelted one-third of the world's copper.

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Slate Capital

North Wales roofed the world — now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Eight-Hour Day

Robert Owen from Newtown pioneered the cooperative movement.

41,000+ Welsh businesses are listed here. The next great Welsh innovation could be one of them.

Welsh Resources & Local Councils

Useful links for businesses and communities across Wales

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More businesses in Monmouth

Wales Changed the World

Packet Switching

Ball Bearing

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

First Passenger Railway

Mail-Order Business

Copper Capital

Slate Capital

Eight-Hour Day

Welsh Resources & Local Councils

Welsh Government

South Wales Councils

West & Mid Wales Councils

North Wales Councils

Welsh Organisations

Welsh Language Resources