New cash injection for Wales’ bid to be world tech pioneer
AMBITIOUS plans to make Wales home to a world first in hi-tech innovation that could help create 5,000 jobs by 2025 have received a major boost today.
A £10m investment has been secured in a bid to help create the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales.
Compound semiconductors are essential components inside many of the devices changing the way we live, such as Wifi, smartphones, GPS, satellite communications and more efficient LEDs.
The funding award will put a partnership between four universities, including Cardiff University, plus 27 companies and organisations, including Cardiff-based IQE, at the forefront of research into the fastdeveloping technology.
The total, global semiconductor market (compound semiconductors and silicon) is worth around $350bn a year and growing at 10-15% every year.
The hub’s goal is to also grow longterm future links with UK and international companies and academics.
Director Professor Peter Smowton said: “We are open to interactions with new partner companies and universities.”
Julie James, Minister for Skills and Science, praised the scheme, saying: “The hub will shine a global spotlight on Wales.”
AMBITIOUS plans to create the world’s first compound semiconductor (CS) cluster, which could create 5,000 jobs, in South Wales has been boosted by a £10m investment.
The £10m funding award from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will see Cardiff University at the forefront of research into compound semiconductor technologies.
The EPSRC manufacturing hub in future compound semiconductors will work closely with the Compound Semiconductor Centre (CSC) – a partnership between Cardiff and global advanced semiconductor wafer manufacturer IQE.
The university will lead the hub with three academic partners: UCL (University College London), the University of Manchester and the University of Sheffield.
A further 26 initial companies and organisations allied to the hub will help Cardiff and Wales capitalise on the £50m CS Applications Catapult announced by Innovate UK in January.
Silicon once supported the information society, but the technology is reaching fundamental limits in the 21st century. Applying CS knowhow to silicon manufacturing techniques will form the central focus for the new venture
Hub director, Professor Peter Smowton, said: “The hub will provide Europe-leading facilities that will translate research into largescale CS growth and device fabrication.
“Many advances in our daily lives depend upon CS technology.
“The new hub will allow Cardiff and its partner universities and companies to continue to develop technology that enables emerging trends, such as self-drive vehicles and 5G communications.”
The hub’s goal is to grow long-term future partnerships with UK and international companies and academics.
Drew Nelson, chief executive of Cardiff-headquartered IQE, said: “IQE produced CS materials for 10 billion wireless chips last year, underpinning the worldwide mobile communications industry.
“The hub will allow us to exploit the highly advantageous electronic, magnetic, optical and power handling properties of compound semiconductors while utilising the cost and scaling advantage of silicon technology where it fits best.”
Prof Smowton added: “We are open to interactions with new partner companies and universities, and we can provide opportunities through feasibility project funding calls to kick-start future partnerships with the power to change the way we live.”
Julie James, Minister for Skills and Science, said: “The hub will shine a global spotlight on Wales and is an exemplar of how the Welsh Government’s Smart approach to innovation will benefit the people and businesses of Wales.”
The hub is one of six to be funded – £60m in total – by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.