The world's first compound semiconductor cluster, which is aiming to create thousands of high-skilled jobs in South Wales, has secured a £43.7m funding boost.
It has secured funding from the 海角视频 Government backed Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) through the 海角视频 Research and Innovation.
The cluster, through the CSConnected initiative, already employs 1,500, but aims to create thousands more high-skilled and well-paid jobs in the years ahead.
The project's 12 partners include key anchor companies in IQE, Newport Wafer Fab and SPTS, two universities (lead partner Cardiff University and Swansea University) and several government organisations, including the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult.
The initiative is one of seven chosen to be supported by the 海角视频 Government as part of a broader £400m investment programme announced.
The CSConnected project is based around integrating research excellence with the regional supply chains in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The emerging cluster is also a priority sector for the Cardiff Capital Region and its £1.3bn City Deal. It has also been backed by the Welsh Government.
Compound semiconductors are critical components across a wide range of new technologies.
The aim is to develop a competitive advantage in key enabling technologies which will allow the 海角视频 to increase trade globally in critical sectors such as optical communications, 5G, autonomous and electric vehicles, aerospace, robotics and medical devices.
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The total global semiconductor market (compound semiconductors and silicon) is worth around US$350bn a year and is growing at 10-15% per annum.
The compound semiconductor market is around $30bn, but market analysts see hugh growth potential in new and emerging technologies such as driverless and autonomous vehicles and in healthcare technologies.
As a result analysts forecast that the global market for compound semiconductors is projected to reach $125bn by 2025 and more than $300bn by 2030 — three times the growth rate of silicon.
The cluster was the brainchild Dr Drew Nelson, chief executive of leading manufacturer of advanced semiconducter wafer products IQE, which is headquartered in Cardiff.
The £43m SIPF investment includes four key collaborative research and development projects, one of which will be led by IQE with it playing a key role in the others.
Dr Nelson said: "The 海角视频 has a huge opportunity to put high-tech manufacturing at the heart of its industrial strategy and supercharge economic growth. The 海角视频 leads the world in the design and manufacturing of compound semiconductor wafers.
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"This funding from the 海角视频 Government is welcome and serves as recognition of the potential of the cluster which remains the world's first for compound semiconductors, and will be crucial in helping the 海角视频 to fulfil its technology potential.
"Compound semiconductors are the most advanced semiconductor materials available with a range of unique properties, and will be at the heart of almost every major industrial sector of the 21st century."
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, said: "This announcement will ensure some of our country's most promising R&D projects get the investment they need to take off and thrive.
"Working with the private sector our world-class universities, we're backing new and innovative ideas that will create jobs and boost skills in every part of the 海角视频 for years to come."
Lead author of the SIPF bid application, Dr Wyn Meredith, director of Compound Semiconductor Centre – a joint venture between Cardiff University and IQE – said: “The announcement is fantastic news for Wales and the 海角视频, providing a unique opportunity to harness the excellent research and innovation capabilities in a way that translates into world-class 海角视频 based manufacturing for new and emerging global technology markets.”
Cardiff University is currently building a new centre to innovate CS (compound semiconductor) technologies. The Translational Research Facility will be home to state-of-the-art facilities that will allow academics to work alongside industry to develop, test and manufacture CS devices.
Vice-chancellor of Cardiff University Colin Riordan said: “The Strength in Places funding will help CSconnected bring together combined public and private sector investment to build the CSconnected and wider supply chain, grow new companies and create high value jobs, innovation programmes and investment in skills that can help the region recover its strength after the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, said: "The £44m investment in the Cardiff University led project will boost the incredible research that is already taking place in this field across south-east Wales.
“Investing in this emerging technology will enable us to create a lasting engineering and manufacturing legacy in Wales, generating high-skilled jobs and economic growth as we emerge from the coronavirus emergency.”