14th December 2022
The Welsh Government and CSconnected welcome delegates at Semicon Japan, the premier event that brings together the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain, on 14-16 January in Tokyo, Japan.
CSconnected also joined the Welsh Government and SiC Alliance for a briefing seminar and evening reception at the British Embassy in Tokyo. Following an opening address by George Freeman MP, the UK government’s Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, the seminar included presentations by the SiC Alliance (Japan), the Welsh Government, CSconnected and Swansea University.
Chris Meadows, speaking at the seminar event
The UK and Welsh Governments have identified compound semiconductors has a particular growth area, which are crucial to expanding sectors such as electric vehicles and sustainable energy. Global adoption of EVs is driving an increased demand for high-power, energy-efficient compound semiconductors, such as silicon carbide (SiC)-based components, throughout the entire assembly process.
Welsh Government Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said:
“We are immensely proud of the world-leading compound semiconductor ecosystem we helped foster here in Wales. It is a high potential network translating state-of-the-art research and innovation capabilities into world-class Welsh manufacturing for new and emerging global technology markets.”
George Freeman, MP, the UK government’s Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, welcomed the event and noted the importance of a secure supply of semiconductors to both the UK and Japan as technology leaders. Minister Freeman spoke of his visit to the South Wales compound semicconductor corridor - one of only five such clusters in the world - and said:
"CSconnected is one of the world's few global centres of excellence for compound semiconductors with a unique ecosystem which is leading the way in applied research, advanced manufacturing, applications development and collaborative industrial innovation."
"Compound semiconductors are set to transform the speed and energy efficiency of data transmission with transformational impacts on our digital economy and achieving Net Zero".
Minister Freeman also said:
"The UK government will soon publish our own semiconductor industrial strategy, setting out our approach to growing our semiconductor capability in a sector that is expected to grow from £70bn to $350bn by 2030. Deepening our collaboration with industrial partners across the world, particularly here in Japan, could not be more important. Because, when we build stronger semiconductors sectors, we are building stronger economies, delivering security, prosperity and opportunity across each of our islands in the century to come."
About CSconnected
CSconnected is the collective brand for a growing number of advanced semiconductor related activities in Wales, home to a unique community of academic institutions, prototyping facilities and global, high-volume manufacturing capabilities that collaborate across a range of research and innovation programs. CSconnected is uniquely positioned to develop a global advantage in a sovereign, key enabling technology which will allow Wales and the UK to increase trade globally in critical sectors such as 5G communications, autonomous and electric vehicles, advanced medical devices, and consumer electronics of the future.
In 2020, CSconnected received government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund (SIPF). The 55-month CSconnected SIPF project has a total value of £43million, supported by £25million of UKRI funds. It builds on Wales's regional strengths and integrates research excellence with a unique regional supply chain in compound semiconductor manufacturing.
More info at csconnected.com.
