Celebrating a week of innovation and global engagement with CSconnected at the forefront
27th June 2025
We’ve had an exciting week here at CSconnected. There’s major developments highlighting the region’s growing influence in advanced technologies and global collaboration.
A landmark step for CCR’s investment zone
The Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) has taken a transformative step forward with the official announcement of its Investment Zone. This joint initiative from the UK and Welsh Governments promises to unlock new opportunities for innovation, infrastructure, and inward investment across South East Wales, with a particular focus on the CSconnected cluster.
As a key stakeholder in the region’s high-tech ecosystem, we welcome this development to further bolster our already thriving community. Commenting in the news Dr Wyn Meredith, Chair of CSconnected said:
“Today’s announcement marks a major milestone in strengthening South Wales’ position as a global leader in compound semiconductor technologies. The Cardiff Capital Region Investment Zone will support the growth of this strategically important sector, accelerating supply chain growth, workforce development programmes, and innovation to produce the products and services of the future. These factors are critical drivers for further job creation, inward investment and remaining globally competitive in this highly competitive global industry.
“This investment is a clear vote of confidence in the talent, capability and ambition of the region. We look forward to working with our partners to ensure that the Investment Zone delivers real, lasting impact, not only for the economy, but for communities and future generations across Cardiff and South Wales.
Strengthening the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem
We also spoke with TechUK to share our views on the national conversation around semiconductors. This published article: “Building a Strong and Resilient Semiconductor Ecosystem in the UK,” outlines the strategic importance of semiconductors to the UK economy and the role of regional clusters like South Wales in driving innovation and supply chain resilience.
Howard Rupprecht, managing director of CSconnected summarised the article with: “Wales offers a model that plays to the UK’s strengths. CSconnected is a cluster that is grounded in collaboration between academia and industry. A skilled, motivated workforce and a community-based economy that drives innovation and real-world results. If we’re serious about futureproofing the UK economy then compound semiconductors must be central to that mission, and Wales must be part of the plan. We are not just making chips here in Wales, we are building the skills, jobs and infrastructure that will keep the UK competitive for decades to come.”
Spotlighting Wales in Washington, D.C.
We were also proud to join our partners from Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government, Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult, and IQE for a congressional staff briefing on Wales’s role as a strategic partner in the global semiconductor supply chain.
We discussed how Wales is a complementary supply chain partner to the United States, what challenges we may face, and how the U.S Congress can support this partnership going forward.
Stay tuned
From regional investment news to national and international strategy conversations, the cluster is positioned to play a central role in shaping our industry in Wales and beyond.
Stay tuned as we build on this momentum and continue driving forward a vision of innovation.
Read more about what’s happening in the CSconnected cluster here.
