CSconnected, the world's first compound semiconductor cluster, brought together funders, delivery partners and industry colleagues on Thursday 10 September 2026 to celebrate the outcomes, impact and legacy of its Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) programme, which concluded in May 2026.

The showcase event, held at CS² Imperial Park, Newport, reflected on five years of growth, collaboration and innovation delivered through the UK Research and Innovation-backed programme, which ran from 2021 to 2026 to accelerate high-growth regional clusters through investment in research, advanced manufacturing and skills.

The day saw a series of talks, showcasing the impact of the project; from new innovations, to economic impact and skills outreach.

Findings from CSconnected's Strength in Places Fund Impact Report 2026, published earlier this year, illustrate the scale of the impact that investment has had both for the people of Wales and beyond, including:
• Direct employment increased by 36% to 1,914 jobs
• Total Welsh jobs supported rose by 51% to 3,140
• Total Welsh GVA nearly doubled, reaching £436 million
• Annual sales grew to £531 million

Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said:
"The Strength in Places programme has achieved incredible impact and CSconnected has proved to be an invaluable partner for Welsh Government. The south Wales compound semiconductor cluster is world leading, with unrivalled access to innovation funding, government support and collaborative research programmes providing the foundations to power the technologies of tomorrow, attracting significant investment and creating high-value jobs.”

Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair for Research England commented:
“The UKRI funding from the Strength in Places Fund has seen our ambition of growing and building in Places put into action by CSconnected, who have become a thriving, competitive semiconductor cluster for the UK. Bringing together the strong partnerships and extensive collaboration within the semi-conductor cluster in South Wales has powerfully supported economic productivity, creating over 500 new jobs and over 40 new products. I look forward to CSconnected building on this success as it moves into its next phase of development.”

Howard Rupprecht, Managing Director of CSconnected, said:
“The SIPF programme is the perfect example of what state-funded investment should deliver: skills development, job creation, attraction of inward investment and the benefits this brings to the Welsh and UK economy. We are excited to move into the next stage of our impact with a clear ambition: to grow the cluster revenue to £1billion and deliver 6,000 jobs in the region by 2030.”

As global demand for semiconductors accelerates and geopolitical pressures reshape supply chains, South Wales is a critical component of the UK's long-term industrial strategy. Looking ahead, CSconnected will focus on deepening UK-wide supply chain integration, expanding international partnerships and supporting emerging market opportunities across 6G communications, AI, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

The full SIPF Impact Report 2026 is available to download here.

About CSconnected
CSconnected is the not-for-profit organisation driving the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales. It brings together industry, academia, government and community to build a fully integrated ecosystem spanning world-class research, prototyping and global-scale manufacturing.

The cluster underpins the technologies set to define the next decade, including AI, clean energy, advanced communications and defence. Built on more than a decade of sustained investment, it represents a unique concentration of capability driving a new Welsh industrial revolution.

CSconnected works to accelerate growth, attract inward investment, and turn world-class expertise into long-term industrial and economic value for Wales and the UK—helping power the UK’s industrial future.

Website: csconnected.com 
LinkedIn: CSconnected

For more information contact:
Zoe Fawcett/Adam Gettinby
csconnected@purplefish.agency
0117 9251358