Project

CSconnected are deploying a £1M investment programme with Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) to drive the expansion of the semiconductor supply chain in South Wales, to boost jobs creation and GVA growth in Wales and the UK.

This is the second call since the programme was launched in March 2025 and is relevant to UK-based buyers and suppliers to the Compound Semiconductor (CS) sector in South Wales, including:

• advanced manufacturing services
• advanced mechanical and electronic engineering products/services
• industrial gases/chemical suppliers
• raw material and equipment suppliers
• specialist compound semiconductor design tools and software
• fabless compound semiconductor companies
• end-market system integrators such as in automotive, communications, aerospace, medical sectors

Key Points:

• The programme will support projects of up to £100,000 in grant value with a maximum intervention rate of 50%. 
• Micro companies (fewer than 10 employees) may lead projects at a 70% intervention rate at a capped grant of £30,000 in grant value. 
• Micro companies may use a hybrid approach of 70% for the first £30k and 50% up to a maximum £100k grant value.
• Grants will be awarded as Minimum Financial Assistance (MFA) subsidies of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.
• Projects must be led by a UK registered limited company of any size.
• Companies are permitted to submit up to 3 proposals.
• Being located in South Wales in NOT a prerequisite, however there must be clear links and benefits to the CCR region.
• Projects cannot be led by a Primary Cluster Organisation.
• Projects should be between 6 to 12 months in duration.
• Recipients are paid quarterly in advance.

The Programme will not fund:

• General business development.
• Research and development projects perceived as low TRL.
• Projects where substantial/significant project costs are allocated to a PCO as a subcontractor, e.g. device fabrication runs, epitaxial growth campaigns, other intensive fabrication costs.
• Scoping activities in order to identify/justify project feasibility, e.g. market analysis, business engagement, technical review.
• Projects that do not bring economic impacts to the CCR region.
• Projects that are not supported by a PCO.
• Projects that do not address ALL the scope and eligibility criteria.

Closing Date: Fri 15 Aug 2025 at 4pm.

Full details of the call are in the Guidance Document.

Applicants should submit the Application Form along with any supporting documents to hazelhung@csconnected.com by the closing date.

For further discussion, please contact Hazel Hung. Business Development Manager at CSconnected (hazelhung@csconnected.com).