Impact

Leveraging cutting-edge facilities

KLA

New KLA facility underway to include 25,000 sq ft of R&D cleanrooms in Newport, Wales. The new state-of-the-art innovation center and manufacturing facility will include offices, cleanrooms, storage and support facilities and accommodate up to 750 employees. Anticipated completion of the building in early 2025.

Cardiff University

New compound semiconductor fab facility at ICS, Cardiff University dedicated end-to-end processing of wafers. A first-in-class ICS ERDF-funded cleanroom features the capability to trial, establish and scale new and innovative Compound Semiconductor devices to an industrial standard on wafers up to 200mm in diameter.

Swansea University

New centre for integrative semiconductor manufacturing (CISM) at Swansea University, comprising more than 4,000m2 clean room, research and office facilities. The facility offers R&D, prototyping and process development capabilities. It will also offer opportunities for incubation and industry partners to have development space and support and provide access to training and development.

CSconnected Cluster in numbers

2,615

Total Employment

£303M

GVA contribution

£550M

Total sales

Source: Annual Report: Compound Semiconductor Cluster in South Wales (published by the Welsh Economy Research Unit)

R&D Activities

200mm (8”) VCSEL epiwafer

IQE has developed the world's first 200mm (8”) VCSEL epiwafer, supported by CSconnected SIPF

3-J solar cell fabrication process

MicroLink successfully demonstrated 3-J solar cell fabrication process in Wales, supported by CSconnected SIPF

Highlights

Siemens

Siemens establishes Power Electronics Innovation Hub in the UK with the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult.

The partnership between Siemens and CSA Catapult will deliver a series of joint projects and potential future collaborative supply chain programmes with other UK companies. CSA Catapult has a significant track record in bringing together end to end UK supply chains in power electronics.

There will be a dedicated Siemens power electronics innovation hub at CSA Catapult in Newport, Wales, to facilitate engagement with the UK power electronics ecosystem such as universities, Catapults, RTOs, industrial partners, start-ups, and grant funding organisations.

Siemens employees will be based on site at the Catapult, they will host Siemens colleagues from new recruits to sponsored students and PHDs. Siemens and CSA Catapult will jointly work on initiatives with other UK partners to address the skills gaps in power electronics.

Siemens Establishes Power Electronics Innovation Hub In The UK With The Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult

Strengthening Innovation links between SMART Places

Together, CSconnected and SMARTNano NI, two projects part-funded by UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund, represents 4000-5000 high value add manufacturing jobs which deliver a significant contribution to the UK economy.

The two consortiums work closely together to accelerate Northern Ireland and South Wales expertise in the area of advanced semiconductors, nanomaterials and associated manufacturing processes.

Strengthening Innovation links between SMART Places