Calls to action and opportunities list
Find here the latest opportunities and calls to action for the semiconductor sector.
New Calls and Events
University of South Wales - Partnership Opportunities
USW are looking for partners to invest in the next generation of experts who will be educated in the new state-of-the-art STEM building, Calon, scheduled to open this autumn. It will be home to a wide range of academic programmes and research, ranging from computing and data science to engineering.
Existing Calls and Events
The UK Semiconductor roadmap: Metrology and standards to drive innovation
Join NPL and project partners as we share the UK’s roadmap for metrology and standardisation in semiconductors. IQST, National Physical Laboratory, Mar 4 from 9:30am to 4:30pm GMT
Why Wales? Place-Based Investment and Regional Growth
Cardiff University Innovation Network Event. Hosts: Cardiff University Innovation Network and The Whitehall & Industry Group (WIG). Join us for an important panel discussion on place-based investment and its role in shaping Wales’ economic future. Thursday 5th March 2026, sbarc|spark/hybrid
UK semiconductor sector study workshops: Realising UK opportunities
TechWorks and Perspective Economics have been commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to undertake a major economic study of the UK semiconductor sector. Workshop dates: Monday 23rd February, 14.00 GMT, Friday 27th February, 09.30 GMT, Thursday 5th March, 13.30 GMT
REWIRE Webinar Series – UK Semiconductor Supply Chain Resilience Panel
This webinar will explore research on the different types of supply chain risks and explore strategies for strengthening supply chain resilience in the UK semiconductor industry. Academic, industry and policy experts will discuss recent research in this area and their experiences of this dynamic industry and what we might learn from other similar sectors. Date: Thu, Mar 5, 2026, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CRISP25 - On-Line Innovation Support Meeting
Welsh Government, in conjunction with Innovate UK, Innovate UK-Business Connect and Innovate UK-Business Growth, are holding an Innovation Funding Support Meeting Event to help selected Companies and FE/HE Bodies based in Wales prepare themselves better to run more effective Research & Development Projects. Date: 05 March 2026, 10:00 - 16:45
Horizon Europe 2026-27: European Innovation Ecosystems
Up to €20m per project to connect people and organisations working towards the goal of innovation and supporting the scaling of companies. Closing dates 10 Mar 2026, 22 Sep 2026 or 15 Sep 2027 depending on call
DRIVE35 Innovation Fund: Demonstrate 2
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £33 million for late stage demonstration research and development projects. Projects will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry. Competition closes: Wednesday 11 March 2026 11:00am
Advanced manufacturing supply chain innovation FS
UK registered businesses and research and technology organisations (RTOs) can apply for a share of up to £5 million for feasibility studies. These will make supply chains more resource efficient and resilient through addressing cross cutting challenges. Competition opens: Monday 2 February 2026. Competition closes: Wednesday 11 March 2026 11:00am
Supply Chain Security Assurance of Semiconductor Manufacturing UK | SEMI
Join us for an interactive workshop focused on strengthening cybersecurity across the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain. This session will introduce the Semiconductor Manufacturing Cybersecurity Consortium (SMCC) and its standardized Semiconductor Supplier Cybersecurity Assessment (SSCA) framework, a streamlined approach to improving supply chain security assurance. Location: Computational Foundry, Bay Campus, Swansea University. Date: 12 March 2026, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm GMT
Webinar: Engaging the semiconductor sector with the TechFirst programme
Want to know more about TechFirst? Join this exclusive online webinar to get more detail about the programme, speak to the DSIT team managing the TechGrad strand, and explore how your business can support, and benefit from, access to talent. Date: 17 March 2026, 13:00 - 14:00 (Online)
DRIVE35 Innovation Fund: Collaborate 2
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £33 million for late stage collaborative research and development projects. Your project will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry. Competition closes: Wednesday 18 March 2026 11:00am
TechLocal: Connecting Local Talent to Local Tech Jobs
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £7.6 million to enable career and growth opportunities in the tech sector. This funding is from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Competition closes: Wednesday 18 March 2026 11:00am
Eurostars call for projects – March 2026
Eurostars is a funding instrument that supports innovative SMEs and project partners (large companies, universities, research organisations and other types of organisations) by funding international collaborative R&D and innovation projects.
Pathway into Semiconductors Programme
A 3-day introduction to the industry and its career opportunities in the South Wales region. ‘Pathway into Semiconductors’ is a Programme created to support engineers seeking to transition from sectors such as the armed forces, automotive, aviation, and wider manufacturing into the South Wales compound semiconductor industry, known as the CSconnected cluster. Dates: 24–26 March 2026
Semiconductors and components for smart electronic platforms
UK registered businesses can apply with CR&D or R&D projects for a share of up to £18.5 million to mature and accelerate the availability of components that include semiconductors or novel technologies ready for integration into Smart Electronic Platforms. Competition closes: Wednesday 1 April 2026 11:00am
UK-Germany Collaborative Innovation for Quantum Technologies 2026
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £3 million for innovative projects in quantum. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Competition closes: Wednesday 15 April 2026 11:00am
Help Shape a New Advanced Packaging Conference at CS/PIC/PE International 2026
With growing industry focus on chiplets, heterogeneous integration, and packaging innovation, we want to explore the need for a technical, application-focused event dedicated to this space.
Training Opportunities - Photonic Integrated Circuits Bootcamp
The PIC Bootcamp is an immersive training initiative providing participants with hands-on experience in the design, fabrication, and testing of PICs. This programme is tailored to equip individuals with the technical know-how and practical skills required to excel in the exciting field of Silicon Photonics. Module dates range from 15 January - 19 May 2026
Horizon Europe 2026-27: European Research Infrastructures
Supporting activities for a world leading ecosystem of research services for researchers and innovators in Europe. Calls open from Mar 2026 onwards. 2026 calls close 10 Jun 2026; 2027 calls close 15 Jun 2027
An EPSRC-funded programme that will develop the skills of Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) within the GW4 institutes (Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter Universities). The programme offers tailored training & development opportunities from February 2026 - Summer 2027
Public Engagement Grant Scheme
The Public Engagement Grant Scheme (PEGS) aims to support the IOP Limit Less initiative by funding projects that meaningfully engage whole family groups (including parents/carers) to improve their relationship with physics. Round 1: Applications received between 9 February and 10 May. Round 2: Applications received between 11 May and 7 September.
Horizon Europe 2026-27: Digital, Industry and Space (Cluster 4)
Topics available under Horizon Europe's Cluster 4 programme for 2026-27, with a total budget of €1.5bn. Various closing dates from Mar 2026 to Sep 2027
Horizon Europe 2026-27: Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area
A total budget of €798.5m to upgrade research and innovation systems in less advanced countries within the European area. Various closing dates, 12 Mar 2026 to 18 Nov 2027
Open-ended Calls
EPSRC new investigator award: Nov 2023: responsive mode
The aim of the new investigator awards is to support researchers to develop their own research vision and establish a new research group to explore that vision. Open - no closing date.
Workforce and Skills Initiatives Survey
The UK Semiconductor Centre are building a UK-wide directory of workforce and skills initiatives to make it easier for people to navigate opportunities and pathways into the UK semiconductor industry.
UK Semiconductor Sector Survey 2025
This survey has been designed to inform the 2025 UK Semiconductor Sector Study.
Cardiff University are to be one of the 12 UK research organisations selected to receive UK government funding of £4.35 million. The Global Talent Fund has been launched to attract and support the relocation of outstanding international researchers and research teams to the UK. Funding will cover research, relocation, and visa costs for international researchers and their families. Grants will start in the 2025/26 financial year and run for five years.
Travel support for UK businesses to attend European events in 2025 & 2026
Innovate UK is offering Travel Support of up to £750 for companies to attend Horizon Europe consortia-building events in Europe. This valuable resource enables innovators to form new collaborative partnerships to help businesses grow.
EPSRC standard research grant, Nov 2023: responsive mode
EPSRC particularly welcomes high quality applications where engineering and physical sciences research can generate new knowledge and addresses challenges associated with the advancement, development, and deployment of these technologies: artificial intelligence, engineering biology, future telecommunications, semiconductors, and quantum technologies. No closing date.
pro² is pleased to announce an open funding call for international and industrial residencies (The pro² Residency Scheme). Applications must propose ideas which align with pro² objectives, and awardees can apply for funding under one of three categories.
Advanced materials: highlight notice
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is seeking to support applications through their standard research grant scheme in the following two areas:
- advanced materials solutions for critical minerals
- in-situ and in-operando materials metrology and characterisation
The EIC Accelerator is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to start-ups and SMEs that are looking for substantial funding, have the ambition and commitment to scale up, and have an innovative, game changing product.
The EIC Transition is a funding programme under Horizon Europe targeting innovation activities that goes beyond the experimental proof of principle in laboratory. It supports both the maturation and validation of novel technologies from the lab to the relevant application environments.
EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up Scheme
This scheme is part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), offering financial support in the form of investments to startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps, between EUR 10 to 30 million.
Semiconductor Packaging Survey
This survey is a vital step in helping the UK Government fully understand the strengths and weaknesses of the UK semiconductor packaging sector and identify critical gaps in the supply chain where targeted intervention may be needed.
NPL has launched Measurement for Business (M4B)
Are you a UK company that qualifies for M4B funding? M4B can give you access to NPL's specialist measurement science and engineering experts and facilities, at no charge, to help your business grow.
The Flexible Skills Programme (FSP) is a Welsh Government funded initiative that helps businesses across Wales build a stronger, more skilled workforce. Employers can apply for funding to cover up to 50% of the accredited training costs, with a maximum value of £50,000 per application.
Travel support for UK businesses to attend European events in 2025 & 2026
Innovate UK is offering Travel Support of up to £750 for companies to attend Horizon Europe consortia-building events in Europe.
Pre-announcement: Local Innovation Partnerships Fund
This programme earmarks at least £30 million for each of ten regions across the UK, including one in each of the devolved nations. The programme is designed to support places that have an identifiable innovation ecosystem, with high-potential innovation clusters aligned to national policy priorities.
UK Quantum Skills Taskforce report
The Quantum Skills Taskforce is a sector-wide coalition, including representatives from industry, academia, professional societies, national labs, and government departments and agencies. The Taskforce has considered the current and future skills needs of the sector, and how these needs could be met.
Agile Cymru
Agile Cymru is a scaleable programme of coordinated action, an agile tool to deliver greater economic co-operation at speed, guided by the International Strategy and our economic policies. This includes a flexible grant mechanism to support cross-border and international activity that maximises shared opportunities across themes, sectors, and geographies. Agile Cymru funding can support a wide range of activity; the focus is on the outcome and benefit for Wales.
Made Smarter Innovation Network: Digital & AI in Manufacturing
Made Smarter Innovation has identified AI as a keystone industrial digital technology, strategic to all sectors, and other digital technologies are critical to making AI useful. By filling out this short survey, you will directly contribute to shaping the future of AI and digital technologies within industry.
SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) | Business Wales (gov.wales)
The Welsh Government is building a stronger, fairer, greener country, with an economy based on fair work, sustainability and the sectors of the future. SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) is open to any organisation wishing to engage in Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I), including the third sector, local authorities and health boards. Open ended
Academic-Industry Partnerships In Cardiff Capital Region
Jointly funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) the Academic-Industry Partnerships programme, part of the Cluster Development and Growth Programme, aims to bring together industry and academia to identify innovative solutions to enterprise challenges, particularly amongst micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Open ended
Strategic Innovation Fund: Round 5 Challenges
Innovation Challenge 1: Advanced Energy Transmission and Networks: How can we leverage breakthroughs in semiconductor, superconductor,
and wireless power transmission technologies to enhance grid performance? Projects applying to this challenge should align with and build upon existing UK and international initiatives in advanced energy transmission. Applicants should consider how their innovations complement prior research and industry developments.
The Innovate UK Scaleup Programme: for high potential scaleup businesses
Innovate UK Business Growth’s highly regarded Scaleup Programme provides one-to-one, bespoke and funded support centred around innovative scaleups’ specific needs. It is available to those scaleup companies achieving, or with the potential for, 50% compound annual growth rates (CAGR) and over.
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £150 million to create scale up manufacturing facilities for zero emission vehicle technologies.
Share your news and opportunities with us at comms@csconnected.com