Powering a World First Compound Semiconductors Centre of Excellence

CCR is home to CSconnected – the world’s first Compound Semiconductor cluster. Over the last 5 years successive investments through research councils, UKG, Innovate UK, WG and HEIs and businesses have all helped invest c£750M in growing the sector.

In 2017, CCR invested £38M with IQE co-investing £375M in the Newport CS-mega Foundry at Imperial Park which is home to IQE Plc – an AIM listed manufacturer of next generation compound semiconductors. The Foundry, also home to the £50M CSA Catapult, produces wafer chips that are exported the world over and are embedded in all major developing technologies from smart-phones to wearable technology and from advanced energy systems to next generative automotive.

With a £44M additional investment, £25M of which was awarded by the UKG UKRI Strength in Places Fund, CSconnected will build upon foundational investments by:

Developing the front door for inward investment and FDI.
Reinforcing the trade body status of
CSconnected.
Creating the skills and talent supply and continued localisation of supply chains.
Delivery of an open innovation ‘Collaborative Research and Development Programme’.

Proposition

Our power electronics proposition seeks to build upon this foundational capability by creating:

A skills academy for the UK sector through the continued development of the physical cluster at Imperial Park Newport.
A full skills and talent development programme ranging from entry-level apprenticeships through to postdoctural development.
A comprehensive learning, development and training programme for companies within the supply chain with the goal of achieving a 80% usage rate of regional networks.
An international Research and Development partnership with South East Asian and North American Universities and Industrial partners.
An open access lab facility that will enable co-innovation and development and commercialisation of programmes and products developed through the CRD programme.

Requirements

£100m – To advance the creation of a skills academy, talent development programmes, global R&D partnerships and open access lab facilities.
CCR Fiscal Incentives – Via R&D tax credits.
Access to BEIS Analysts & Policy Support Functions – For insight and global market intelligence.
Support from DIT – For a targeted programme of international inward investment.

To find out more contact us at info@cardiffcapitalregion.wales