UKRPIF making £30m investment in new Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials at Swansea University

At a showcase event in London of the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), Chris Skidmore MP, UK Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, has announced a £30m capital investment for the new Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM), which is to be built at Swansea University’s Bay Campus.

UKRPIF requires double-match funding from non-public sources (i.e. business, charities or philanthropic sources) so CISM will also receive support worth nearly £60m from major South Wales-based semiconductor companies in the CS Connected cluster alongside nine other industry partners, aiming to ensure the center’s sustainability in the long-term.

Eleven projects are being funded through Round 6 of UKRPIF, totalling over £670m of new investment into UK research and innovation. Funding includes £221m of public funding from UKRPIF and over £450m of committed co-investment from businesses, charities and philanthropic donors.

The CISM building, which is expected to be completed in first-half 2021, will be a hub where manufacturing is brought together with R&D. The center aims to pioneer new technologies and products as well as growing and nurturing skills and talent for the UK semiconductor industry.

Swansea University academics will work with partners at Cardiff University in South Wales and other UK universities to support the growth of the semiconductor industry by addressing their needs, not only in the short and medium terms but charting the long-term future with innovative, application-driven R&D. It will also provide a range of services such as prototyping and process development, specialist analytical services, incubation, engagement, training and access to the UK and EU innovation grants portfolio.

The three-story building will house a clean fabrication environment, research laboratories and office facilities and will use sustainable, energy efficient building techniques and renewable energy technology including solar photovoltaics and heat recovery.

“The UK semiconductor industry is growing rapidly and is an emerging jewel-in-the-crown of British manufacturing. This UKRPIF funding will allow Swansea University to play our part in underpinning its continued development – driving innovation, providing capability, expertise and training,” says professor Paul Meredith, Ser Cymru National Research Chair and Swansea University CISM project lead.

The CISM concept was jointly developed by the Swansea University team in collaboration with the regional industry in the CS Connected cluster. Engineers from the partners have helped to design the proposed new facility and bring industrial principles to the new building.

“This investment in CISM will help the compound semiconductor cluster establish breakthrough technologies at the heart of the fourth industrial revolution,” believes Sam Evans, director of external affairs of Newport Wafer Fab, UK’s largest semiconductor campus and a CS Connected partner.

“CISM is a genuine example of industry, universities and multiple levels of government coming together to support economic growth and job creation in an area of significant opportunity,” comments Kevin Crofton, corporate executive VP at Orbotech and president of Newport-based semiconductor equipment maker SPTS Technologies Ltd, who is also chairman of the South Wales-based Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult.

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Tags: Newport Wafer Fab

Visit: www.swansea.ac.uk/campus-development/developing-bay/key-projects-bay/cism

Visit: http://csconnected.com