A world-class cluster of compound semiconductor (CS) capabilities in South Wales, it is bringing together leading-edge university researchers, high-tech companies and future-focused businesses. This benefits the region by generating jobs, growth, pride and confidence, and boosting the regional economy.
Video credit: UKRI.
On-screen captions and an autogenerated transcript are available on YouTube.
About the project
CSconnected spans and links the entire innovation chain – from blue sky research to market-ready products. The latter have applications in fields as diverse as healthcare, digital communications, energy, clean transport and counter-terrorism.
Alongside a range of government, public and private sector organisations, EPSRC and other UKRI bodies are playing a pivotal role in this initiative, providing support to bridge the gap between academia and industry, as well as fundamental research in a range of application areas.
Impacts of the project
The benefits of EPSRC’s support are wide-ranging. It has enabled the establishment of a Future CS Manufacturing Hub in Cardiff as a key asset for the region, Wales and the UK as a whole. There is now a Centre for Doctoral Training in CS Manufacturing to produce experts with the skills critical to maximising the ability of the cluster and the UK to capture global market share. Swansea University has also been able to acquire essential underpinning industrial-grade equipment such as a new CS growth reactor.
CSconnected is determined to maintain and sharpen its competitive edge in this rapidly growing field, and to build on its status as the world’s first CS cluster. In 2019 the company generated direct turnover of £464 million for the region. With further support from UKRI’s Strength in Places Fund it is set to strengthen the status of South Wales as an important hub for CS and semiconductor innovation.
Paul Meredith, Professor of Materials Physics and Sêr Cymru National Research Chair at Swansea University, said:
The half-billion-pound turnover already achieved by the cluster really is just the beginning.
Find out more
Visit the CSconnected website.
Visit the Future CS Manfacturing Hub website.
Top image: Cardiff Bay, the Pierhead building and National Assembly for Wales. Credit: ChrisHepburn, Getty Images