UK Semiconductor Infrastructure Initiative

In May 2023, the UK Government published the National Semiconductor Strategy. Following on from this, the newly formed Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) commissioned a study to understand the technical and economic feasibility of developing specific capabilities to support commercial R&D, grow the UK semiconductor sector and contribute to supply chain resilience.

The study started in March 2023 and will conclude in late December. It will present proposals and inform the business case for a possible government-supported initiative to boost innovation in areas of the semiconductor sector where the UK has, or could gain, strategic advantage. This will aim to reposition the UK as an important player in the global semiconductor industry and help promote growth and resilience across UK industry.

There are five key capabilities under evaluation:

• Silicon prototyping and low volume piloting
• Advanced packaging
• Compound semiconductor open-access foundry
• Access to EDA tools and design IPAn institutional framework to provide strategic coordination for the sector

This independent study is being led by IfM Engage, together with Cambridge Econometrics, Techworks, Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult, Photonics Leadership Group, Silicon Catalyst, Future Horizons, Imperial College London, Semiwise, and the University of Leeds.

Primary research has been conducted through surveys and workshops with industry and academia and interim results presented though a series of regional roundtables, followed by stakeholder discussions.

For more information about the project, or to contact the consortium, please visit:
https://engage.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/uk-semiconductor-infrastructure-initiative-2023/

or email – Dr Nicky Athanassopoulou ([email protected])