£43M UK project to focus on skills
CSconnected 'Strength in Places Fund' project will focus on professional development and the coordination of education and outreach to strengthen South Wales compound semiconductor cluster
A £43 million 55-month project from the UK's CSconnected Strength in Places Fund (SIPF), will focus on the skills needed to strengthen an emerging regional cluster in South Wales around advanced semiconductor materials, research and manufacturing.
Part-funded through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship, the project will focus on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and in the coordination of education and outreach initiatives. Both are essential to help overcome the skills barriers that are currently limiting the growth of the CS cluster.
An aim is for CPD activities to reach more than 1,000 semiconductor professionals by 2025, including employees from supply chain organisations.
CPD is about improving the skills of existing employees, and professionals from related sectors (potentially those made redundant) and providing new skills in latest research and technology developments. It also supports outreach and engagement initiatives through activities to teachers, careers advisors and youth influencers.
The CPD topics being developed in the first half of 2022 include: Introduction to Compound Semiconductors (with content also covering semiconductors and photonics); Cleanroom Protocols; Practical Cleanroom Skills (semiconductor manufacturing technologies in etching, wafer cleaving and wire bonding).
A report called 'Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scoping report - CSconnected Strength in Places Fund' was published in November 2021 by Cardiff University's CPD unit after consultations with the CSconnected industry partners.
