UK's CSconnected strengthens innovation links
First steps to forging links between Northern Ireland and South Wales for advanced semiconductors and nanomaterials
CSconnected, the South Wales Compound Semiconductor Cluster, is strengthening links with the SMARTNano Northern Ireland (NI) Cluster and the Strength in Places Fund Programme Team.
This follows a meeting hosted by Paul Meredith at the new £50M Centre for Integrated Semiconductor Materials at Swansea University, attended by Mark Gubbins from SMARTNano NI.
Wyn Meredith, chair of CSconnected, commented: "Collectively CSconnected and SMARTNano NI represents 4000-5000 high value add manufacturing jobs which deliver a significant contribution to the UK economy, and both Clusters are globally recognised for delivering cutting edge research, innovation and manufacturing. This is the first step in forging closer links between the Northern Ireland and South Wales in the area of advanced semiconductors, nanomaterials and associated manufacturing processes."
Mark Gubbins said: "UKRI has made an investment of >£65M to accelerate economic growth in these Clusters and we have a lot to learn from each other in complimentary areas of research, skills development and manufacturing scale up. We are particularly keen to act as a single voice to UK government to stress the importance of supporting compound semiconductors and associated nanomaterials in the recently announced UK Semiconductor strategy."
The UKRI administered (£316M) Strength in Places Fund helps areas of the UK build on existing strengths in research and innovation to deliver benefits for their local economy. Projects focus on a self-defined area anywhere in the UK, not limited by nations or regions, with a defined critical mass of expertise, infrastructure and capability.
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