UK CSA Catapult celebrates success
Annual report describes progress in bringing next generation compound semiconductor technologies to market
The UK's Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult has published its annual report over the financial year 2022–23.
The report highlights progress in the Catapult’s two focus areas — Net Zero and Future Telecoms — and describes how it has helped industry bring next generation compound semiconductor technologies to market.
A significant milestone for the Catapult was regional expansion to support clusters of compound semiconductor excellence across the country.
With the support of Innovate UK, CSA Catapult opened a Future Telecoms Hub in Bristol and offices in the North East of England and Scotland.
The report highlights the significant impact the Catapult had on SMEs in the financial year. New data shows that, on average, since engaging with the Catapult, companies leveraged annual private investment of £85m and secured £26.5m of annual public sector investment.
This was compared to a counterfactual group who, on average, raised £46m annually from the private sector and relied on £10m of public sector investments.
A survey of CSA Catapult customers also revealed that 100 percent would work with the Catapult again and 89 percent would not have been able to progress with their product development if they hadn’t worked with the Catapult.
CSA Catapult has won £18.6m worth of collaborative R&D projects to date and has been involved in more than 200 industrial collaborations. The Catapult has also been involved in more than 50 academic collaborations and has created 10 international partnerships. A total of 2,827 jobs have been created or safeguarded within organisations that have worked with CSA Catapult to date.
The report also highlights the initiation of a strategic partnership with Siemens, the first of a kind for both companies in the UK, to accelerate the development of leading-edge power electronics capability.
In the financial year, the Catapult also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cardiff University, which was announced shortly after a landmark breakthrough in which AI was proven to be extremely effective at designing and modelling power electronic converters.
In partnership with UK Electronic Skills Foundation (UKESF), CSA Catapult secured an Innovate UK-funded skills program, Spark their Imagination; power their future, for schools and colleges in Wales which will roll out in 2024.
CSA Catapult was also recognised as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the second year in row and cemented its continuous commitment to ED&I by signing the cross-Catapult ED&I Charter in March 2022.
Martin McHugh, CEO at CSA Catapult said: “Our story this year is one of expansion to underpin the growing success of the UK compound semiconductor sector and build for its promising future, with support and collaboration from government, industry and academia.
“We have continued to deliver at pace against our four strategic areas: our technology centre of excellence, developing supply chains and skills, supporting UK clusters, and growing our own commercial income.
“As we continue to work towards the UK becoming a global leader in developing and commercialising new applications for compound semiconductors, I must acknowledge the continued passion and commitment of everyone at CSA Catapult and look forward to more success in the future.”
