CSconnected announces final supply chain projects
CSconnected has announced the five successful applicants to the fourth and final funding call of its £1m Supply Chain Development Programme, delivered in partnership with Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) in the UK.
The companies – NetZero Semiconductors, Ammbro Technologies, KuasaSemi, AMF Precision Engineering and Lightricity – span photonics, RF and power technologies for advanced manufacturing, semiconductor process development and space applications.
The programme provides grants of up to £100k to help strengthen the compound semiconductor supply chain in South Wales by supporting capability and capacity development, increasing productivity, competitiveness and creating new commercial opportunities.
Hazel Hung, business development manager at CSconnected, said that the projects demonstrate the "breadth of specialised expertise and capability within the UK's compound semiconductor supply chain and the value of connecting South Wales with complementary capabilities from across the UK. These investments will strengthen regional supply chains, create new commercial opportunities and reinforce South Wales' position as a globally competitive location for compound semiconductor innovation. "
NetZero Semiconductors – TiFLiNS (Development of a South Wales Thin Film Lithium Niobate Supply Chain)
“The project will establish an initial manufacturing process using proprietary bonding techniques to deliver a range of Thin Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) wafer solutions that will provide a technology platform to enable Photonic Integrated Circuit solutions for applications in AI connectivity, hyperscale datacentre infrastructure and Quantum technologies.”
Ammbro Technologies – 200mm Electrochemical Etch Tool
“In collaboration with Swansea University, Ammbro Technologies Ltd plan to install a custom 200mm electrochemical etch tool within the £50M Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM). The ability to modify silicon and compound semiconductor wafers via electrochemical etching will support innovation and market differentiation within the South Wales Semiconductor Cluster.”
KuasaSemi – SPRINT (Small-signal Power & RF Analysis in TCAD)
“This project will add validated small-signal analysis to KuasaSemi’s Aquarius TCAD platform, using sinusoidal steady-state analysis, supporting both RF and power semiconductor devices. The capability enables physics-based extraction of RF parameters; bias-dependent capacitances and gate charge for GaN and SiC devices, thus strengthening the South Wales compound semiconductor supply chain.”
AMF Precision Engineering – UHV Precision Cleaning Capability Enhancement
“This project will enhance AMF Precision Engineering's specialist cleaning capabilities to meet the demands of evolving and next generation semiconductor products. Through investment in advanced cleaning and inspection equipment, the project will establish an Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) process capability to benefit the CSconnected cluster and the wider UK semiconductor supply chain.”
Lightricity – Automated Assembly and Encapsulation of Space Solar Cells
“This project will drive UK space solar cell production, increasing compound semiconductor epiwafer manufacture within the cluster. Lightricity will develop and implement automated post-processing cell assembly, addressing customer capability gaps. This will increase throughput and reduce costs for more attractive commercial offerings in a very supply-constrained space solar market.”
The completion of Call 4 marks the conclusion of the £1 million Supply Chain Development Programme. Across four funding calls, the programme supports 11 projects focused on developing capabilities and capacity across the compound semiconductor ecosystem.
