UK Semiconductor Infrastructure Initiative (2023)

As part of the government’s forthcoming National Semiconductor Strategy, 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 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 IP
An institutional framework that would provide strategic coordination for the sector

IfM Engage is leading this tender, forming the IfM Engage Consortium which is acting independently based on the Tender brief.

Members of the Consortium include Cambridge Econometrics, Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult, Future Horizons, Imperial College London, Photonics Leadership Group, Semiwise, Silicon Catalyst, TechnWorks and University of Leeds.

Project Timeline

Download an overview of the timeline

Resources

UK Semiconductor Conference 2023 Presentation (pdf)

West Site (Electrical EngineeringPresentations across the UK

Data has been analysed and validated from a series of workshops, and we will be delivering a series of presentations on the emerging findings in locations around the UK: Northern Ireland, Scotland, the North East, Bristol, South Wales and Cambridge. These engagements aim to:

Present and discuss the current outputs from the work so far
Discuss the emerging potential interventions
Confirm the identified barriers and how those interventions can help address those
Where possible, discuss with current infrastructure providers on the existing infrastructure utilised and where the gaps are (if any).

The information gathered will showcase significant fields of interest, including the infrastructure, equipment, knowledge, market accessibility, and supply chains that are available in the UK. It will also pinpoint the competitive edge that the UK must cultivate in these areas, as well as the barriers and difficulties that could impede the development of these advantages.

There are six events planned across the UK:

Bristol – Bristol Digital Futures Institute (BDFI) at 65 Avon Street, Bristol BS2 0PZ. This is a short 9 min walk from Bristol Temple Meads train station. Timing – 11.30am to 2.00pm, the workshop will be 2 hours and followed by a light lunch.

Cambridge – 31 October, Electrical Engineering Department, 10am

COMPLETED:

South Wales: COMPLETED
26 September

Northern Ireland: COMPLETED
5 October

North East: COMPLETED
11 October

Scotland: COMPLETED
17-18th October

These events are free and open to all stakeholders interested in the outcomes of the semiconductor sector study, including semiconductor companies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), academic institutions and other end users of chips in dependent sectors critical to the future UK economy, such as automotive, AI, telecoms, and quantum.

Please email Dr Nicky Athanassopoulou (naa14@cam.ac.uk) for more information.