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.

More information

For any question relating to this project, please contact Dr Nicky Athanassopoulou (naa14@cam.ac.uk).

Resources

Webinar: Strategies for managing large stakeholder groups

In this webinar, Nicky Athanassopoulou highlights the techniques used in this project and how they managed a large number of stakeholders to bring consensus.

Guest blog with Tech UK

Building a competitive and sustainable semiconductor sector in the UK: challenges and opportunities