The UK Semiconductor Centre (UKSC) has welcomed a new £6.6m investment from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to bolster the UK’s core strengths in semiconductor innovation.
The investment will be used to upgrade critical national infrastructure and facilities across key strategic areas, including compound semiconductors, photonics and advanced packaging.
A total of 12 projects will be funded across all parts of the UK, including the development of the world’s first AI-driven electron beam lithography (ELB) tool.
The new investment builds on the UK government’s existing support for research, training, collaboration and infrastructure, and contributes directly to DSIT’s work to strengthen the UK semiconductor sector as part of the Digital and Technologies sector plan of the Industrial Strategy.
Speaking at a ChipStart UK event today Minister for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan MP said the new investment will ensure that benefits are felt right across the UK ecosystem.
In the past few months, we have provided £6.6m to uplift the research capabilities of Universities and Institutions across the country by improving their infrastructure, and the UK Semiconductor Centre is working to make it easier for companies and other institutions to access that infrastructure, to ensure that as we invest, the benefit spreads out and can be enjoyed by the wider community.
Kanishka Narayan MP, Minister for AI and Online Safety
Of the 12 projects being funded, the largest award has been given to the APRIL AI Hub at Edinburgh University to procure an 8” 200 keV Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) tool, unlocking true nanoscale lithography capabilities and moving towards enabling the world’s first AI-driven EBL nanopatterning tool.
Other recipients include:
- Centre for Secure Information Technologies
- Centre for Heterogeneous Integration of MicroElectronic and Semiconductor Systems (CHIMES) Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC)
- Compound Semiconductor (CS) Manufacturing Hub for a Sustainable Future
- Institute for Compound Semiconductors
- Neuroware Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC)
- National Epitaxy Facility
- REWIRE Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC)
- UK National Ion Beam Centre
- University of Southampton
This is a welcome investment in the UK’s core strengths that will help accelerate innovation. We must ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with global demand, with further future investment needed to build on this foundation. At the UK Semiconductor Centre, we are helping to better align these capabilities across the ecosystem and improve awareness and access to critical infrastructure, so that the benefits can be realised by everyone.
Raj Gawera, Chief Operating Officer, UK Semiconductor Centre
