Location: South West and Wales
CSconnected is the collective brand for a growing number of advanced semiconductor related activities in Wales, home to a unique community of academic institutions, prototyping facilities and global, high-volume manufacturing capabilities that collaborate across a range of research and innovation programs. CSconnected is uniquely positioned to develop a global advantage in a sovereign, key enabling technology which will allow Wales and the UK to increase trade globally in critical sectors such as 5G communications, autonomous and electric vehicles, advanced medical devices, and consumer electronics of the future.
In 2020, CSconnected received government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund (SIPF). The 55-month CSconnected SIPF project has a total value of £43m, supported by £25m of UK Research and Innovation funds. CSconnected builds on Wales’s regional strengths and integrates research excellence with a unique regional supply chain in compound semiconductor manufacturing.
Key strengths and unique capabilities
- Access to research, development, prototyping and manufacturing of power semiconductor devices, from engineered substrates to packaged devices
- Providing an entry point and coordination of activities for partners for academic, innovation and business engagements
- Informing, advising and signposting investment opportunities
- Outreach, Continuous Professional Development and Training Materials.
CSconnected focuses on four key collaborative research and development (CRD) programmes, namely: next generation optical communications and sensing; large scale GaAs-based wafer manufacturing; novel and efficient CS wafer fabrication tools; and advanced processes for 5G and EAV systems.
Equipment
A range of materials expertise in Si, SiC, GaN and other advanced semiconductor technologies at TRLs 1-3.
High voltage power lab for design, test and prototyping of power electronic applications at TRLs 4-6.
Equipment and processes for manufacture of power semiconductor devices.