Semiconductor firm IQE partners Cardiff University on creation of semiconductor sector.
Cardiff University is collaborating with semiconductor firm IQE on a new semiconductor centre which the two estimate could lead to the creation of 5,000 jobs in the area.
The Compound Semiconductor Centre (CSC) will aim to commercialise the next generation of compound semiconductor technologies, and has £12m ($18m) contributed from both Cardiff and IQE to develop hardware, infrastructure, and to support licensing intellectual property.
As part of the collaboration, IQE will also be working closely with Cardiff’s new £40m Institute of Compound Semiconductors.
Drew Nelson, chief executive of IQE, said: “One of the big problems in the UK today, in terms of advanced technologies, is that a great deal of investment has gone into early stage research that so often goes on to be developed elsewhere. We frequently fail to take the steps needed to commercialise the research and development activities through innovation and manufacturing.
“This is why we are looking to create the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster, and having Cardiff University and the UK academic infrastructure in place creates a very strong basis to enable this cluster to be formed.”
