Leading British businesses, engineers and experts will come together in a new national innovation centre in Wales focussed on compound semiconductors, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced 7 January 2016 bringing vital investment and jobs to the area.
On a visit to Cardiff University ahead of a major speech on the UK and Welsh economies, Mr. Osborne announced further plans to put science and innovation at the heart of economic growth with the creation of a new "Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult", funded by £10 million per year of government investment up to 2020-21.
The new catapult will be based in Wales, with the specific location and founding members to be confirmed in due course. Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne said: "Backing cutting edge science and innovation is at the heart of our long term plan to support Welsh people at every stage of their lives. That is why I am today announcing £50 million of new funding for a national semiconductor innovation centre, to bring together leading scientists and businesses to one hub in Wales."
The UK’s KTN supported the consultation process and ensured UK Photonics community participation in the process. Photonics areas that will benefit from this are semiconductor emitters and modulators amongst others.
Catapult centres were launched in 2011, bringing together business with researchers with the aim of helping start-ups bring ideas to market that might otherwise struggle because of a lack of funding, expertise or facilities.
There are nine other Catapults centres up and running in the UK with total public and private investment exceeding £1.6 billion over their first five years of operation. The catapult will be subject to relevant approval.
More information can be found https://www.gov.uk/government/news/50-million-for-innovation-centre-in-wales-pledged-by-chancellor