News: Suppliers
12 April 2024
CSA Catapult issues annual report for 2022–23
Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult has issued its annual report for the financial year 2022–23, highlighting progress in its two focus areas — Net Zero and Future Telecoms — and describing how it has helped industry to bring next-generation compound semiconductor technologies to market.
Established in 2018 by UK Government agency Innovate UK (which provides funding and support for business innovation as part of UK Research and Innovation), CSA Catapult is a centre of excellence with equipment that specializes in the measurement, characterization, integration and validation of compound semiconductor technology across four areas: power electronics, advanced packaging, radio frequency (RF) and microwave, and photonics. As a not-for-profit organization, it is focused on accelerating the adoption of compound semiconductors. It works across the UK in a range of industry sectors, from automotive to medical, and from digital communications to aerospace.
A significant milestone in financial year 2022–23 was regional expansion to support clusters of compound semiconductor excellence across the UK. With the support of Innovate UK, CSA Catapult opened a Future Telecoms Hub in Bristol and offices in the North East of England and Scotland.
The report highlights the significant impact that the Catapult has had on SMEs in the financial year. New data shows that, on average, since engaging with the Catapult, companies leveraged annual private investment of £85m and secured £26.5m of annual public sector investment. This was compared to a counterfactual group who, on average, raised £46m annually from the private sector and relied on £10m of public sector investments.
A survey of CSA Catapult customers also revealed that 100% would work with it again and 89% would not have been able to progress with their product development if they hadn’t worked with the Catapult.
CSA Catapult has won £18.6m worth of collaborative R&D projects to date and has been involved in more than 200 industrial collaborations. It has also been involved in more than 50 academic collaborations and created 10 international partnerships. A total of 2827 jobs have been created or safeguarded within organizations that have worked with CSA Catapult to date.
The report also highlights the initiation of a strategic partnership with Siemens, the first of a kind for both companies in the UK, to accelerate the development of leading-edge power electronics capability.
In the financial year, the Catapult also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cardiff University, which was announced shortly after a landmark in which AI was proven to be extremely effective at designing and modelling power electronic converters.
In partnership with UK Electronic Skills Foundation (UKESF), CSA Catapult secured an Innovate UK-funded skills program, ‘Spark their Imagination; power their future’ for schools and colleges in Wales which will roll out in 2024.
CSA Catapult was also recognised as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the second year in row and cemented its continuous commitment to ED&I (equality, diversity and inclusion) by signing the cross-Catapult ED&I Charter in March 2022.
“Our story this year is one of expansion to underpin the growing success of the UK compound semiconductor sector and build for its promising future, with support and collaboration from government, industry and academia,” says CSA Catapult’s CEO Martin McHugh. “We have continued to deliver at pace against our four strategic areas: our technology centre of excellence, developing supply chains and skills, supporting UK clusters, and growing our own commercial income,” he adds. “As we continue to work towards the UK becoming a global leader in developing and commercializing new applications for compound semiconductors, I must acknowledge the continued passion and commitment of everyone at CSA Catapult and look forward to more success in the future.”
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