News: Suppliers
13 February 2024
CSA Catapult’s achievements over 2018–2023 outlined in independent report
A new independent impact evaluation report spanning 2018–2023 undertaken by UK-based full-service research and evaluation agency Harlow Consulting on behalf of Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult finds that CSA Catapult has made significant achievements since its inception in 2018, despite facing many challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Established 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. Headquartered in Newport, South Wales, it works across the UK in a range of industry sectors, from automotive to medical, and from digital communications to aerospace.
The report recognizes CSA Catapult for its achievements, including the creation of world-leading facilities at the Innovation Centre in Newport despite the logistical challenges of the pandemic.
Since then, CSA Catapult has grown its in-house expertise and helped to strengthen the UK’s semiconductor supply chain by developing key relationships with global businesses as well as a range of SMEs.
The report outlines how CSA Catapult has a clear strategic direction, particularly in two focussed markets: Net Zero and Future Telecoms. It also highlights CSA Catapult’s success in helping UK industries to translate fundamental research into commercially ready products.
Over the last five years, three-quarters of the projects supported by CSA Catapult have experienced a positive increase in their Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) — a measure of the maturity of a technology.
Job creation and an increase to gross value added (GVA) are also highlighted in the report as examples of CSA Catapult’s success. Between 2018 and 2023, a total of 2827 jobs have been created or safeguarded within organizations that have worked with CSA Catapult.
Companies that have engaged with the Catapult have collectively secured, on average, £107m of annual private investment and £11m of annual public sector investments.
“The report recognises the significant achievements we’ve made over the last five years, including the creation of our Innovation Centre in Newport and the rapid growth of the CSA Catapult team,” says CSA Catapult’s CEO Martin McHugh. “The report demonstrates the benefit to UK businesses of working with the Catapult and the role we’re playing in supply chain growth and strengthening the UK economy overall,” he adds. “With a clear strategy in place for the next five years, we’re confident in building on this success and continuing to deliver long-term benefit to the UK economy.”
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