News: Suppliers
6 November 2024
Cardiff University report highlights CSA Catapult’s impact on UK economy
A new report, published by the Welsh Economy Research Unit at Cardiff University, highlights the economic contribution of the Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult.
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 center of excellence 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.
The report shows that employment safeguarded or created through R&D projects with CSA Catapult has contributed over £600m of gross value-added (GVA) to the UK economy.
The report confirms the breadth of CSA Catapult’s R&D activity across the UK and its economic contribution to the compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales.
Key findings during 2019–23 include:
- 4718 jobs created or safeguarded by CSA Catapult projects;
- CSA Catapult supported 156 R&D projects and worked with 215 SMEs and 40 large organizations;
- £15m of external R&D funding received by CSA Catapult generates a long-term benefit to UK productivity of £56–86m.
Support for the South Wales semiconductor cluster
CSA Catapult forms an important part of the compound semiconductor cluster in Wales. The cluster as a whole has seen its gross value-added more than double since 2019 and currently employs nearly 1800 people in highly skilled activity. Through 20 R&D collaborations involving every public and private organization within the cluster, CSA Catapult has helped to create or safeguard an estimated 650 jobs.
CSA Catapult’s role in technology acceleration for UK industry
In the 81 projects that the Catapult was involved in where the data is available, the average improvement in technology readiness level (TRL, i.e. the maturity level of a particular technology) was 1.8. Of these 81 projects, 6 projects increased TRL levels by 4 or above.
“The purpose of CSA Catapult is to deliver long-term economic benefit to the UK, accelerating economic growth wherever the application of compound semiconductors creates a competitive advantage, new products or markets,” says CEO Martin McHugh. “It is clear from this report that we are delivering on this and making a significant contribution to the UK economy. Through our collaborations with organizations across the country, we’re helping to create and safeguard jobs and are making a significant contribution to the UK’s productivity,” he adds. “Our expertise is helping businesses to accelerate their technologies and bring their products and services to market quicker, which ultimately makes the UK more productive and competitive.”
CSA Catapult’s achievements over 2018–2023 outlined in independent report
