News: Optoelectronics
27 September 2024
UK funding of £11.5m for 16 projects, involving Vector Photonics and Quantum Advanced Solutions, to scale-up innovations
As he opened an industry conference of G7 nations, the UK Government’s Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance announced the 16 projects that will share £11.5m in funding – provided by Innovate UK (which provides funding and support for business innovation as part of UK Research and Innovation) – that will help drive innovation.
The funding announcement came as the G7 Semiconductors Point of Contact group kicked off with a stakeholder forum at Arm’s HQ in Cambridge, where member states, research organizations, and industry representatives discussed key issues affecting the global semiconductor industry. Established under Italy’s G7 Presidency earlier in 2024, the G7 Semiconductors Point of Contact group aims to address issues impacting the semiconductor industry, including early-stage innovation, crisis coordination, sustainability, and the impact of government policies and practices. The meeting immediately followed the OECD Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network gathering, where countries and stakeholders shared strategies for strengthening global semiconductor supply chains and addressing shared challenges in the semiconductor industry.
A new report by Perspective Economics reveals that the UK semiconductor sector, which includes over 200 companies in research, design and manufacturing, is valued at almost £10bn and could grow to £17bn by 2030. “Key findings here show that the UK already sees significant revenue from the sector and, by building on strong innovation, we can see significant opportunity to increase this, together with our ~2% share of global semiconductor revenues; ultimately creating much more than the 86,000 jobs currently in the wider economy,” notes report contributor Charles Sturman, CEO of TechWorks. “The industry is set to grow rapidly in the next decade, and the right mix of scale-up support and industrial policy can secure future growth of the UK semiconductor sector,” he adds.
“Backing UK innovators offers a real opportunity to growth these firms into industry leaders, strengthening our £10bn sector and ensuring it drives economic growth,” commented Vallance. “Our support in these projects will promote critical breakthroughs such as more efficient medical devices that could significantly lower costs and faster manufacturing processes to improve productivity,” he added. “Hosting the G7 Semiconductors Point of Contact group is also a chance to showcase the UK’s competitive and growing sector.”
Projects receiving funding include Vector Photonics Ltd of Glasgow, Scotland, UK, in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, which aims to enhance the power and cost-effectiveness in everyday technology of gallium nitride (GaN)-based blue lasers, which are key in devices such as medical equipment, quantum displays and car headlights.
Another project, led by Southampton-based Quantum Advanced Solutions Ltd with the University of Cambridge, is developing advanced shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensors, which improve vision in critical sectors like defence, by supporting surveillance in challenging conditions in low-visibility environments, such as during adverse weather conditions or atmospheric disturbances. The project aims to simplify production using quantum dot materials, offering higher sensitivity and performance, cutting costs and making the technology more accessible to multiple sectors including manufacturing and healthcare.
“Innovate UK’s investment in this program directly supports the National Semiconductor Strategy launched in 2023 and aims to ensure the UK’s place in the global landscape,” notes Andrew Tyrer, deputy director, Electronics, Sensors and Photonics, at Innovate UK.
“Semiconductors are key enablers for the UK ambitions across all critical technology areas,” adds Iain Mauchline, innovation lead - Electronics, Sensors and Photonics, at Innovate UK. “Funding these diverse projects highlights the strengths and depth of the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem.”
UK unveils National Semiconductor Strategy, with £1bn government funding
www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-semiconductor-strategy
