News: Suppliers
24 March 2025
Cadence Design Centre JV with CSA Catapult backed by £2.5m from Welsh Government
A new joint venture between Welsh Government, South Wales-based Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult, and electronic design automation (EDA) software provider Cadence Design Systems Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (whose more than 13,000 staff generated $4.6bn in revenue in fiscal-year 2024) is to address long-term skills needs within the semiconductor design sector and support the industry’s growth by providing critical design services to SMEs and scale-up companies across the UK.
The dedicated semiconductor design center, which has received £2.5m in Welsh Government investment, funding from Cadence, and support from CSA Catapult, aims to create over 100 new jobs for graduate students in the next five years, contribute an estimated £34m to the UK economy and help to deliver the UK government’s industrial strategy. The dedicated design center should build vital semiconductor design skills, grow the industry and international partnerships, and increase sovereign capability.
The new company aims to become a leading provider of semiconductor design services, supporting key industries such as automotive, aerospace, space, telecoms, defence, and AI.
The new venture will leverage Cadence’s expertise and AI-driven IC design solutions, CSA Catapult’s advanced facilities and testing capabilities, and the Welsh Government’s financial support to create a sustainable, high-growth business. The partnership is expected to drive innovation, create skilled jobs, and enhance the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem while addressing critical industry needs.
The UK has significant strengths in chip design, but to compete globally it needs more semiconductor design engineers. Global semiconductor revenues will grow to $1 trillion by 2030. According to a sector study by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), UK semiconductor companies said that integrated circuit design engineers are experiencing amongst the most acute shortage of skills. The new venture aims to build an employee-engaged culture where all can benefit from the success of the business.
This strategic joint venture should strengthen the existing design community, working with universities, start-ups and small businesses on new semiconductor projects. It will build new international partnerships and further investment, helping to deliver opportunities for semiconductor companies across the UK to collaborate with European and US chip initiatives.
Over the next five years, the semiconductor design center will provide training and a career path for graduates, apprentices, and career changers to enter the semiconductor industry. From its base in Centre 7 in Cardiff Gate, there will be opportunities for graduates in electronic and electrical engineering, computer science, and physics, helping to bridge the gap between university education and real-world job opportunities.
“Cadence’s exciting partnership with Welsh Government and CSA Catapult not only reinforces the international confidence in Wales’ world-class semiconductor sector but also demonstrates our commitment to working with businesses to create the right conditions and opportunity for growth, investment and job creation here in Wales,” comments Rebecca Evans, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning.
“The design center will diversify the range of capabilities the sector here can offer, complementing the manufacturing capacity and capitalizing on the growing demand for semiconductor microchips. At the heart of this joint venture is the recruitment and training of local talent, providing well-paid careers for graduates and creating a robust pipeline of skilled professionals in high-tech industries that directly support our Net Zero Action Plan,” she adds.
Senior representatives from Cadence had travelled from California earlier in March to discuss the center with Evans.
“Cadence is committed to promoting economic development in Wales,” states Rebecca Dobson, corporate VP for EMEA at Cadence. “We’re investing to support the high-tech industry in Wales by creating jobs and committing to recruiting and developing top talent, which is crucial for continued semiconductor industry growth and innovation,” she adds.
“We are delighted to be working with Cadence and Welsh Government to create a world-leading facility, creating 100 new jobs in South Wales,” says CSA Catapult’s CEO Martin McHugh. “Through the joint venture, we can address the semiconductor skills gap and strengthen the UK’s leadership position in chip design,” he adds. “It builds on the success of the compound semiconductor cluster in Wales and will create new opportunities for the entire UK semiconductor ecosystem. There will be new career paths for graduates of electrical engineering, computer science, and physics. With the support of Cadence and Welsh Government, the new center will create international partnerships and further investment to the UK.”
Operated by CSA Catapult and Cadence, the Cadence Design Centre will also establish a graduate training program for engineers and architects, in collaboration with local universities and colleges, developing experts in the chip design process using Cadence technology.
The Cadence Design Centre represents the latest boost for the South Wales’ region’s compound semiconductor cluster and is expected to provide a springboard to engagement with key companies in the automotive, defence and aerospace sectors.
