News: Suppliers
26 February 2026
CSconnected announces £1m final call for Supply Chain Development Programme
The South Wales-based compound semiconductor cluster CSconnected has announced the fourth and final funding round of its £1m Supply Chain Development Programme, which is delivered in partnership with Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) to accelerate the expansion of the compound semiconductor supply chain, with the aim of driving job creation, stimulating economic growth, and strengthening the UK’s strategic position in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Supported by the Strength in Places Fund (UK Research and Innovation) and Cardiff Capital Region, CSconnected is the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster, and unites leading companies, research institutions, and government partners to drive innovation, economic growth, and global leadership in semiconductor technology.
For this fourth funding call, CSconnected is encouraging applications from companies based in and around South Wales, as well as organizations across the wider UK that support the compound semiconductor sector. This opens the door for a range of UK-based businesses to participate and contribute to one of the UK’s most critical technology ecosystems.
The call aims to support existing and potential suppliers and buyers of the core organizations of the CSconnected Cluster.
The programme supports individual projects of up to £100,000 in grant value, with a maximum intervention rate of 50%, equivalent to a total project cost of £200,000. Micro-companies remain eligible for a 70% intervention rate for grants up to £30,000. Projects must be led by a UK-registered limited company, run for between six and nine months, and demonstrate clear benefits to the South Wales region where CSconnected is headquartered.
“This final funding round is building on the success of the projects in the programme so far that are improving resilience and capacity within the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem,” notes CSconnected’s managing director Howard Rupprecht. “We are inviting more companies across the UK to build and strengthen their strategic supply chain partnerships with the compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales.”
Current projects are equipping suppliers with new production line capabilities, enhancing throughput, validating new products and services to improve design efficiencies, and utilizing UK suppliers to onshore manufacturing processes.
Among the businesses already benefiting from the programme is KuasaSemi, which specializes in advanced power semiconductor design. Their participation illustrates the tangible impact the fund is having on UK capability and regional collaboration, reckons CSconnected.
“Being part of the Supply Chain Development Programme has significantly accelerated our technical progress and helped us build a stronger UK capability in advanced power semiconductor design,” comments KuasaSemi’s co-founder & director David Mawby. “The support has not only enabled key milestones but also opened new relationships across the South Wales cluster, strengthening collaboration and future innovation.”
All proposals must be supported by a primary cluster organization and will be awarded as Minimum Financial Assistance (MFA) subsidies under the Subsidy Control Act 2022, with recipients receiving quarterly payments in advance.
The funding round closes on 17 April. For prospective applicants, CSconnected will host an online webinar on 11 March outlining the aims of the final round, eligibility criteria and application process, and including examples of previous successful projects, alongside practical guidance on preparing a strong submission.
In addition, CSconnected will host an in-person supply chain event to spotlight the compound semiconductor supply chain across South Wales and the wider UK. The event will provide an opportunity for potential applicants to hear about sector challenges, make connections with the primary cluster organizations, as well as the wider UK supply chain.
Hidden powerhouse: South Wales, at the heart of the global compound semiconductor industry
CSconnected announces £1m third call to Supply Chain Development Programme
