News: Suppliers
9 June 2026
CS Applications Catapult to become Semiconductor Catapult
Following publication of the UK Government’s AI Hardware Plan, to address a critical gap in UK AI infrastructure the Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult is to transition over this summer to become the Semiconductor Catapult, developed from its existing capability to focus on R&D for energy-efficient, deployable systems to accelerate the journey from AI research to real-world deployment, for data centers and industry.
Established in 2018 by government agency Innovate UK (becoming part of the Innovate UK Catapult Network), CSA Catapult is a not-for-profit center of excellence that specializes in the measurement, characterization, integration and validation of compound semiconductor technology spanning power electronics, advanced packaging, radio frequency and microwave, and photonics applications.
The Semiconductor Catapult will build on CSA Catapult’s existing role, supporting innovation from concept through to commercialization, and enabling scale-up across the UK semiconductor sector. It will continue to play a key part in strengthening the UK’s semiconductor supply chain.
“Improving the performance and energy efficiency of AI data centers remains a significant global and national challenge,” notes CSA Catapult’s CEO Caroline O’Brien. “UK semiconductor companies have world-leading products and services that can be used in the hardware needed for AI data centers. The Semiconductor Catapult, working with industry, will deliver breakthroughs in R&D in energy-efficient deployable systems, to reduce risk and ensure even more start-ups can leverage new supply chains anchored in the UK,” she adds.
“By refocusing, we will broaden our support for UK companies in design, development and commercialization across the wider UK semiconductor sector. As the Semiconductor Catapult, we will work to increase the adoption of UK-designed semiconductor technologies in AI infrastructure, including data centers across the UK. We look forward to continuing our work with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Innovate UK to support delivery of the UK’s AI Hardware Plan.”
“Our AI Hardware Plan is about backing British firms at every stage, from early research through to deployment,” states the UK Government’s AI Minister Kanishka Narayan. “AI hardware is one of the fastest-growing and most strategically important sectors in the global economy, and the UK is well placed to lead,” he reckons. “One of the biggest challenges for UK chip companies is getting from a brilliant design to a product that is ready for market. The new Semiconductor Catapult will help close that gap, supporting British firms to get their technology out of the lab and into the systems driving the AI revolution.”
