A £16.6 million investment has been unveiled today, aimed at equipping semiconductor researchers and businesses with cutting-edge technology.
The funding, facilitated through Innovate UK, targets the development of new equipment vital for testing and manufacturing chips destined for high-energy applications, such as electric vehicles and industrial machinery.
With £14 million earmarked specifically for “power electronics,” critical in the efficient conversion and regulation of power in energy-intensive devices, including electric cars and manufacturing equipment, the investment promises to bolster the UK’s prowess in advanced semiconductor packaging.
The newly introduced tools, primarily stationed in Newcastle and Strathclyde, will serve as a crucial resource for researchers and businesses of all scales, enabling them to explore innovative applications in power electronics and enhance semiconductor packaging processes.
This entails intricately encasing silicon wafers, optimizing their functionality within targeted devices.
The initiative aligns seamlessly with the UK Semiconductor Strategy, which underscores the significance of novel packaging and testing methodologies in enhancing semiconductor performance.
Advanced packaging innovations are poised to minimize power consumption in semiconductors, augmenting their efficacy across demanding sectors such as data centers and gaming, while facilitating efficient heat dissipation in challenging environments like manufacturing facilities.
Saqib Bhatti, the Technology Minister, remarked on the transformative potential of semiconductor packaging innovations, anticipating profound benefits for industries and consumers alike.
He emphasized the strategic importance of investing in open-access technology to expedite the translation of semiconductor advancements into tangible economic growth, all while fostering sustainability in energy-intensive sectors.
The newly accessible tools encompass a spectrum of processes crucial for semiconductor design and testing, encompassing the segmentation of silicon wafers and the intricate bonding of materials to fabricate chips.
Additionally, funding will support enhancements in manufacturing automation technology and the development and testing of drives pivotal for energy conversion in electric vehicles and industrial machinery.
Mike Biddle, Executive Director of Net Zero at Innovate UK, hailed the investment as a testament to the pivotal role of power electronics, machines, and drives in propelling the UK towards its net-zero aspirations.
He expressed enthusiasm regarding the diverse array of activities encompassed in semiconductor packaging and electric machine validation, underscoring their strategic alignment with national semiconductor objectives.
The funding injection builds upon the existing infrastructure facilitated by Driving the Electric Revolution Industrial Centres (DER-IC), originally established with a £33 million investment in 2019.
DER-IC, in collaboration with industry leaders like McLaren Applied, has been instrumental in testing and refining technologies such as electric drivetrains, essential for advancing electric mobility solutions.
Professor Matt Boyle OBE, Executive Chair of DER-IC, emphasized the pivotal role of the funding in further catalyzing industry investment in power electronics, machines, and drives manufacture.
He underscored the strategic deployment of additional equipment to bolster UK supply chains, fostering innovation and growth in key sectors.
Paul Jarvie, Centre Lead for DER-IC in the South West and Wales, lauded the funding’s potential to enhance the UK’s semiconductor packaging capabilities, facilitating the realization of semiconductors’ full potential across diverse applications.
He highlighted the critical role of the investment in mitigating risks associated with scaling up semiconductor packaging operations, thereby advancing the UK’s transition towards net-zero technologies.
