Cardiff University and IQE plc, both of Wales, announce a joint venture to build the Compound Semiconductor Centre, which has the goal of developing and commercializing next-generation compound semiconductor technologies. The partnership will involve Cardiff-based IQE plc, whose technology can be found in most mobile devices on the world market, working closely with Cardiff University’s new $60 million Institute of Compound Semiconductors (ICS)..
Collectively, the ICS, the joint venture, and IQE’s existing compound semiconductor (CS) operation in Cardiff establish the core elements of a CS ecosystem in Wales. This ecosystem will bridge early stage research, product development, prototyping, and pilot production, through to high volume manufacturing. At its core, the partnership seeks to overcome the endemic challenges that hinder the commercialization academic research and development and technology innovations, commonly known as the “Valley of Death.”
Four major clusters based around silicon technologies already exist in Europe, but Cardiff will be the first to develop expertise in compound semiconductor know-how. CS components are used in many of today’s high-tech applications, including communications networks, smartphones, and tablets.
The planned CS cluster has the potential to create up to 5000 jobs across the Cardiff Capital region over the next five years, and would represent a central base of operations for the UK (and wider EU regions) efforts to reclaim high value technology manufacturing from competitors in East Asia.
The CSC is jointly owned and jointly controlled by Cardiff University and IQE plc. To date, Cardiff University has contributed $18.5 million in capital investment to the venture, with IQE committing hardware, buildings, and infrastructure, as well as licensing certain intellectual property to the CSC.
Through the CSC, Cardiff University will now have a clear and effective route to commercialize world class R&D to be carried out at the ICS, and will be able to attract significant corporate and other R&D funding, while IQE will be able to take the technologies developed at ICS and the joint venture directly into large-scale mass production.
