Engagement and Outreach

Outreach and engagement is critical to the Future CS Hub, key in facilitating the promotion of the CS Cluster across the UK

2023

  • The CS Hub is part of the ongoing success of the Generation Tech workshop and the part it has played in ensuring as many young people as possible are inspired by its message. Generation Tech is an interactive, interdisciplinary workshop, inviting local students to explore hands- on activities, group problem-solving and career connections – engaging them with the microchip technology being developed and produced in South Wales and used in everyday life. Aimed at 9-12 year olds, and delivered by researchers and student ambassadors within the compound semiconductor industry, the ‘free’ workshop (funded by Cardiff University’s ‘Innovation for All’ Scheme) has to date inspired over 250 young minds. Funding from CS Hub has specifically been used to fund Student Ambassador involvement. The project is now embarking on its second phase with aims to expand its reach.

  • Prof. Peter Smowton, CS Hub director, appeared on Newsnight to explain how we are driving the development of future technology which will impact our everyday lives, though Compound Semiconductors. Newsnight
  • Nobel Peace Prize-winning US climate scientist, Professor Donald J. Wuebbles, a former White House advisor and co-recipient of the 2007 prize, formally opened the Translational Research Hub (TRH), which brings industry and experts together to solve complex global challenges. Professor Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society – the world’s oldest scientific organisation – joined the event and praised the TRH for its work. “We believe every government should develop an evidence-based roadmap setting out the technologies required to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. What is needed is a triple track approach: deploying at scale those technologies that are ready, developing and demonstrating at scale those that are not, and creating new solutions, through research, to address the decarbonisation challenge.

“This is exactly what the Translational Research Hub is doing, bringing together different disciplines for development and research, and working with industry to translate this into technology deployment. I strongly commend the Translational Research Hub for its work on semiconductor and catalysis technologies, and broader net zero innovation.”

 

  • The UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Rt Hon Chloe Smith MP, has visited Cardiff University’s Translational Research Hub (TRH) to help launch the UK Government’s long-awaited semiconductor strategy. The Minister was given a  tour of the  TRH. The visit was hosted with Cardiff-led CSconnected – the world’s first cluster of CS research, innovation and manufacturing capabilities. Working closely with TRH and ICS, CSconnected operates across many industry sectors. Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Chloe Smith, said: “The South Wales cluster is a vital part of the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem, and my visit to Cardiff University’s Translational Research Hub underlined the world-leading strengths we can call on. An initial £1 billion will ensure we can continue to build upon those strengths in the decades to come, unlocking new innovations and high-skilled jobs that will grow our semiconductor industry and fuel economic growth.”

 

  • The Hub was represented at major international conferences such as Photonics West and in April 2023, the CS Hub ran the Semiconductor and Integrated Optoelectronics Conference (SIOE) welcoming participants from across the UK, Europe, Asia and Africa.

 

2022

  • The Chair of UKRI, Sir Andrew Mackenzie, visited the CS cluster to learn about the compound semiconductor capabilities and investments in south Wales.

Sir Andrew took a tour of the Translation Research Hub (TRH) at Cardiff University, a state-of-the-art facility home to the Institute for Compound Semiconductors, the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult, a UKRI funded innovation centre focused on the integration of compound semiconductor technology in UK supply chains, and IQE’s mega foundry in Newport, the leading global supplier of advanced compound semiconductor wafers and materials solutions, demonstrating the strength of the value chain in the region, from world-class R&D through product and process innovation to high-value, large-scale manufacturing.

  • The CS Hub Industry event took place in  the new Translational Research Hub (TRH) building in Cardiff. The event showcased the cutting- edge facilities at the TRH and the world leading research that the CS Hub undertakes, with delegates given guided tours of the new building With over 20 companies represented, delegates listened to talks and discussions from the CS Hub and partner companies and gained an insight into current research with plenty of opportunity to network.

 

  • George Freeman, MP, was briefed on the value of the UKRI and EPSRC funded Hub and discussed the formation of innovation clusters during his visit to the Hub.

 

  • The Hub was represented at major international conferences such as Photonics West 2022, Photonics Europe 2022, 28th International Semiconductor Laser Conference  and CS Mantech 2022. In April 2022, the CS Hub ran the Semiconductor and Integrated Optoelectronics Conference (SIOE) welcoming participants from across the UK and continental Europe.

 

2021

  • The Hub  produced of a series of videos that introduced the Hub and our research to key audiences. They also  focused on the Hub’s work with industry partners and is an important resource to support our outreach work.

 

  • Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, the CEO of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) visited Cardiff University and was briefed on the Future Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Hub, its interaction with the EPSRC funded Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Centre for Doctoral Training and the important role the Hub played in the creation of the Compound Semiconductor Cluster in South Wales. Dame Ottoline Leyser was also shown the current Institute for Compound Semiconductor (ICS) cleanroom and plans for the new ICS cleanroom.

 

  • The CS Hub and CSA Catapult hosted an interactive online workshop, exploring the challenges and added value of advanced (packaging) semiconductor integration. The aim of the event was to get packaging considered and included at an earlier stage during the device development phase, with researchers and industry partners discussing key challenges and solutions. The workshop was attended by over 30 academics and industry partners, with four presentations from the Hub on mature projects looking for routes to commercialisation and earlier stage issues around integrated circuits. Four industry partners subsequently presented on their capabilities, and this was followed by an engaging roundtable discussion with a wider set of academics and industry partners. The event provided a forum to discuss long established challenges and will foster further collaboration between the Hub and industry
  • The Hub developed research and skills surveys to better understand the research of most interest to our industrial partners. We shared the surveys with a range of new and existing industry partners to gather the best insights in these areas. The insights gained helped us as part of a wider review of the Hub’s research and supported our future planning. The surveys also helped us to understand the specific challenges industrial partners have faced as a result of Covid.
  • SIOE conference was on online event due to COVID. As part of the conference a careers event and in and industry panel on the future of compound semiconductors was organised.

2020

  • The Hub developed research and skills surveys to better understand the research of most interest to our industrial partners. We shared the surveys with a range of new and existing industry partners to gather the best insights in these areas. The insights gained helped us as part of a wider review of the Hub’s research and supported our future planning. The surveys also helped us to understand the specific challenges industrial partners have faced as a result of Covid.
  • Members of the CS Hub joined academics from across the UK and took part in engaging discussions as part of the National Epitaxy Facility Statement of Need Community Consultation meeting. The Hub looks forward to engaging with the next steps of the process.
  • Sheffield University held a successful GaN Materials and Devices Industry open day.

 

2019

  • The Hub ran an industry day in September 2019 which also incorporated the new Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) and was attended by key partners, including the National Physical Laboratory, Compound Semiconductor Technologies and Airbus. The Hub Director provided a presentation on the CS ecosystem and the Hub’s work with academia and industry. There were accompanying presentations on the Hub’s research and a networking session for the Hub and industry partners.

 

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  • Dr Daryl Beggs providing training at the Compound Semiconductor Photonic and Electronics workshop sponsored by the CS Hub  at Newport Wafer Fab

 

 

  • In January 2020 Sheffield ran the Centre for GaN Materials and Devices Industry Open Day.
  • Real time magneto imaging exhibited at Quantum Technologies Show, London, November 2019.
  • Gen1 QWHE scanner demonstrated at UK Quantum Technologies Show in London and at BAE systems in Barrow on Furnace.
  • CS Hub stand present at the  UKSC conference and SIOE.
  • Under the Cesar Milstein program seminar regarding Hub activities at: Balseiro Institute,  INVAP, Bariloche, Integrated Optics and Microelectrics division of National Atomic Agency, Buenos Aires and International University of La Plata and Optics Institute Centre, La Plata.
  • Presentations at: Photonics West, UKSC and SIOE

2018

  • The UK Universities and Science Minister, Chris Skidmore visited the facilities available at Cardiff University for compound semiconductor manufacturing research. The Minister was introduced to recent improvements in the ICS facilities, as well as the complementary research of the Future CS Hub which is essential for developing the underpinning technologies for so many emerging megatrends
  • Sheffield University held, a one day event promoting the interaction between industry and academia. During the event technologies developed as part of CS Hub work packages were showcased by academics to a variety of potential new industrial partners.
  • CS Hub stand present at: Wales Week in London, Institute of Physics in Wales, UKSC conference and SIOE

  • Wales Festival of Innovation, with ESTnet as a key partner presented “CS Connected – Building the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster” at an open event held in London. As part of CS Connected, the Future CS Hub was introduced to a varied audience of  academics, industrialists and laypeople. The event was followed up with a reciprocal visit to Newport Wafer Fab where selected attendees from industry and academia were invited to hear more detail about the CS Cluster, and tour the facilities at Newport Wafer Fab.
  • Hub representation at CS International and SIOE
  • CS Hub was represented at an event organised by ESTNET with all CS Cluster members. Each Cluster member gave a brief presentation and had an information stand.
  • GaN Technology from wafer to IC workshop attended by more than 100 guests and well-known international researchers and industry presented their work. CS Hub sponsored an external speaker for the event and contributed to a prize for the best poster from an ECR.

2017

  • Prof. Peter Smowton played an integral role in winning three significant awards for translational research at the annual Insider’s Business and Education Partnerships Awards (BEPA). The Individual Impact Award was recognition of Prof Smowton’s efforts in translating compound semiconductor research to manufacturable output, Cardiff University was awarded University of the year and The Economic impact award specifically acknowledged the first compound semiconductor cluster world-wide. The formation of this cluster has been driven by the South Wales research and industry landscape
  • Prof. Tao Wang and colleagues organised and held and Industrial Event. CS technologies were highlighted and attracted UK semiconductor companies CEOs and directors
  • Sheffield university organised the 1st China-UK workshop on GaN Materials and Devices for Early Career Scientists and The 16th International Symposium on the Science and Technology of Lighting conferences
  • Talks given at: CS Cluster launch, Co-Innovate Emerging Sensors, Bath GW4 Nanotechnology meeting and VCSEL Day
  • CS Hub stand present at: Engineering Wales conference and Co-lnnovate conference. As part of the Welsh Government’s Ser Cymru initiative, The National Research Network (NRN) in Advanced Engineering and Materials (AEM) hosted the first “Engineering Wales” conference. The event was designed to enhance the voice of engineering and promote Welsh activities and scientific achievements. The Hub shared a joint trade stand with the Institute for Compound Semiconductors (Cardiff University), while Prof Paul Tasker and Dr Wyn Meredith hosted a workshop on “South Wales Compound Semiconductor Cluster” with assistance from Prof Peter Smowton.