CSconnected reveals winners of £1m supply chain programme
CSconnected, in partnership with Cardiff Capital Region (CCR), has announced the first four successful applicants to its £1 million Supply Chain Development Programme, aimed at strengthening and scaling the compound semiconductor supply chain in South Wales.
Funded through CCR, the initiative supports innovative UK-based companies supplying or buying from the CS sector in South Wales, across key industries including advanced manufacturing, semiconductor materials, system integration, and specialist design tools/software.
The selected projects by companies Ffotoneg, KuasaSemi, Pegasus Chemicals, and RAM Innovations represent cutting-edge innovation and vital capability development that will enhance economic impact, create new jobs, and accelerate the expansion of the semiconductor supply chain in South Wales.
Ffotoneg will expand its 'Design to Device' photonics services by developing workflow software and in-house epitaxial design capability, enabling the specification of compound semiconductor epi wafer products ready for epitaxial growth by cluster partners such as Compound Semiconductor Centre Ltd and IQE plc.
In collaboration with Swansea University, Vishay Newport, and CSA Catapult, KuasaSemi will enhance its next-generation semiconductor simulation software to address key technical challenges in the regional supply chain, improving simulation accuracy, accelerating innovation and boosting economic growth across the industry.
Pegasus Chemicals will install a cylinder preparation line to support the recycling of high-purity precursor material cylinders, a critical step in semiconductor manufacturing supply.
RAM Innovations will develop a blueprint for a high-volume SIC packaging line in Wales. The project underpins the future scale-up of SiC power module manufacturing, supporting advanced packaging needs aligned with growth at Vishay Newport.
Howard Rupprecht, MD of CSconnected, commented: “This programme supports exactly the type of innovation and supply chain resilience that’s vital to securing the UK’s strategic position in compound semiconductors. These projects highlight the strength and diversity of our regional capability and reflect the ambition we share with CCR to grow the sector’s impact at home and internationally.”
Hazel Hung, business development manager at CSconnected said: "This is a unique funding opportunity for the development of strategic partnerships locally to Wales and the UK and is a critical element of the continued growth of the Compound Semiconductor Cluster in South Wales. The investment announced today allows companies to develop and expand their in-house capabilities as well as bring direct economic benefits to the compound semiconductor organisations in the region."
