Stream 2: South Wales Compound Semiconductor Place Based Impact Accelerator

“半导体”是“硅芯片”的同义词。毕竟硅支撑了20世纪的计算技术。但是硅已经达到了基本的极限，我们现在认为理所当然的许多技术都是由于化合物半导体（CS）才成为可能的。其中包括互联网，智能手机，GPS和节能LED照明！CSs也是未来几年预计的大多数新技术的核心，包括6G无线、超高速光纤连接、自动驾驶汽车的激光雷达、电动汽车的高压开关、物联网和大容量数据存储。CSs还为能源效率和净零提供了巨大的机会。与硅不同，英国拥有以南威尔士为中心的强大而充满活力的CS制造能力，拥有世界领先的公司。英国政府已经在利用CS集群来鼓励对南威尔士和英国的外来投资。https://www.great.gov.uk/international/content/investment/opportunities/compound-semiconductors-and-applications-in-south-wales/EPSRC和UKRI已经资助了大量的计算机科学研究，我们现在有机会将更多的研究转化为创新和创业公司，在他们最有可能成功的地方——计算机科学集群。我们也有机会支持初创企业和中小企业，创造使用计算机科学的产品，在他们的供应链中进行创新。要做到这一点，我们需要资金，使企业家能够展示他们的想法，并支持他们走上创新的跑道。我们需要买通专家时间，帮助那些需要使用CS但对制造细节没有详细了解的企业家和公司，在他们的供应链中进行创新，并将他们与集群中的公司联系起来，从而为他们扩大制造规模。熟练员工的短缺是限制集群增长的最大单一因素，例如KLA SPTS在2025年开设了一个新的研究和制造设施，提供750个新工作岗位，其他公司也在增加员工人数。我们将从3个主要方面解决这个问题：1)在现有的公司中提高至少100名员工的技能，使他们具备至少50名高水平的专业实践技能，包括向公司转移新技术和“培训培训师”。2)培训至少200名新入职的CS员工，包括入门级材料、高级材料、实用CS和高度专业的实用技能。3)通过在科学、技术和制造业及其提供的绝佳机会方面激励该地区至少1万人，激励更多的人加入CS劳动力队伍

"Semiconductors" are synonymous with "Silicon Chips". After all Silicon supported computing technologies in the 20th century. But Silicon is reaching fundamental limits and already many of the technologies we now take for granted are only possible because of Compound Semiconductors (CS). These include The Internet, Smart Phones, GPS and Energy efficient LED lighting!CSs are also at the heart of most of the new technologies expected in the next few years including 6G wireless, ultra-high speed optical fibre connectivity, LIDAR for autonomous vehicles, high voltage switching for electric vehicles, the IoT and high capacity data storage. CSs also offer huge opportunities for energy efficiency and net zero.Unlike for Silicon, the UK has a strong and vibrant CS Manufacturing capability centred on South Wales, with world leading companies. The UK government is already using the CS cluster to encourage inward investment into South Wales and the UK. https://www.great.gov.uk/international/content/investment/opportunities/compound-semiconductors-and-applications-in-south-wales/EPSRC and UKRI have funded significant research in CS and we now have the opportunity to convert more of that research to innovation and start-up companies in the location where they have the best chance of success - the CS cluster. We also have the opportunity to support start-ups and SMEs, creating products that use CS, to innovate in their supply chain. To do this we need funding to enable entrepreneurs to demonstrate their ideas and for support to launch them on an innovation runway. We need to buy-out expert time to help entrepreneurs and companies, who need to use CS but don't have a detailed understanding of the manufacturing details, to innovate in their supply chain and to connect them to the companies in the cluster that can scale-up manufacturing for them. The shortage of skilled staff is the biggest single factor limiting the growth of the cluster, with e.g. KLA SPTS opening a new research and manufacturing facility in 2025 with 750 new jobs and the other companies also increasing workforce numbers. We will address this in 3 main ways:1) upskill minimum of 100 staff in existing companies with high level specialist practical skills for at least 50, including transferring new techniques to companies and "training the trainer". 2) train at least 200 new entrants to the CS workforce with a mixture of entry level material, advanced material and practical CS and highly specialist practical skills. 3) Inspire greater number of entrants to the CS workforce by inspiring at least 10000 in the region about science, technology and manufacturing and the fantastic opportunities it affords