A new ‘state of the art’ Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) is to be built at Swansea University’s Bay Campus with the help of a £30 million investment by the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF).
The latter requires double-match funding from non-public sources — business, charities or philanthropic sources — so CISM will also receive support worth nearly £60 million from South Wales-based semiconductor companies and nine other industry partners.
The CISM building, which should be completed in the first half of 2021, will be a hub where manufacturing meets R&D; Swansea University academics will be working with partners at Cardiff and other UK universities to support the growth of the semiconductor industry in Wales.
It will provide a range of services, such as prototyping and process development, specialist analytical services, incubation, engagement and training — plus access to the UK and EU innovation grants portfolio.
The three-storey building will also house a clean fabrication environment, research laboratories and office facilities.
It will feature renewable-energy technology, including solar PV panels and heat recovery.