Swansea University is taking the lead in advancing the skillset for the UK semiconductor industry with the establishment of the UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills (UK-SIFS) Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT). This initiative, supported by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, aims to foster a competitive and resilient semiconductor manufacturing sector within the UK.
The UK-SIFS CDT will collaborate closely with the University of Leeds to deliver advanced doctoral-level training focused on semiconductor skills. This program is designed to produce a pipeline of up to 60 PhD students over five cohorts, equipping them with the necessary expertise to drive innovation and meet the technical demands of next-generation semiconductor technologies.
Through rigorous academic research combined with industry-embedded training, students will participate in four-year research projects in partnership with prominent UK companies in the semiconductor and related sectors. The program will offer flexible training pathways, enabling part-time study and allowing professionals to engage in research projects while continuing their professional development.
One of the key features of the UK-SIFS initiative is the emphasis on retraining talent from other high-skill industries facing diminishing opportunities. This approach is aimed at ensuring a robust and adaptable workforce for the future, essential for maintaining the UK’s competitiveness in the global semiconductor market.
The initiative represents a significant investment of approximately £18 million, which includes £10 million from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, alongside contributions from Swansea University, the University of Leeds, and 24 industry and civic partners.
State-of-the-Art Facilities and Industry Support
Research and training will be conducted in advanced cleanroom facilities located at Swansea’s Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) and the Bragg Centre for Materials Research at the University of Leeds. Together, these facilities represent a substantial investment of over £80 million and are designed to be industrially relevant, offering services such as start-up incubation to further bolster the UK semiconductor ecosystem.
Professor Paul Meredith, Director of CISM and co-Director of UK-SIFS, emphasized the innovative approach to doctoral training, stating, “UK-SIFS is a completely different way of thinking about doctoral training for the UK semiconductor sector – flexible, practical training coupled with industrially relevant, world-class research.”
Professor Edmund Linfield, Director of the Bragg Centre for Materials Research and co-Director of UK-SIFS, highlighted the program’s potential, noting that it will support a wide array of cutting-edge projects across science and engineering. He remarked, “This training is crucial for developing the highly skilled and diverse workforce needed by the semiconductor sector.”
Industry Leaders React
Industry leaders have expressed strong support for the initiative. Howard Rupprecht, Managing Director of CSconnected Ltd, stated, “This is fantastic news for skills in the semiconductor industry and related sectors. We need to accelerate and diversify workforce provision, especially to support the rapid growth of the semiconductor manufacturing cluster in South Wales, driven by significant investments from multinationals such as Vishay, KLA, Microchip, and IQE.”
Professor Charles JM Footer, a QinetiQ Fellow, acknowledged the strategic importance of this investment. He stated, “The UK-SIFS CDT announcement marks the beginning of a hugely exciting and vital investment in the future of the UK’s semiconductor capability and the next generation of world-leading scientists in the area. At QinetiQ, we recognize the importance of developing a highly skilled workforce to support sovereign advanced manufacturing and national security.”
Through UK-SIFS, Swansea University and its partners aim to not only enhance the technical capabilities within the semiconductor industry but also to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of semiconductor innovation on the global stage.
