The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is marking the first anniversary of the launch of the UK Semiconductor Strategy by setting out plans to create an institute to underpin its plans
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is reinforcing its commitment to the UK government’s £1bn Semiconductor Strategy by setting out plans to open an independent institute tasked with promoting the sector to overseas investors.
The UK Semiconductor Institute will be independently run from the UK government, DSIT confirmed, and bring together commercial entities, private sector and academic institutions to support the growth of the UK’s semiconductor market.
“Our aim is that … the institute will be established as an independent organisation tasked with making sure chip researchers have the tools and infrastructure needed to drive their work forward in these focus areas, and convert their innovation into market-ready products, subject to final checks,” said DSIT, in a statement.
The institute will also be tasked with providing the UK’s semiconductor market with a “voice”, and act as a central point of focus to make it easier for technology firms and overseas businesses to connect and invest in the sector.
“Semiconductors underpin all the technology that keeps our economy moving,” said technology minister Saqib Bhatti. “Our strategy set out that we would grow the sector and make it resilient by focusing on what the British chip sector does best.
“Building on the early success of the strategy, the UK Semiconductor Institute will unify the semiconductor sector to focus our talented researchers on securing our status at the cutting edge of semiconductor science. This is a hugely significant milestone on our journey to becoming a science and tech superpower by 2030.”
DSIT confirmed the Institute’s launch is being