A £13m EU funding boost to help put Cardiff University’s Institute for Compound Semiconductors at the forefront of 21st Century technologies has been announced by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford.

The EU funding will help build, equip and run a state-of-the-art cleanroom at the new Institute for Compound Semiconductors (ICS), based at Cardiff University’s Innovation Campus.

ICS will turn its laboratory research into products and services by working with commercial partners to lead in developing one of the world’s key enabling technologies – Compound Semiconductors.

Compound Semiconductor technologies underpin the internet and have enabled new emerging megatrends such as Smart Phones, tablets, and satellite communications. These semiconductors are created by combining elements to produce materials with physical and chemical properties that have wide-ranging technological applications.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said:

“Investing in world leading facilities so that academia and industry can collaborate and drive forward research in this sector will be an important boost to the Welsh economy.

This EU funding  will encourage  high quality well-paid employment in the participating companies and  the creation of spin-out companies, new start-ups as well as  attracting innovative compound semiconductor companies from across  the UK and Europe, all adding to increased growth and prosperity in the region.”