Bristol to host UK £11m high voltage semiconductor centre
The University of Bristol is to host a £11m Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) for power semiconductors with a range of European industrial partners.
The REWIRE centre will focus on the development of next generation of high voltage semiconductor devices using wide/ultra-wide bandgap (WBG/UWBG) compound semiconductors as well as tools for design, yield and reliability to improve the efficiency of semiconductor device manufacture.
Industry partners including Ampaire, BMW, Bosch, Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD), Element-Six Technologies, General Electric, Hitachi Energy, IQE, Oxford Instruments, Siemens, ST Microelectronics and Toshiba as well as researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Warwick.
The Bristol team has recently been awarded £5m from the EPSRC to develop the next generation of Aluminium Gallium (AlGaN) Solid-State Circuit Breakers.
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Compound semiconductor devices have been recognised in the UK National Semiconductor Strategy as key elements to support the net zero economy through the development of high voltage and low energy-loss power electronic technology. The funding from the UKRI is part of a five year strategy.
“The REWIRE IKC will focus on power conversion of wind energy, electric vehicles, smart grids, high temperature applications, device and packaging, and improving the efficiency of semiconductor device manufacture,” said Bristol IKC lead Professor Martin Kuball
Professor Peter Gammon, Head of Research and Deputy Head of School, School of Engineering, University of Warwick, said: “The REWIRE IKC will leverage the talent of UK research and industry to develop the next generation of power semiconductor technologies. These chips which are the critical unseen technology enabling electric vehicles, renewable technologies, data centres and the grid.”
“The REWIRE IKC will play a prominent role within the UK’s semiconductor strategy, in cementing the UK’s place as a leader in compound semiconductor research and development, developing IP to be exploited here in the UK, rebuilding the UK semiconductor supply chain, and training the next generation of semiconductor materials scientists and engineers,” he added.
Bristol is one of two new IKCs announced being funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Innovate UK, both part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The second IKC at the University of Southampton will improve development and commercialisation of silicon photonics technologies in the UK. There is a also a range of semiconductor training schemes being launched.
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