
Siemens sets up power lab in Wales
Siemens is setting up a power electronics innovation hub with the Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult in Wales.
The partnership with the CSA Catapult, one of nine Catapult centres set up by the UK government, with Siemens plc aims to accelerate the development of power electronics, machines and drives technology, capability and skills.
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There will be a dedicated Siemens power electronics innovation hub at CSA Catapult in Newport, Wales, to facilitate engagement with the UK power electronics ecosystem such as universities, Catapults, RTOs, industrial partners, start-ups, and grant funding organisations. The Catapult supports research and development projects using devices built in materials such as gallium nitride and silicon carbide as well as characterisation of those devices.
Siemens employees will be based on site at the CSA Catapult, they will host Siemens colleagues from new recruits to sponsored students and PHDs. The two will also jointly work on initiatives with other UK partners to address the skills gaps in power electronics.
“Power Electronics is one of the Company Core Technologies for Siemens,” said Prof. Rolf Hellinger, Vice President of Power Electronics at Siemens AG. “Therefore, we are looking forward to expanding our Research and Innovation Ecosystem of world-leading universities and research institutes working with CSA Catapult. This collaboration will bring radical and disruptive technologies to market – fast, risk mitigated and economical.”
The partnership is a first for both companies in the UK and will focus on the development of disruptive power electronics and building advanced skills in the UK through a series of joint projects and potential future collaborative supply chain programmes with other UK companies. CSA Catapult has a significant track record in bringing together end to end UK supply chains in power electronics.
Led by Siemens Digital Industries Motion Control (DI MC), the hub is a joint initiative between Technology Power Electronics (T PEL) and the Research and Innovation Ecosystem (T RIE).
The CSA Catapult is delivering three UK projects called ESCAPE, @FutureBEV and Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centres to create new UK supply chains and accelerate electrification.
Imran Agha, Innovation Manager, Innovation Centre for Power Electronics at Siemens plc said, “Siemens being an innovation leader in Power Electronics is creating a high value UK collaboration ecosystem with CSA Catapult, enabling us to accelerate commercialisation of next generation disruptive technologies underpinned by advanced PEMD skills. This will help with building more sustainable, cleaner supply chains, and create more jobs for the future.”
“We are very pleased to enter a strategic innovation partnership with Siemens Plc, a very important player in this market,” said Martin McHugh, Chief Executive Officer at CSA Catapult. “This is a significant milestone for CSA Catapult, it will help us accelerate power electronics projects across UK industry, to solve complex innovation problems. We are hoping this is the first partnership of many and we are keen to discuss more. Working with Siemens, we will accelerate our internal research programme and demonstrators and provide opportunities for our people.”
“Developing power electronics skills across the UK is a priority and working alongside Siemens will provide opportunities to attract more talent and skills to the region. Working across our industry, we will continue to build on our track record in bringing power electronic supply chains together, to support UK growth,” he said.
csa.catapult.org.uk; www.siemens.co.uk
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