CSconnected, the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster, marked its 10-year anniversary with a celebration event in Cardiff, announcing their commitment to continuing to scale the industry’s global impact.
The event saw over 100 industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and educators come together to mark a decade of transformation and growth, while looking ahead to the future of advanced technology in Wales. A keynote address was delivered by Jack Sargeant MS.
Since its origins, the South Wales compound semiconductor cluster has delivered:
- £850 million invested in facilities
- Over £150 million in collaborative research and development
- Supported approximately 3,000 jobs
- A global reputation as the go-to location for compound semiconductors
Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnerships, Jack Sargeant, said:
“CSconnected's tenth anniversary is a testament to Government, business and university collaboration. Over the past decade, this cluster has attracted significant investment, created thousands of high-quality jobs, and established Wales as a global leader in compound semiconductors.
“As we look to the future, we continue to support this vital sector, ensuring it continues to drive economic growth and prosperity across our communities.”
Howard Rupprecht, managing director of CSconnected, said:
“Ten years ago, CSconnected was a bold idea. Today, it’s a globally recognised cluster that has delivered real economic impact and put Wales on the map for advanced semiconductor technologies.
“But we’re not stopping here. Our ambition is to grow the cluster’s revenue to £1 billion by 2030, increase skilled employment to 6,000 people, and ensure that value is captured across the region through well-paid jobs and a resilient supply chain.
“This is about building a future where Wales leads in enabling technologies for quantum, photonics, AI and beyond—and where local talent is at the heart of that success.”
The cluster’s success has been driven by deep collaboration between universities, industry, and government. Key milestones include the establishment of the Compound Semiconductor Centre, the Institute for Compound Semiconductors at Cardiff University and the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials at Swansea University, and the UKRI-funded Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult. A major inflection point came in 2020, when CSconnected secured £43M in Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) support, formalising the cluster and embedding operational collaboration.
As part of the celebrations, CSconnected launched its membership, enabling more organisations in the industry to become part of the cluster. Membership is open to organisations involved in the advanced semiconductor supply chain. More information can be found here.
