A new facility to build the next generation of semiconductor chips, and the first of its kind in Europe, has been opened at the University of Southampton.
The semiconductor sector, which includes the tiny chips found in everything from smartphones to satellites, currently contributes approximately £10 billion annually to the UK economy. The sector is expected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated £17 billion by 2030. Strengthening this industry is a key part of the UK's "Plan for Change," which aims to drive innovation, job creation, and global competitiveness, particularly within advanced manufacturing sectors.
E-beam lithography uses a focused beam of electrons to create incredibly detailed patterns in materials, allowing for the development of features that are thousands of times smaller than a human hair. This technology is crucial in semiconductor manufacturing and supports the UK’s broader Industrial Strategy.
Science Minister Lord Vallance commented: "Britain is home to some of the most exciting semiconductor research anywhere in the world – and Southampton’s new E-beam facility is a major boost to our national capabilities. By investing in both infrastructure and talent, we’re giving our researchers and innovators the support they need to develop next-generation chips right here in the UK."
In response to the increasing demand for skilled workers in this high-growth sector, the UK government has launched a £4.75 million semiconductor skills package. This initiative addresses one of the key barriers to growth in the semiconductor industry: the shortage of emerging talent. Research shows that a single semiconductor worker contributes an average of £460,000 to the economy annually, underlining the sector’s vast economic potential.
The skills package includes several key components:
£3 million in undergraduate bursaries, offering £5,000 each to 300 students pursuing Electronics and Electrical Engineering degrees, with a focus on semiconductor design and manufacturing.
£1.2 million for chip design training, which will create new chip design courses for undergraduates, postgraduates, and lecturers, and fund a study on potential postgraduate conversion courses.
Nearly £550,000 for school outreach programs, providing hands-on semiconductor experience to 7,000 students aged 15–18 and 450 teachers. This will help raise awareness and diversify the future workforce, especially in regions with established semiconductor clusters, such as Newport, Cambridge, and Glasgow.
The initiative aims to strengthen the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem by supporting both local talent and university-industry collaboration, contributing to national economic growth and reinforcing the country's leadership in emerging technologies.
Professor Graham Reed, from the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre, highlighted the importance of the new E-beam facility, saying: "The introduction of the new E-Beam facility will reinforce our position of hosting the most advanced cleanroom in UK academia. It facilitates a vast array of innovative and industrially relevant research, and much-needed semiconductor skills training."
