Siemens has entered a strategic innovation partnership with the Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult in Newport to accelerate the development of leading-edge power electronics capability. This partnership model, a first for both companies in the UK, will focus on the development of disruptive power electronics and building advanced skills in the UK. The partnership between Siemens and CSA Catapult will bring forward a series of joint projects and potential future collaborative supply chain programmes with other UK companies. CSA Catapult has a track record in bringing together end-to-end UK supply chains in power electronics.
There will be a dedicated Siemens power electronics innovation hub at CSA Catapult in Newport to facilitate engagement with the UK power electronics ecosystems such as universities, Catapults, RTOs, industrial partners, start-ups, and grant funding organisations. Siemens employees will be based on-site at the Catapult, they will host Siemens colleagues from recruits to sponsored students and PhDs. Siemens and CSA Catapult will jointly work on initiatives with other UK partners to address the skills gaps in power electronics.
Professor Rolf Hellinger, vice president of power electronics at Siemens, said: “Power electronics is one of the Company Core Technologies for Siemens. 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.”
Imran Agha, innovation manager at Innovation Centre for Power Electronics at Siemens, added: “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.” Economy minister Vaughan Gething said: “It’s great to see such a major company choosing to co-locate their first UK Innovation Hub alongside the Catapult in Newport. This will help with developing the skills of our existing and future workforce, and foster the ongoing development of the compound semiconductor cluster.”
Simon Edmonds, the chief business officer at Innovate UK, said: “Catapults are supported by Innovate UK to drive innovation through a unique combination of facilities and expertise, and have a great track record of attracting inward investment and accelerating clusters. The Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult is continuing this through the valuable partnership with Siemens, which will make a significant contribution to the CS cluster in South Wales, to the UK economy, and to the UK’s capability in compound semiconductors.” Martin McHugh, chief executive at CSA Catapul, added: “This is a significant milestone for CSA Catapult, it will help us accelerate power electronics projects across the 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.”
