Cardiff University partner IQE wins top AIM award
18 October 2017
Cardiff University partner IQE, a manufacturer of advanced semiconductor wafers, has won ‘Best Technology’ title at the AIM Awards 2017.
IQE is working with Cardiff University, Welsh and UK Governments to drive forward its vision to establish the world’s first Compound Semiconductor (CS) cluster in Wales.
The AIM Awards identify quoted companies and entrepreneurs who have harnessed AIM (the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller growing companies) to help them fulfil their growth potential in the last twelve months.
The IQE award is in recognition of the company’s leadership in the supply of advanced CS wafers for products that enable technologies as diverse as mobile phones, high speed optical communications and autonomous drive vehicles.
Drew Nelson, President and CEO of IQE Group, said: “It is a great honour to receive this prestigious award. Compound semiconductors are front and centre of the 21st century technologies and IQE has developed an unparalleled breath of materials IP, which is enabling us to differentiate ourselves in the marketplace.
"To help capitalise on the opportunities ahead, we have entered into two joint venture arrangements: in Singapore, jointly owned by IQE, WIN Semiconductor and Singapore’s National Technology University and in the United Kingdom, jointly owned by IQE and Cardiff University..."
"The UK Joint Venture was a catalyst to securing committed investments totalling £300m towards the continued development of a UK compound semiconductor cluster, and the Singapore JV has been selected as a partner in a major programme for CS on silicon technology."
Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University, congratulated IQE on the honour: “IQE continues to lead the world in its determination to develop and exploit CS technologies which hold the key to a greener future, from ultra-efficient solar cells to low energy lighting and power switching applications.”
Cardiff University established the Compound Semiconductor Centre (CSC) with IQE – a 50/50 ‘for profit’ enterprise that is Europe's new home for product, services and skills development in CS technologies.
CSC provides cutting-edge facilities that help researchers and industry work together, and helps to position Cardiff as the UK and European leader in CS knowhow.
Cardiff University also works closely with IQE through the Institute for Compound Semiconductors, providing cutting-edge facilities that help researchers and industry work together.
This year, the Wales CS cluster has been boosted by a £38m Cardiff Capital Region City Deal investment in a CS Foundry for Newport. In 2016, Innovate UK – the UK Government’s innovation agency – announced a £50m investment to establish a new Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult in Wales.
