CSconnected

Cluster’s 10-Year Anniversary Celebration

Thank you to everyone who joined us at The Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff to celebrate a decade of innovation and collaboration within the CSconnected Cluster – the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster. The event brought together over 100 industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and educators to mark a decade of transformation and look ahead to the next chapter of advanced technology in Wales.

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
Gained a global reputation as the go-to location for compound semiconductors

Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnerships, Jack Sargeant MS, 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.”

Special Thank You to our Cluster Champions

We were proud to recognise a group of outstanding individuals whose leadership, commitment and vision have helped shape the CSconnected Cluster over the past decade.

Our heartfelt thanks go to our Cluster Champions:

Chris Meadows: Non-Executive Director, CSconnected
David Rosser: Chief Regional Officer (South), Economy, Skills & Natural Resources Group, Welsh Government
Dr Drew Nelson: OBE FREng, Co-Founder, IQE
Kellie Beirne: Chief Executive, Cardiff Capital Region (CCR)
Martin McHugh: Former Chief Executive, CSA Catapult
Prof Paul Meredith: OBE, FLSW, Director of the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials at Swansea University
Prof Ruedi Allemann: Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) & Head, College of Physical Sciences & Engineering, Cardiff University
Prof Wyn Meredith: FREng FLSW, Founding Director, Compound Semiconductor Centre & Chair, CSconnected

Their contributions have been instrumental in building the foundations of a world-leading cluster and in driving continued collaboration across academia, industry and government. It was heartwarming to hear the cluster champions also acknowledge the work and dedication of other key figures in the cluster’s history.

The awards were made by Swansea based artist Dr. Tyra Oseng-Rees of Oseng-Rees Reflection Ltd. The reclaimed construction glass used for these awards was salvaged from the former Newport Centre and since being fused, now has a stronger resemblance to stone or marble.

Reflecting on the milestone, Howard Rupprecht, Managing Director of CSconnected, commented:

“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 success has been made possible through close collaboration between universities, industry, and government — including major milestones such as the establishment of the Compound Semiconductor Centre, the Institute for Compound Semiconductors at Cardiff University, the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials at Swansea University, and the UKRI-funded Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult.

We would like to extend our gratitude to our event sponsors — CSA Catapult, Wynne Jones IP, KLA, and Welsh Government — and to our partners and funders at UKRI Strength in Places Fund and Cardiff Capital Region for their continued support.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, CSconnected has launched its membership programme, enabling more organisations across the advanced semiconductor supply chain to become part of this world-leading cluster.

Find out more and about the membership model on our website: Membership | CSconnected

Cluster Milestone Video

Hear from some of the key players in the CSconnected cluster and the milestones achieved since 2015:

Event Photo Gallery

A selection of photos from the evening will be available on the link below, capturing the speakers, guests, and memorable moments from the celebration. Thank you to our photographer – Tyler George Photography

📸 View the gallery: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5sghhg749w0d2adhg0jj2/AOzfXRAMH9Rk53x2nLQjOK8?rlkey=350je3ct01vl1u0e6rvimrs2w&st=9kb97yek&dl=0