First of its kind semiconductor facility opens in Southampton  – UKTN

A new semiconductor facility has opened in Southampton, becoming the first electron beam lithography site in Europe. 

Electron beam lithography is an advanced process for carving complex patterns into incredibly small microchips with a high level of accuracy. 

Opened on Wednesday at the University of Southampton, the new facility is just the second in the world, with the only other being in Japan. 

The site was opened by Science Minister Lord Vallance, who said: “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.” 

The government has been working towards advancing Britain’s position in the global semiconductor industry, worth around $600bn globally. 

Vallance’s visit comes alongside the release of new research from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) that found a primary barrier for growth in the British chip industry is access to emerging talent. 

The research found that just one skilled semiconductor worker can contribute an average of £460,000 to the economy annually. 

Looking to shore up Britain’s supply of chip workers, the government has also launched a £4.75m semiconductor skills package that will go towards R&D and local talent pipelines with a focus on university-industry collaboration. 

The package includes funding for undergraduate bursaries in electrical engineering, chip design courses and school outreach to encourage young people to enter the industry. 

In March, the UK’s Technology Secretary Peter Kyle told UKTN that improving Britain’s domestic chip capabilities is essential for the country’s “resilience and security”. 

Read more: Britain’s biggest semiconductor companies 

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