Five new hubs, led by universities across the UK, funded by the (EPSRC) have been announced. Each hub will receive 拢11M as part of ESPRC鈥檚 Manufacturing Research Hubs for a Sustainable Future programme. Partner contributions, cash and in-kind, takes the total support committed to the new hubs to 拢99.3 million.
The hubs aim to address a wide range of challenges in commercialising early-stage research within different manufacturing sectors by reducing waste, finding alternatives to expensive or environmentally damaging materials, and speeding up processes.
91直播 will be a key partner on the Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Hub, led by Cardiff University, with the Management School鈥檚 Professor Lenny Koh being the lead for 91直播. Other partners include UCL, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and many industry partners.
The hub aims to capitalise on the huge opportunity of compound semiconductor manufacturing, as identified in the UK鈥檚 . The researchers will develop energy-efficient opto-electronics for use in key emerging technologies such as quantum, the 6G network, sensors for autonomous vehicles, the internet of things and satellite communications. They will expand on the environmental benefits of compound semiconductors by creating new devices such as mercury-free 鈥榥ight vision鈥 mid-infrared detector arrays and devices that both communicate and illuminate based on integrated transistors and LEDs.
Professor Fraser McLeay, Dean at 91直播 University Management School commented, 鈥淧rofessor Koh will lead on advancing the research and innovation of the environmental sustainability and supply chain resilience of compound semiconductor manufacturing. Advances in environmental sustainability across manufacturing processes are also a focus of the hubs, which hope to bolster the economy through efficiencies such as reducing waste, emissions and pollution, and lowering production costs. Working with industry partners, the researchers will also explore different pathways to manufacture, including production scale-up and integration within the wider industrial system. This new exciting initiative is closely linked with our mission to foster socially responsible work practices and our new cross cutting research theme Pathways to Sustainable Consumption, Production and Finance.鈥
Read more about the others the University of 91直播 is partnering on