Notice

Competition brief: compound semiconductor applications

Updated 19 October 2016

This notice was withdrawn on 21 September 2017

This competition is no longer open. Search current funding opportunities.

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens:	Monday 18 July 2016
Briefing webinar for potential applicants:	Wednesday 27 July 2016
Registration deadline:	Noon on Wednesday 19 October 2016
Application deadline:	Noon on Wednesday 26 October 2016

2. The competition scope

Compound semiconductors offer improved performance for applications that currently use silicon-based semiconductors. They open up new application areas that silicon-based semiconductors cannot. But there are technical and business risks across the supply chain. So the development and adoption of new compound semiconductor devices is often held back.

This competition aims to address some of the technical challenges. This is so that businesses can exploit the superior performance of compound semiconductors.

Projects must involve a compound semiconductor material with a scalable market application. Examples of compound semiconductors include: GaAs, GaN, InP, SiC and HgCdTe (gallium arsenide, gallium nitride, indium phosphide, silicon carbide and mercury cadmium telluride).

We are particularly interested in projects that address one or more of the following:

• thermal management technologies for compound semiconductor packaging, such as multi-phase fluidics
• materials and techniques that enable a significant improvement in device performance. Examples include operating speed, temperature, voltage, current, or light intensity
• rapid prototyping techniques, such as additive manufacturing using polymers or ceramics, for advanced packaging or printed die interconnects
• simulation and modelling techniques, such as multi-scale or multi-physics at device or sub-system level, to speed up verification and validation, and reduce development cycles
• novel adhesion technologies to join dissimilar materials, such as graphene-loaded epoxy
• approaches to combine multi-mode devices. Examples include integrating photonic with RF devices or photonic with high-voltage devices
• approaches to create hybrid combinations of silicon die with compound semiconductor die
• techniques to enable rapid alignment and assembly. These will help to automate more of the supply chain and improve productivity
• automated or semi-automated test methodologies for power electronic, RF/microwave, photonics or sensor applications
• projects that lead to a significant reduction in cost across the supply chain

We may fund projects that represent a portfolio of topics.

If you have a project that meets the aims of the competition but does not address one of the above topics, please contact us. We will tell you if your project is eligible.

3. Projects that we won’t fund

In this competition we are not funding projects that involve only silicon-based semiconductor material.

4. Find out if you are eligible to apply

To lead a project, you must:

• be a UK-registered business of any size
• carry out your project in the UK

5. Funding and project details

We have allocated up to £4 million to fund innovative projects in this competition.

A UK-based business must lead the project.

Project costs of up to £100,000

If you are a UK business and expect your eligible project costs to be up to £100,000, you may run the project on your own. You may also work with other businesses or research organisations.

Project costs of £100,000 or above

If you expect your eligible project costs to be more than £100,000, you must work with at least one other business or research organisation.

Project types

We expect projects to focus on technical feasibility studies. We will also accept elements of industrial research. This will depend on the challenge.

For technical feasibility studies and industrial research, you could get:

• up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
• up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business
• up to 50% if you are a large business

Check if your business fits the EU definition of an SME

We expect projects to last between 6 and 15 months. We expect them to range in size from total costs of £50,000 to £500,000. You must complete the work, and incur, pay and claim for all costs before the end of March 2018. We will not allow project extensions beyond the end of March 2018.

6. How to apply

To apply:

• register and apply
• read the Guidance for Applicants for this competition
• watch the briefing event recording from Wednesday 27 July 2016
• complete and upload your online application on our secure server

We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential.

Our assessment processes changed in May 2016. External, independent experts assess the quality of your application. We will then select the projects that we fund, to build a portfolio of projects that are:

• high quality
• reflect a range of topics as described in the scope
• address opportunities across a range of industrial sectors

Read the general guidance for applicants before you apply. It will help your chances of submitting a successful application.

7. Background and further information

Compound semiconductors are at the heart of many devices we use today. This includes smartphones, tablets and satellite communication systems. They are central to:

• the development of the 5G network
• new high-efficiency lighting
• the next generation of electric vehicles
• new imaging techniques for a variety of uses, from security to health diagnostics

Since 2000, the UK has invested close to £750 million in the research of compound semiconductor materials and the application of semiconductor devices. The global market for compound semiconductors is forecast to grow rapidly to around £125 billion by 2025. The UK is well placed to exploit this growing market. Many R&D intensive companies operate across the supply chain, including start-ups, SMEs and multinationals. The value proposition increases by around 5 or 10 times from one stage of the supply chain to the next. This creates significant opportunities to capture and grow value for the UK.

The UK recently announced the launch of the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult. We will fund a portfolio of projects in this feasibility studies competition. These could lead to future collaborative projects with the Catapult.

If you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network.

If you need more information, contact the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email us at support@innovateuk.gov.uk