The University of Sheffield will collaborate with other universities to form the Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Hub | School of Management

Professor Lenny Koh, Head of Cross Cutting, Strategic Futures on Resource Sustainability, is the Sheffield lead for the new EPSRC production hubs.

Five new hubs have been announced, led by UK universities, funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research and Innovation Council (EPSRC). Each hub will receive £11 million as part of ESPRC’s Manufacturing Research Hubs for a Sustainable Future programme. Contributions from partners, in cash and in kind, bring the total support to the new hubs to £99.3m.

The centers aim to address a wide range of challenges in commercializing early-stage research in various manufacturing sectors by reducing waste, finding alternatives to expensive or environmentally harmful materials and speeding up processes.

The University of Sheffield will be a key partner in the Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Hub, led by Cardiff University, with Professor Lenny Koh from the School of Management as the Sheffield lead. Other partners include UCL, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and many industry partners.

The hub aims to capitalize on the huge opportunity in compound semiconductor manufacturing as identified in the UK’s National Semiconductor Strategy. Researchers will develop energy-efficient optoelectronics for use in key emerging technologies such as quantum, 6G networking, sensors for autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things and satellite communications. They will extend the environmental benefits of compound semiconductors by creating new devices such as mid-infrared detector arrays, mercury-free “night vision” and devices that communicate and illuminate based on integrated transistors and LEDs.

Professor Fraser McLeay, Dean of Sheffield University Management School commented: “Professor Koh will lead the advancement of research and innovation in the area of ​​environmental sustainability and supply chain resilience of compound semiconductor manufacturing. Advances in environmental sustainability in manufacturing processes are also a focus of the hubs, which hope to support the economy through efficiencies such as reducing waste, emissions and pollution and reducing production costs. Working with industry partners, the researchers will also explore different production pathways, including scale-up of production and integration into the wider industrial system. This exciting new initiative is closely related to our mission to promote socially responsible work practices and our new cross-cutting research theme. Pathways to sustainable consumption, production and finance.”

Read more about the others the University of Sheffield partners with