As quantum applications mature, sovereign supply chains will be an increasingly important factor in successful commercialisation.
A supply of custom VCSEL specifications has previously been very restricted due to consolidation and mass market adoption. This presented an opportunity to address a UK and global emerging market for quantum applications, which this project built upon.
Semiconductor supply chains support global markets, for example IQE and Microchip export approximately 90% of the output of the UK operations. In addition, there is a huge value leverage in high value products enabled by semiconductor components.
Co-location of high value system manufacturing with semiconductor supply chains is common (e.g. Silicon Valley, Eindhoven, Grenoble, Leuven, Dresden, Taipei). This project has created an opportunity to accelerate UK semiconductor exports, and to see a nascent manufacturing industry in quantum systems/subsystems.
The consortium brought together high value-add manufacturers, many based in some of the UK’s most economically challenged regions. Five partners—IQE, Microsemi, CSC, CSconnected, and Cardiff University—are part of the CSconnected cluster in South Wales, the world’s first dedicated compound semiconductor cluster. This cluster supports 2,300 jobs and contributes £180 million in GVA annually, significantly boosting a region with a GVA per capita of just £19.9K (2018). Bay Photonics’ involvement also supports job creation in Torbay, where GVA averages £15.5K.
Without Innovate UK’s support, the project would have faced significant delays, as quantum components are currently a low commercial priority due to trends in the EV and telecom sectors.
Thanks to this funding, the project accelerated the technology readiness level (TRL) from 4 to 7, culminating in the development of an integrated pilot system and bringing the technology significantly closer to commercialisation.
