Last week, the UK Minister for Trade Policy, Greg Hands, led a virtual visit to Taiwan on 21-22 October to further develop the UK-Taiwan trade relationship.
The virtual visit also saw the Minister launch the UK-Taiwan International Showcase for Compound Semiconductor Technology with 9 UK businesses pitching to a virtual audience of 200 potential collaborators and investors. Semiconductor technology is vital for emerging tech development and Taiwan has the dominant role in the international supply chain. Taiwan is the UK’s key international partner for semiconductor technology collaboration and the UK’s Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult (CSA Catapult) and Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan (ITRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further deepen the exchange.
Minister Hands also said a new initiative between the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council and Taiwan’s Ministry for Science and Technology would launch on 3 November 2020 with a call for research proposals, with initial funding of £500,000.
UK-Taiwan bilateral trade rose to £7.1 billion in 2019, making Taiwan the UK’s 7th largest trading partner in the Asia Pacific region. In 2019, Taiwan invested £64.2m in the UK, making the UK Taiwan’s most popular investment destination in Europe. More than 300 UK firms are present in Taiwan and there are over 180 Taiwanese firms in the UK, with TCY Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd recently investing £6.5 million in its facilities in Yorkshire, UK to bolster its machine sales and after-sales services.
UK Trade Policy Minister, Greg Hands, said:
“I was delighted to co-chair for the third time the 23rd annual UK-Taiwan trade talks today. Taiwan offers huge opportunities for UK businesses to offer their products, services and expertise in a number of fields including offshore wind and financial services. This year’s trade talks underlined the growing importance of the UK – Taiwan trade and investment relationship in areas including education, science and innovation.”
Deputy Executive Chair and Chief Business Officer, Innovate UK, Simon Edmonds said:
“We are delighted to see CSA Catapult sign this MOU with ITRI. ITRI is one of the world-leading research institutes in semiconductors and was a case study back in 2010 when Hermann Hauser made his recommendations for technology and innovation centres which became the Catapult Network. It is important for our network to collaborate with the best in the world and we look forward to seeing the exciting collaborations between the Catapult and ITRI and wish them all the best in their partnership.”
CSA Catapult CTO and Acting CEO, Martin McHugh said:
“CSA Catapult is delighted to partner with ITRI. This MOU signifies a closer working relationship, advancing semiconductor research between two world-leading organisations. Together we look forward to developing the advanced electronic products of the future, while forging long-lasting business relationships.”
Notes to Editors:
Minister Greg Hands’ CV: https://www.gov.uk/government/people/greg-hands
About CSA Catapult
The Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult is a Not for Profit organisation headquartered in South Wales. It is focused on accelerating the adoption of compound semiconductors and on bringing applications to life in three technology areas: Power Electronics, RF & Microwave and Photonics. The next wave of emerging applications will have an enormous impact on our lives. Compound semiconductors will enable a host of new and exciting applications in the electrification of transport, clean energy, defence and security and digital communications. Compound semiconductors are integral to achieving the UK government’s 2050 net zero targets and ensuring secure and resilient communications in the digital world.
The Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult exists to help the UK compound semiconductor industry grow and works across the UK within a range of industry sectors from automotive to medical, and from digital communications to aerospace. As well as the three technology areas, CSA Catapult is also working in Advanced Packaging for these high-power innovations.
About Compound Semiconductors
Semiconductors are at the heart of almost all modern electronic devices. Silicon semiconductors have widespread commercial applications, but this technology has its limits.
Compound semiconductors combine two or more elements to create capabilities that cannot be achieved with conventional silicon devices, delivering performance improvements in power, speed and signal quality. This makes them ideal to use in areas such as energy efficiency, electrified and autonomous vehicles, mobile applications, new smart-sensing devices for the Internet of Things and 5G applications.
About Catapults
The Catapult network provides world-leading facilities designed to transform the UK’s capability for innovation in specific areas and help drive future economic growth. Established by Innovate UK, which provides funding and support for business innovation as part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Catapults provide access to expert technical capabilities, equipment, and other resources required to take innovative ideas from concept to reality. Catapults are a national asset – no matter where the physical HQ is located, they are here to work with businesses and academic institutions around the UK.
For further information please contact:
Lydia Abele, Marketing and Communications Manager, CSA Catapult
M: 07741 626248
