The UK is aiming to strengthen its position is the global race for semiconductor dominance with £1.2 million going towards the National Physical Laboratory to lead an initiative exploring the technology.

The funding, provided by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), aims to support the project in addressing the critical bottlenecks that exist in the UK’s semiconductor strategy, as well as to establish new advances in metrology.

New standards in metrology will be required as semiconductors, which traditionally were made from silicon, evolve to rely on compounds such as silicon carbine, gallium arsenide, and gallium nitride.

As these more complex semiconductors are used increasingly in critical tech such as 5G and electric vehicles, being able to properly measure involved minerals and elements is essential in establishing the UK’s semiconductor capabilities.

“The semiconductor industry is evolving rapidly, driving breakthroughs in AI, quantum computing and advanced electronics,” Gareth Edwards, head of advanced manufacturing and material strategy at the National Physical Laboratory said.

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“To compete globally, the UK must harness its strengths in research, innovation and precision measurement. Standards are key—they provide the framework that ensures reliability, interoperability and confidence across complex supply chains.

“This project brings together NPL’s world-leading metrology expertise with the technical capabilities of UK academia and industry to define standards for next-generation semiconductors.

“By doing so, we give the UK a strong global voice in shaping how these technologies are developed and adopted, strengthening supply chains, attracting investment and enabling British innovation to lead internationally.”

The project will be lead by the National Physical Laboratory, in partnership with Vishay Newport, GEN3, Custom Interconnect, Oxford Instruments, Swansea University, the University of Cambridge among others.

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