£50m research centre with Bath Uni targets LEDs and radio technologies

A £50m project is aiming to be Europe’s leading centre for compound semiconductors such as gallium nitride and silicon carbide for LED, radio and power applications.

The Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult will be based in Newport, Wales, with support from the University of Bath. It is about to appoint a chief executive and create a technology campus.

Along with Bath, the Catapult is working with universities at Cardiff and Swansea and has approached Bristol, says Crofton. It is funded with £10m a year for the next five years.