The UK cut ribbons at its pioneering electron beam (E beam) lithography facility to build future semiconductor chips. What is this special reason? It is the first kind in Europe, only the second facility on the planet that it likes, and the other facilities are in Japan.
So, what’s the big deal about electron beam lithography? Imagine trying to draw an incredibly complex pattern, but thousands of times smaller than human hair. That’s essentially what this technology does, using a focused beam of small electrons.
Such accuracy is essential for designing microscope components within the chip that runs everything from smartphones and gaming consoles to life-saving medical scanners and advanced defense systems.
Semiconductors are already a large corporation for the UK, adding an economy of around £10 billion each year. And that number is expected to climb, potentially hitting £17 billion by the end of the decade.
Cultivating this sector is a great opportunity for the UK, not only to create valuable jobs and promote real economic growth, but to not only create high-quality manufacturing bragging rights.
When the facility was launched in Southampton, Science Minister Patrick Valance said:
“By investing in both infrastructure and talent, we provide researchers and innovators with the support they need to develop the next generation of chips in the UK.”
However, the visit to Lord Balance was more than just a photo opportunity. It came alongside some plain news: fresh research published today highlights that one of the biggest hurdles facing the UK’s growing chip industry is finding enough people with the right skills.
We’re talking about a serious talent crunch. Considering that one person working in semiconductors contributes to an economy of an average of £460,000 each year, we can see why inserting this skill gap is so important.
So, what is your plan? The government is not just accepting the issue. They use a £4.75 million semiconductor skills package to put their money in places with their mouths. The idea is to build that talent pipeline and make sure universities like Southampton (already a powerhouse of chip innovation) have resources such as e-beam labs and the students they need.
“Our £4.75 million skill package will support change planning by closing the skills gap in this key sector by supporting more young people into high-value semiconductor careers,” explained Lord Balance.
This is where the cash is moving forward:
- Being obsessed with students (£3 million): £5,000 £5,000 towards your degree? The 300 students starting their electronics and electrical engineering courses this year will get just that, along with specific learning modules that show that semiconductor carriers are actually involved, especially in chip design and creating things.
- Practical chip skills (£1.2 million): It’s one of learning theory and designing another real chip. The pot will also fund new hands-on-chip design courses for students (undergraduates and alumni) and train instructors. They are also considering creating transformation courses to seduce talented people from other fields into the world of chips.
- Inspire the next generation (nearly £550,000): In order to actually build a long-term pipeline, you need to gain interest early. The funding aims to give 7,000 teenagers (15-18) and 450 teachers a real, hands-on experience with semiconductors, working with local companies at existing UK chip hotspots such as Newport, Cambridge and Glasgow. The goal is to show young people the cool career paths available at the gateway.
Ultimately, we hope that this targeted support will provide the skilled labor needed to thrive in the UK semiconductor scene. It’s about encouraging more students to jump into these valuable careers, helping businesses find the people they desperately need, and ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of technology that will shape the economy of tomorrow.
Professor Graham Reed, head of the Optoelectronics Research Center (ORC) at the University of Southampton, commented:
“It promotes a vast range of innovative and industrially relevant research and much-needed semiconductor skills training.”
Putting world-class tools in researchers’ hands and investing in those who use them will help solidify UK leadership in semiconductors.
reference: AI in education: Balance between promises and pitfalls
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