As we move into the summer holidays (and hopefully some well deserved breaks in the sunshine), we are giving you the latest updates on our mission to transform next-generation power electronics!
Open call funding announcement
We were delighted to announce the results of the first REWIRE Open Call for Power Semiconductor Innovation last week! We are funding three pioneering projects that bring together cutting-edge semiconductor technology with UK academic expertise to tackle key challenges in electrification, energy efficiency, and device modelling. Led by UK-based SMEs, the funded projects that will help push innovation of the next-generation of power electronics are listed below.
VESPA: Validation and Enhancement of Semiconductor Physics Simulation Models using Real-World Data - led by KuasaSemi
HIPER: High voltage Inverter Power module for Electric aircraft Research - led by Sora Aviation
SiC MOSFETs for renewable energy applications - led by Clas-SiC Wafer Fab
We're thrilled to support these projects as part of our mission to grow the UK's capability in power semiconductor innovation. Project summaries and further details of the open call are available through the news post on the REWIRE website.
It has been a very busy few months for the REWIRE team. Attending trade shows, presenting at conferences, hosting events - you name it, we have done it.
Webinars and Workshops
We run several external engagements across the spring, including our inaugural webinar series, with great interest from across the REWIRE network and beyond.
If you want to engage with future workshops or webinars, including contributing to them, please get in touch with the REWIRE operational team.
Conferences
We have been very busy bees at REWIRE over the past few months, attending a litany of conferences ranging from the Centre for Power Electronics and UK Semiconductors conferences in Sheffield, through to PCIM in Germany and CSMantech in the US. We love getting the word out about what REWIRE is doing and understanding more about what industry wants and needs from us to help deliver innovation and technology commercialisation.
What conferences and events will you see REWIRE at over the next few months?
Techworks has launched a Semiconductor Packaging Survey to help UK Government fully understand the strengths and weaknesses of the UK semiconductor packaging sector and identify critical gaps in the supply chain where targeted intervention may be needed.
The APRIL AI Hub has opened a survey to gather insights across the electronics (including semiconductor) industry regarding their concerns, perceptions, and expectations surrounding AI adoption in the workplace.
Save the date - REWIRE Showcase 2025
Our 2025 annual showcase is taking place on 18th November 2025 at the Slate on the University of Warwick campus. The event will bring together academia, industry and policymakers spanning power semiconductors and will highlight the successes of the IKC over the past year. There will be technical presentations, networking and engagement sessions and much, much more across the day.
There will be select opportunities for industry partners to exhibit at the showcase - if you are interested in getting more information on this please get in touch with the REWIRE team and we can provide you more details.
We would love for you to be there - you can add a calendar hold to save the date using the link below.
The REWIRE team continue to keep a close eye on future calls and funding opportunities, both national and international.
We are keen to build consortia around specific calls of relevance to leverage additional funding and help transform the next generation of power electronics. If you want to be part of these consortia and co-develop future grant applications, please get in touch with the REWIRE operations team to facilitate this.
Relevant active funding opportunities are listed below:
Unilateral funding through EPSRC is available to build a Canada-UK academic NetworkPlus in semiconductor research. This intervention will aim to share expertise in areas of joint interest, seed future projects and develop a roadmap and vision for a longer-term larger scale Canada-UK initiative across semiconductors.
Canada-UK Semiconductors Innovate UK is working with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to invest at least £1 million in innovation projects to stimulate the development of innovative semiconductor technologies.
Opportunities for consortia to develop and deploy next-generation power electronics to enhance grid stability, performance and efficiency in high-voltage applications.
Key sector and policy updates
The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy – the current Government announced its first Industrial Strategy since coming to power, and semiconductor-related announcements were littered throughout. The most significant element announced the establishment of the UK Semiconductor Centre, to be led by REWIRE partner CSA Catapult. With up to £19 million in funding, the Centre aims to unite industry, academia, and government, steer R&D roadmaps, and function as a central “front door” for investment and collaboration rolling out. We look forward to working closely with the Centre going forwards.
Growing the UK IKC Network – Alongside the UK Semiconductor Centre, two new semiconductor Innovation and Knowledge Centres have been announced to go compliment REWIRE and C-PIC. The Centre for Heterogeneous Integrated MicroElectronic and Semiconductor Systems (CHIMES2), led by the University of Sheffield, will address the challenge of interconnecting semiconductors through heterogeneous integration. University College London will lead the Neuromorphic Computing Hardware Semiconductor IKC, aiming to make the UK a world leader in brain-inspired computing technologies. REWIRE is looking forward to working together with the other IKCs to collectively deliver impact for the UK semiconductor sector.
UK Microsystems Networks launched – is a nationwide initiative to unite researchers, industry partners, and policymakers who share an interest in designing and developing microsystems. connects academia, industry, professional bodies and governmental agencies to support and grow the UK’s microsystems research and innovation capabilities from fundamental research to application.
Each issue, we like to highlight one of our new partners that we are really excited about working with over the coming years.
RAM Innovations is a UK-based SME specialising in the development and manufacture of embedded die packaging solutions for the semiconductor and electronics industries. With research and development at the core of its approach, RAM is advancing the performance and reliability of next-generation semiconductor technologies, particularly wide-bandgap devices for high-performance power electronics. We’re excited to continue collaborating with RAM Innovations as they scale their capabilities and help drive innovation in this critical area.
Leveraging advanced design and simulation methods, a novel three-step buffer structure was introduced to significantly improve voltage-blocking capability while reducing on-state losses and stress during switching. Electrical characterisation and thermal evaluation demonstrated that this optimised buffer architecture achieves safer, more efficient high-voltage operation, marking a compelling step forward in SiC-based power electronics.
Fabrication trials are now progressing thanks to REWIRE funding, with demonstrators coming in the next year. Make sure to get in touch with our Warwick academics to learn more.
Call to action
We want your input! We would love to hear about what the key challenges for the power electronics and power semiconductors sector are going to be over the coming years and what activities you believe REWIRE should deliver and that you want to engage with.
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