Cardiff University innovation hub opens its doors

The Translational Research Hub (TRH), designed to foster collaboration between industry and scientists, has officially opened at Cardif University.

It is the home of the Institute for Compound Semiconductors (ICS) and Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI), and was funded by UK and Welsh governments – including £17.3m through UKRPIF, £12m from Welsh Government, £13.1m in European funding administered by WEFO and £2.7m from HEFCW.

The Hub includes laboratories, offices, collaborative spaces, an ICS ERDF-funded cleanroom for compound semiconductor wafers up to 200mm and CCI’s electron microscopy suite.

“We are delighted to support cutting edge research and industry partners in our bespoke new ‘home of innovation’,” said ISC director Professor Peter Smowton. “As a founder member of the CSconnected cluster in South Wales, we play a pivotal role in developing new energy efficient technology and effective techniques for the mass production of compound semiconductors.”

Left to right: Cardiff University programme manager Helen Shaw, head of physical sciences and engineering Professor Rudolf Allemann, Cardiff Catalysis Institute’s Dr James Hayward, Institute for Compound Semiconductors MD Professor Peter Smowton and BYUK site managers Rhys Cresswell and Chris Carson.

“TRH’s facilities will be vital to our work with industrial partners in fields such as the automotive, fuel and chemical manufacturing industries, helping to refine catalytic processes through conventional and innovative methods,” CCI’s Professor Duncan Wass. “With a range of collaborators, including BP and Johnson Matthey, TRH will help us fulfil our mission to create cleaner, greener catalysts.”

The Hub forms part of Cardiff University’s £600m campus upgrade, which includes the newly-opened sbarc|spark building – home to the Social Science Research Park (SPARK) and Cardiff Innovations@sbarc|spark – the university’s base for spinouts and startups – the Centre for Student Life and the Abacws building.