A not-for-profit UK research and technology organisation in Newport, South Wales, that helps companies turn compound semiconductor technology into real products.
The Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult (CSA Catapult) is a UK organisation that works with large companies, start-ups, small firms and universities to develop and sell new uses for compound semiconductors. These are chip materials, such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride, that handle higher voltages, frequencies and temperatures than ordinary silicon. They matter in electric vehicles, mobile networks, power systems and photonics. Its three focus areas are power electronics, radio frequency and microwave systems, and photonics. It is a not-for-profit body and part of the UK's network of Catapult centres.
The Catapult launched in August 2018, at a time when UK firms were making good chip materials but lacked the shared equipment and processes to build working prototypes or full system boards. It calls its aim helping the UK to lead the world in creating and commercialising new uses for the technology, to the long-term benefit of the UK economy. Its early approach was to open an Innovation Centre, build evaluation modules (ready-made test boards) and run challenge programmes. Its first chief executive was Stephen Doran, who came from Raytheon UK and Wolfson Microelectronics. Martin McHugh was named as chief executive in 2023, and Caroline O'Brien was quoted as chief executive in its 2024 to 2025 annual review.
The Innovation Centre is at Imperial Park, Celtic Way, Newport NP10 8BE, in the middle of the South Wales compound semiconductor cluster. In summer 2023 the Catapult opened its first Scottish office at the University of Strathclyde's Technology Innovation Centre in Glasgow, working with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland on power module design and manufacturing. It also opened the UK's first open-access advanced packaging facility in Newport, and is part of REACT, a project creating a sustainable electronics centre in Scotland. At launch it had around 23 staff, with plans to grow; we did not find a current headcount.
The Catapult's annual review for 2024 to 2025 reports 311 industrial projects and says its work helped to create or safeguard nearly 6,000 jobs. The chief executive describes it as a mature organisation at the forefront of compound semiconductor technologies. Those are the Catapult's own claims, based on its own and an independent university study. We did not find a culture or values page, so look for staff stories when you get the chance.
Because the Catapult exists to help other companies, its team needs engineers who can design and test hardware, people who understand power electronics, RF and photonics, project managers, business development staff and specialists in manufacturing readiness. Its Newport and Glasgow bases mean you can build a hardware career in Wales or Scotland rather than only in the south-east of England. It is a good example of a UK-wide employer that helps many other firms grow.
Website: csa.catapult.org.uk
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