Epiwafer foundry and substrate maker IQE plc of Cardiff, Wales, UK has won the Best Technology title at the AIM Awards 2017, presented during a gala ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London.
Sponsored by Allenby Capital, the Best Technology award is in recognition of IQE’s technology leadership in the supply of advanced compound semiconductor wafers for a wide range of products that enable technologies as diverse as mobile phones, high-speed optical communications, ultra-efficient solar cells, low-energy lighting, autonomous drive vehicles, and power switching applications.
Working in collaboration with the Welsh and UK Governments, Cardiff University and other partners, IQE is progressing with its vision to establish the world’s first Compound Semiconductor Cluster in Wales.
“Compound semiconductors are front and centre of the 21st century technologies and IQE has developed an unparalleled breath of materials IP, which is enabling us to differentiate ourselves in the marketplace,” says president & CEO Dr Drew Nelson.
“To help capitalize on the opportunities ahead, we have entered into two joint venture arrangements: in Singapore – jointly owned by IQE, WIN Semiconductor and Singapore’s National Technology University – and in the United Kingdom – jointly owned by IQE and Cardiff University,” he adds. “The UK joint venture was a catalyst to securing committed investments totalling £300m towards the continued development of a UK compound semiconductor cluster, and the Singapore JV has been selected as a partner in a major program for CS on silicon technology.”
