New Partnership with Siemens to Supercharge UK Semiconductor Innovation

ByIbrahim Sari

We are thrilled to announce a transformative collaboration between the University of Southampton’s MICROCRAFT platform and industry leader Siemens. This partnership is set to accelerate the UK’s capabilities in advanced manufacturing and semiconductors, creating a high-speed, low-risk pathway from laboratory research to real-world commercial products.

Bridging the Gap: From Lab to Market This initiative unites MICROCRAFT’s open-access fabrication capabilities with Siemens’ Cre8Ventures open innovation platform. By combining our world-class prototyping facilities at the Zepler Cleanrooms with Siemens’ industry-grade digital twin technology, we are empowering students, researchers, and tech start-ups to design, test, and build next-generation Micro- and Nano- Electromechanical Systems (MEMS and NEMS).

Key Benefits for the Community

  • Virtual Validation: Innovators can now model and validate designs virtually using Siemens’ tools before physical production, saving critical time and capital.
  • Sovereign Capability: The partnership supports the UK National Semiconductor Strategy and the EU Chips Act, securing vital design and manufacturing skills within the region.
  • Real-World Application: Projects will demonstrate cutting-edge applications, including a first-of-its-kind UK-made dual-use drone.

Dr Ibrahim Sari, Founder of MICROCRAFT, described the alliance as a “game-changer” that bridges the gap between academic research and industrial commercialisation, allowing partners to “design, build, and validate the technologies of the future, right here in the UK.” Carson Bradbury, Co-founder Siemens Cre8Ventures, said: “Accelerating the path to value for deep tech startups is the core mission of Cre8Ventures.”

For more details on how this collaboration is de-risking innovation and building a resilient semiconductor ecosystem, read the full announcement here: Southampton and Siemens to boost UK semiconductor innovation.