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The University of Southampton's System-on-Chip Labs (SoC Labs) is to deliver a UK wide programme to develop the next generation of chip designers and help grow the country's AI sector.
Smartphones, cars, the homes we live in, places we work, and almost every facet of our daily lives rely on small semiconductor devices called 'chips'.
Globally, design engineers are seen as crucial in developing new chips and semiconductor technologies that underpin advances for society in our rapidly changing world.
Southampton's John Darlington, SoC Labs and CHIMES IKC lead, says: "Remaining competitive in a fast moving global industry and giving the UK workforce the vital skills they need, is crucial. I'm proud the University of Southampton is playing a leading role in developing the chip designers of tomorrow."
The Government, through the Modern Industrial and Semiconductor strategies, has stated ambitious plans to make the UK a leading nation in this globally critical industry. Semiconductors contribute an estimated £10 billion to our economy each year and that figure is projected to grow by billions.
The University of Southampton is widely recognised for its expertise in electronics design and semiconductor fabrication. SoC Labs is being funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to build on the country's existing strengths in computer chip design.
Technology Minister Kanishka Narayan said: "The abundance of electronics and computer science knowledge in UK universities is unquestionable. To realise the full potential of our semiconductor industry - which could be worth £17 billion by 2030 - we need to turn more great ideas into cutting-edge technologies.
"The University of Southampton is playing a key role in helping us achieve that ambition. With Arm's support, they are ensuring the next generation of chip designers have all the tools they need to build the kinds of products that can deliver new innovations and create British jobs in the years to come."
The three year programme, receiving £3m from DSIT, will support upskilling and training in state-of-the-art System on Chip design. It aims to address challenges that have been identified in UK workforce development, especially the gap between core foundation skills provided by traditional academic teaching and the practical application skills needed by industry.
Richard Grisenthwaite, Arm Executive Vice President and Chief Architect, says: "Southampton's SoC Labs is an important academic initiative that can help strengthen the UK semiconductor ecosystem and develop the practical skills needed for the next wave of AI hardware innovation. Through Arm Academic Access , Arm is proud to support academics with access to Arm IP and tools that help advance research, build real-world SoC design experience, and train the next generation of chip designers."
The programme will develop talent by working on industrially relevant, real world chip and artificial intelligence design challenges. SoC Labs will provide support to academic groups and start-ups, including how to build and use reference designs - tested, validated 'blueprints' for systems which engineers can integrate into their own innovative designs. A key element will also be facilitating prototype fabrication for new semiconductor products. It will work closely with other UK initiatives such as UK ChipStart.
Mark Willoughby heads up the team at the Science Technology and Facilities Council (STFC) tasked with stimulating the use of modern electronic design techniques and tools in academia - supporting the UK Chip Design Enablement Programme. He says "We are looking forward to working closely with centres of excellence, such as the University of Southampton, to align the support needed to improve design skills across both industry and academia, and as a result, deliver better outcomes for the UK electronics ecosystem."
