Semiconductors and components for smart electronic platforms

This competition provides UK registered businesses with the opportunity to apply for a share of up to £18.5 million to mature and accelerate the availability of components that include semiconductors or novel technologies.

The aim is to drive forward a UK-anchored catalogue of components that are ready for integration and delivery into next generation Smart Electronic Platforms. These platforms are integrated printed circuit boards designed to enable automation and autonomy in industrial and tactical edge environments.

Projects must ensure that developed components are ready for integration into a smart electronic platform’s Sense, Decide, Act pipeline and platform enablement, including:

Sense – Sensing components: In-package modules (for example system-in-package or multi-chip modules) / PCB-mounted sensors / Interfaces for external sensors

Decide – Processing and intelligence components: Secure processors / AI acceleration hardware / Integrated memory and storage / Communications supporting decision functions

Act – Actuation and drive components: Drivers for off-platform actuation / Power regulation components / Integrated processing and interface units

Platform enablement components: Data movement and routing / Hardware security modules (for example Root of Trust, eSIM, secure enclaves) / Power management and control components

Projects may also include software development necessary to enable component integration within a smart electronic platform.

Who can apply

Applicants can apply either alone or as part of a collaboration.

To apply alone, your organisation must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME).

To lead a collaborative project, your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size, and the consortium must include at least one UK registered SME claiming grant funding.

Collaborators can include UK registered: business of any size / academic institution / charity / not for profit / public sector organisation / research and technology organisation (RTO).

Academic institutions cannot lead or apply alone.