Electronics Weekly
The aim of the course is to equip students with the expertise to become semiconductor scientists and engineers.
Working in such ultra-clean environments for manufacturing and technology development requires very specific skills, highlights the university. Such skills are in high demand in both industrial manufacturing and research and development, it said.
The Swansea CISM facility houses an ultra-clean advanced processing environment. Here, semiconductors that are used in devices from smart phones to MRI equipment can be processed. It is described by the university as a ‘pilot-foundry’.
Attendees
The attendees included 16 PhD students from the Universities of Swansea, Leeds, Manchester, Cambridge, Liverpool and UCL. Plus there were four early-career engineers from industry. The cohort received training from the highly skilled Research and Technical Professional (RTP) staff of the host universities.
The students also had lectures from academics from Swansea, Leeds, Cambridge, universities. Additionally, there was a semiconductor sector session involving industry partners from the CSconnected cluster in south Wales.
“Hosting this year’s course was a privilege,” said Swansea University RTP lead trainer Jon Evans.
“The students were enthusiastic, detail-oriented, and asked great questions. This collaboration is thanks to the strong partnership between the Royce Institute, Swansea, Leeds, and Cambridge Universities.”
Cleanroom skills
Note that while this is the first time for the course in Swansea, the course is in its third year.
Previously, it was in the Bragg Cleanroom at Leeds University. It is due to be at University of Cambridge next year.
The course itself is a collaboration between the Henry Royce Institute, the Universities of Swansea, Leeds and Cambridge, and the CS Connected industry Cluster.
Swansea University
The image above shows a student and staff member working with equipment in the photolithography laboratory.
The CISM was part-funded with £30m from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), in 2019. There was also money from local industry and Welsh Government sources.
Built at the University’s Bay Campus, it is complementary to the Institute for Compound Semiconductors at nearby Cardiff University
In 2024, Swansea achieved its highest ranking in the QS World University Rankings 2025, reaching 298th globally and entering the top 300 for the first time. It is also Welsh University of the Year 2025 according to The Times and Sunday Times.
Image: Swansea University
See also: Surrey Satellite Technology opens new Optical Cleanroom
