Tech industry luminaries have politely asked the UK Prime Minister to pull his finger out when it comes to delivering a strategy for the future of the UK semiconductor sector, or it may not have one at all.[PDF] sent to the PM , the IT pros point out that semiconductors are"vital components that power our everyday lives" and that Britain was once a world leader in the field, and is still currently home to notable chip design companies as well as leaders in compound semiconductors.
What the UK semiconductor industry needs is a coordinated and comprehensive strategy, the letter states, and the technology and manufacturing sectors are still waiting for one, more than two years after it was mentioned. What confidence there is in the government's ability to address this industry's vital importance is steadily declining with each month of inaction, the missive adds.
The letter suggests that any such strategy should address four areas; foster British strengths in design innovation and research by prioritizing R&D investment; support UK-based assets while partnering with strategic allies to attract inward investment; introduce open access foundries to meet the chip design and manufacturing needs of startups; and support jobs and skills to grow our domestic industry and attract tech talent.