Where UK semiconductor strategy meets future mobility

By Marc Ambasna-Jones 03 Oct 25 Reading time: 2 mins

The UK government has promised to invest £1 billion over the next decade to strengthen the nation’s position in semiconductors, with a particular focus on research, design, and compound technologies. Ministers say this is where Britain can lead and where supply chain resilience is critical, and it’s been supported with the launch of a UK Semiconductor Centre. But what does that really mean for innovation, for the companies trying to scale new devices, and for the industries that depend on them?

The real test is not in strategy papers but in practice. How does the UK convert research strength into industrial impact? How do breakthroughs in labs and university clean rooms make their way into electric cars, buses, and even aircraft? And how do clusters like Bristol and South Wales turn into magnets for capital, talent, and scale?

On 9 October, those questions will come to the fore at the latest Foresight Live event Convergence of Critical Tech in Power Semiconductors & Future Mobility. Bringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, and policy leaders, this meeting promises to be a rare chance to learn from those who shape both strategy and technology, and to discover where the next steps lie.

It’s a coup to have one of the architects of the UK strategy on the panel – Richard Duffy, head of Innovation and Growth at DSIT. Alongside him will be:

• Professor Martin Kuball (University of Bristol/REWIRE) Renowned for his work on wide-bandgap materials, thermal management, and device reliability. Expect deep insight into how lab advances may – or may not – scale into mobility systems.
• Furqan (CEO, Sora Aviation) His presence signals that the conversation will reach into electrified aviation; what are the extra burdens on power electronics when you’re airborne?
• Nick Singh (CTO, CSA Catapult) From the catapult side, Singh may elaborate on how the UK Semiconductor Centre and related infrastructure can support start-ups, prototyping and scale-up.
• Tim Mottram (Innovation Program Lead, Power Electronics, Siemens) Representing industrial deployment and real-world systems, Mottram will likely ground discussions in what makes devices viable for mobility systems.

Throughout the event, attendees will learn about real-world applications, emerging trends, and the pathways (and pitfalls) from device to system. Discover where policy meets engineering, where ambition bumps into manufacturability, and where the UK may find its competitive edge, or reveal its gaps.

Hosted by Foresight Live, Convergence of Critical Tech in Power Semiconductors & Future Mobility is on Thursday, 9 October, 4.30–7pm at Engine Shed in Bristol and online. Book your free ticket now. 

Marc Ambasna-Jones / Editor-in-chief

Working as a technology journalist and writer since 1989, Marc has written for a wide range of titles on technology, business, education, politics and sustainability, with work appearing in The Guardian, The Register, New Statesman, Computer Weekly and many more.