Critical Technologies Accelerator

Critical Technologies Accelerator: Design and Prototyping across Photonics, Semiconductors and Quantum The Critical Technologies Accelerator (CTA), aligned with the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre (JWNC), at the University of Glasgow (UoG), creates an engineering capability that aids the growth of the Scottish photonics, semiconductor and quantum clusters, through design and prototyping of new devices for emerging high-volume applications. The CTA utilises the embedded expertise and skills of the JWNC and senior UoG academic researchers. The funding for this IA programme appoints design, fabrication and test engineers that can enable industry to deliver innovative products that open up new markets. Huge growth is predicted for photonics and quantum markets -- and companies first to market with innovative solutions will reap significant commercial benefits. The IA project provides the critical mass of resource and expertise to take on projects that are too risky for any one company to invest in alone, opening up volume market opportunities and helping local companies achieve faster and larger growth in sales, exports and high value jobs. It will enable Scottish companies to get products to market quicker and achieve faster and larger growth in sales, exports and high value jobs by: \*building cross supply chain collaborative projects that synergise existing Scottish industrial expertise \*providing additional central R&D resource that can augment and accelerate industry's internal R&D activities on product development \*providing a mechanism to de-risk products and shorten time to market. In the delivery phase, the CTA delivers 5 specific projects identified by the local cluster, each addressing applications and sectors with huge growth potential. The funding also creates a Centre with a management and engineering structure designed for long term sustainability. The management team will identify additional projects past the IA delivery phase that attract other funding, ensuring the long-term future of the Centre as an important Scottish asset. This IA project demonstrates the model for a larger initiative proposed by the UoG. This initiative will engineer quantum solutions using building blocks from across the UK. It will act as a front door for global industry to engage with UK quantum expertise, position Glasgow as a world leader in quantum technology, and be a beacon for further inward investment to the City.