The tech minister is urging semiconductor leaders to apply for funding through the soon-to-expire Chips Joint Undertaking.

UK semiconductor companies and researchers are currently eligible to apply for access to a £5m funding pot for research.

British firms gained access to the funding in March when the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced the UK would join the Chips Joint Undertaking.

The scheme is part of Horizon Europe, a programme from the European Union to fund scientific research. The EU body has a total of €1.3bn in funding set aside for collaborative semiconductor research. Research funding also came in part from Innovate UK.

The UK rejoined the Horizon Europe programme last September, having previously left it following the European Referendum.

Firms have only until the middle of May to apply for the semiconductor funding, which Tech Minister Saqib Bhatti stressed during a visit to Scotland.

Bhatti on Thursday met with Scottish Minister for Innovation, Richard Lochhead as well as chip firms Silvers Photonics, Shin-Etsu and Semefab.

“Through the Chips Joint Undertaking, we are providing significant funding to fuel research in key areas where the UK excels, including open-source semiconductor design and advanced packaging,” Bhatti said.

“I’m calling on our brightest semiconductor scientists and most promising firms to come forward urgently so we can back their ideas and fund their innovation together.”

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