Edinburgh researchers join new £12.5 million research centre for next-generation semiconductor systems

Researchers from the School of Engineering are joining a new £12.5 million national research centre to strengthen the UK’s ability to design the next generation of advanced electronic systems and support the ambitions of the UK Semiconductor Strategy.

The Centre for Heterogeneous Integrated Micro Electronic and Semiconductor Systems (CHIMES²) will develop new ways to combine multiple microchips into smaller, faster and more energy-efficient systems – a critical challenge as electronic devices continue to shrink and increase in complexity.

Semiconductors power everything from smartphones and data centres to electric vehicles and medical equipment. As traditional circuit boards reach their limits, the future lies in 'Heterogeneous Integration' – combining different semiconductor technologies into highly integrated, secure systems.

Led by The University of Sheffield, CHIMES² brings together researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge, Oxford, Queen’s University Belfast, Strathclyde, Newcastle, King’s College London, Manchester, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). CHIMES is funded by the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, delivered and monitored via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Professor Themis Prodromakis, Regius Chair of Engineering at The University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering and co-lead of CHIMES², said:

Edinburgh is proud to spearhead the translation of emerging semiconductor technologies into industry-ready systems through CHIMES². Utilizing the Scottish Microelectronics Centre’s (SMC) unique facilities, we will drive the heterogeneous integration of emerging (eg. memristors) with conventional semiconductor technologies, ensuring the UK’s world-leading research is rapidly scaled into next-generation commercial electronics.

Professor John Goodenough, Director of CHIMES² and Professor in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Sheffield, said:

This centre strengthens the UK’s capability to design the advanced electronic systems that will underpin future economic growth and technological resilience. By bringing together leading expertise from across the UK and embedding that capability into both industry collaboration and national skills programmes, we are building sustainable long-term impact.

Professor Chee Hing Tan, Research Theme Lead for CHIMES² at the University of Sheffield, said:

Sheffield’s strength in semiconductor and microelectronic systems research is built on decades of curiosity-driven discovery — from advanced materials growth to system-level design. CHIMES² ensures that this fundamental research connects directly to next-generation integrated systems, while training the engineers who will shape the future of the industry.

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