The University of Edinburgh has been making advances in semiconductors for half a century. From holding the Guinness World Record (2002) for the smallest television screen to creating processors in smartphones and advancing AI, Edinburgh’s engineers have delivered innovations that reshape technology and society. Building on Edinburgh's legacy, the Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems hosts The Scottish Microelectronics Centre (SMC) and the Centre for Electronics Frontiers (CEF), where engineers design, manufacture, and test semiconductor technologies. The Scottish Microelectronics Centre offers semiconductor fabrication, packaging and analysis services supported by a dedicated team of engineers and technicians. Companies can gain direct access to its cleanroom and equipment along with external contract services for start-ups to multinationals. A new e-beam lithography tool purchased by the University in 2026 will allow the SMC to make advanced semiconductor devices with nanoscale precision; critical for prototyping high-performance computer chips for AI applications. The Centre for Electronics Frontiers offers services for UK academics to build and test their custom chip designs, along with comprehensive chip and wafer characterisation services. Professor Themis Prodromakis, Head of the Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems (IMNS) and Regius Chair of Engineering at The University of Edinburgh, said, Celebrating 50 years of semiconductor innovation in Edinburgh is a proud moment, but our eyes are firmly on the horizon. Our history proves that world-changing technology has always come out of this institution. As we look ahead, IMNS is positioned to expand that legacy, bringing together emerging AI hardware, advanced manufacturing, and strategic global partnerships that will place Edinburgh and the UK right at the leading edge of semiconductor innovation.A full recording of the talks is available upon request from CEF.Eng@ed.ac.uk. Related links Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems The Scottish Microelectronics Centre The Centre for Electronics Frontiers APRIL AI hub Integrated Micro and Nano Systems Publication date 14 Oct, 2026 Electronics and Electrical Engineering
