UK government prioritises semiconductors, creates UK Semiconductor Centre

Speaking at Microelectronics UK 2026, UK Chief Scientific Adviser Julia Sutcliffe said the government is prioritising semiconductors and hardware for growth, security and economic resilience. A UK Semiconductor Centre will act as a single entry point for investors and partners, backed by the AI Hardware plan with over £1bn of public and private investment.

• Semiconductors named a priority for growth, security and resilience
• UK Semiconductor Centre to coordinate activity and investor access
• AI Hardware plan backed by over £1bn of public and private funding
• UK strengths cited: chip design, compound semiconductors, photonics