eFutures hosted an engaging panel discussion as part of ECCE Europe 2025, held in Birmingham, England, on 2 September 2025, bringing together leading experts to explore the future of the UK and European power semiconductor industry. The session, titled Power Electronic Semiconductors: 2050, attracted strong audience participation and facilitated a forward-looking discussion on the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector.
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The panel examined the UK’s position within the global semiconductor landscape, considering how the UK and Europe compare with international competitors and what steps are needed to remain competitive through to 2050. Key themes included skills development, manufacturing capacity, materials innovation, and the role of power semiconductors in supporting Net Zero ambitions.
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Contributions from panellists highlighted the breadth of innovation required across the ecosystem. Professor Martin Kuball discussed the transformative potential of wide and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors in enabling applications such as EV fast charging, resilient energy grids, and space exploration, underlining their importance for achieving Net Zero. Professor Mike Jennings focused on technology and industrial trends, emphasising the need to scale UK manufacturing capacity to capture greater value across the supply chain and create long-term, sustainable jobs.
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The discussion also explored emerging applications and future research priorities. Professor Ivona Mitrovic showcased advances in GaN devices for space applications, including radiation-hardened rectifiers and space-based solar power, and stressed the importance of continued investment in next-generation semiconductor R&D. Professor Layi Alatise mapped power semiconductor devices to applications ranging from thyristors in HVDC grids to SiC in electric vehicles and GaN in low-voltage systems, highlighting the risk of the UK falling behind global competitors without sustained strategic investment.
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Overall, the session provided valuable insights into how the UK and Europe can learn from global leaders while developing distinctive strengths in skills, manufacturing, and materials innovation. The discussion reinforced the critical role of power semiconductors in the transition to Net Zero and the importance of coordinated action across research, industry, and policy to support progress towards 2050.
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eFutures was pleased to convene this discussion at ECCE Europe 2025 and to support dialogue that advances strategic thinking on the future of power electronic semiconductors in the UK and Europe.
