Evaluation for end of ICS Operation

Tender description

The Institute for Compound Semiconductors (“the Operation”) is a 6 year and 2 months, £32million operation (£13M ERDF) under the ERDF Investment Priority Axis 1, which is focused on the development of research, technological development and innovation. The Operation commenced on 1st October 2016 and will conclude on 31st December 2022 (following a no cost extension from 31/03/2022). The ICS delivers under Specific Objective 1.2 which aims “to increase the successful translation of research and innovation processes into new and improved commercial products, processes and services, in particular through improved technology transfer from HEIs”.To achieve this the ICS Operation is building, and will equip and resource, a new cleanroom in Cardiff University’s new Translational Research Hub (TRH) at Maindy Road, specifically aimed at the development and production of compound semiconductors (CS). The ICS already provides a link between the research laboratory and the commercial world, and the new cleanroom will enable us to expand that activity. Ultimately, working with our regional partners in the CSconnected cluster, the goal is for the South East Wales region to be recognised as the fifth cluster for semiconductors in Europe, and the first for Compound Semiconductors.As part of the funding requirements the ICS Operation was required to undergo an inception, a mid-term and a final evaluation. The inception and mid-term were carried out and delivered in 2018 and January 2020 respectively. This document invites tenders for the final evaluation. The final evaluation should build on the conclusions and recommendations of the Mid-term External Evaluation report.