~ How the North East is bridging the RF skills gap ~

The North East space sector has just received a major boost with a £2.5 million investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to support the North East Space Communications Accelerator (NESCA), a collaboration between Northumbria, Durham and Newcastle universities, as well as 14 industry partners. While the region is home to an impressive amount of RF expertise, more needs to be done to raise the profile of RF technology and bridge the skills gap in this field, explains Katie Graham, Head of HR at RF-to-mmWave components and subsystems specialist Filtronic.

The project is a crucial step towards positioning North East England as a leader in space innovation and will create high-skilled jobs and economic growth over the next four years.

Alongside this, significant investments are also being made to strengthen the region’s space expertise. Northumbria University is constructing a £50 million North East Space Skills and Technology Centre with support from the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin’s space division.

Meanwhile, Durham University has opened a £5 million Space Research Centre, connecting multidisciplinary experts to advance space technology, operations and governance.

 

What about RF?

One critical area that requires these efforts is RF technology, which is integrated in many modern technologies across telecoms, space, aerospace and defence. In satellite communications, high-frequency mmWave sub-systems help enable high-reliability low earth orbit (LEO) connections, enhancing global connectivity and helping to solve the digital divide.

It is also crucial for the development of next-generation defence systems, enhancing the capabilities and security of nations to protect us all. The ability to connect various devices seamlessly also drives advancements in consumer electronics, industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT), fostering smarter and more integrated environments.

It is due to strategic investments and collaboration that these innovations exist. By focusing on fostering collaborative partnerships between industry and academia, we can ensure that the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to drive future developments in RF technology, ultimately bridging the skills gap.

 

Semiconductor strategy

The UK’s Semiconductor Strategy is an example of this, which outlines a comprehensive plan to secure the country’s position as a leader in targeted semiconductor technologies, focusing on research and development (R&D), design, intellectual property and compound semiconductors.

The strategy aims to grow the domestic sector by investing up to £200 million between 2023 and 2025, and up to £1 billion over the next decade. It also supports commercial R&D and SME growth through the UK Semiconductor Infrastructure Initiative, while a UK Semiconductor Advisory Panel will be established to coordinate these efforts.

To help tackle the skills gap, the strategy includes several critical initiatives aimed at improving the flow of skilled talent into the industry. These include supporting Centres for Doctoral Training (CTDs) in semiconductor-related fields through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and ensuring that occupational standards for apprenticeships, higher technical qualifications (HTQs) and T-Levels meet the specific requirements of employers in the semiconductor sector.

Additionally, the strategy encourages more employers in the semiconductor industry to engage with the Department for Education’s (DfE) Institute of Technology programme, backed by £300 million of government capital investment, to better serve the sector’s specialisms through this innovative education delivery mechanism.

 

Defence underfunded

Despite great initiatives like this, RF still requires more attention across its set of expansive applications.

For example, investment in the defence sector is essential for designing higher frequency RF signals, which enable enhanced performance, reliability and data bandwidth. This allows for the rapid and efficient transmission of large volumes of data, which is crucial for high-resolution radar, imagery, real-time video feeds and other data-intensive applications prevalent in modern defence.

In fact, Felix Griffin, GK Adviser, outlined the UK’s Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) urgent need for increased focus and investment in RF development.

This is an exciting opportunity for the UK to continue as a world leader in RF technologies and helps to prioritise RF technologies as critical for defence and security. When funding is constrained, innovative projects often fall by the wayside, and critical areas, such as RF development, struggle to attract the necessary talent and expertise.

 

Academia requirements

The North East, including Sedgefield, boasts a wealth of talent, supported by renowned universities such as Durham, Newcastle and Teesside, which are integral in developing the skills necessary to drive forward RF technology.

Filtronic, which has a strong presence in the region, works closely with these academic institutions to nurture RF expertise. However, for Sedgefield and the wider North East to maintain its competitive edge in this fast-evolving sector, more partnerships between industry and academia are essential.

Sedgefield can capitalise on these initiatives to enhance its RF capabilities, with growing space and defence industries in the region, such as the North East Space Communications Accelerator (NESCA), which brings together local universities, industry partners and civic authorities.

That’s why Filtronic will move into custom-built headquarters within the exciting Phase 3 extension to the North East Technology Park at Sedgefield next year.

An existing tenant of the park, the award-winning manufacturer’s new facility will more than double its operational footprint at a time when the firm’s growth has been boosted by deals struck with SpaceX, for the supply of critical RF subsystems for low Earth orbit satellites.

20 years ago, when the council took the bold decision to allocate land to establish a science park in County Durham, the vision was for NETPark to become a global hub for engineering, science and technology-based companies.

With the North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, pledging to invest £100 million to expand NETPark, it’s expected to create up to 1,250 high-value jobs on site along with a further 2,200 jobs in wider supply chains, reinforcing the need for recruitment.

This progress is a testament to the benefits of strategic investments and collaborative efforts, but to fully realise the potential of RF technology and address the skills gap, continued investment in both talent and research is required.

If you’d like to find out more about Filtronic, please visit the website here, https://filtronic.com/.

 

Photo By Nick Georgiou Photography (www.nickgeorgiouphotography.co.uk)