MORE than 70 jobs at a trailblazing tech firm in Fife have been safeguarded after the Scottish Government awarded the company a £1.9 million grant.
Clas-SiC Wafer Fab, based in Lochgelly, is one of the first recipients of Scottish Enterprise’s new Capital Grant, which aims to boost business investment and productivity.
The firm opened the world’s first factory dedicated to manufacturing silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors for high-power electronics in 2017 and has since grown to employ 76 workers at the facility.
Technology produced at the factory helps to convert sources to create renewable energy for the likes of planes, trains, cars, solar, and wind technologies.
The funding comes after Clas-SiC clinched a £12.8m investment package from Archean Chemical Industries 18 months ago, which the firm said will help upgrade its technology and equipment in a bid to keep up with a growing global demand for its services.
Production staff and apprentices will also receive new training as part of the expansion.
Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn hailed Clas-SiC Wafer Fab as a “fantastic example of innovation” and a business “driving growth in a competitive global market”.
He added: “Scotland is home to one of the largest semiconductor clusters in the UK. Clas-SiC is a fundamental part of this ecosystem and an asset to Scotland’s Critical Technologies supercluster.
“This supercluster generates £4.5 billion turnover annually for the economy and employs over 11,000 people. The Scottish Government is supporting the industry-led ambition to grow this to £10 billion with an additional 6,600 jobs by 2035.
“Clas-SiC’s expansion will safeguard skilled jobs in Fife, strengthen our export base and support the fundamental technologies that will power our transition to a cleaner economy.”
Clas-SiC’s factory is part of Scotland’s “semiconductor cluster” that includes Semefab in Glenrothes, as well as hubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Greenock.
Scottish Enterprise chief executive Adrian Gillespie said Clas-SiC is investing for the future “confidently in one of the most important global industries”.
He added: “The investment will safeguard jobs in Fife, strengthen Scotland's advanced manufacturing base and improve productivity as the business continues to grow in international markets.
“Clas-SiC's silicon carbide semiconductor technology is making power systems used in everything from electric vehicles to renewable energy systems more efficient. Semiconductors are one of the critical technologies shaping the global economy and Scotland is well placed to make the most of the opportunities this industry presents.”
Clas-SiC director and chief executive officer Jen Walls said the Scottish Government grant is important as it will help “accelerate” their next generation of technology.
She said: “The additional capability will strengthen our position on the global stage and improve our ability to meet growing demand in a high growth sector.
“This funding enhances our available capex and maintains our place within the technology leading global supply chain.”
