The UK Semiconductor Centre (UKSC) has opened a new headquarters in London, establishing a base at the Institute of Physics (IOP) in King’s Cross as it seeks to support the UK semiconductor sector during a period of rapid global growth.
The new headquarters is located within London’s Knowledge Quarter, close to organisations including University College London, Google, DeepMind, Meta and the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). UKSC said the location places it at the centre of a dense technology and research cluster where semiconductors underpin many products and services.
According to the organisation, the move will strengthen its ability to promote the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem, convene businesses, researchers, investors and international partners, and support the attraction of domestic and foreign direct investment. The headquarters will host regular events, workshops and industry roundtables, and act as a focal point for visiting international delegations.
The opening of the London base forms part of UKSC’s broader strategy to help UK companies capture opportunities in a global semiconductor market that is forecast to double in size over the next decade, driven by growing demand for artificial intelligence, advanced computing and data centre infrastructure.
Occupying an entire floor at the Institute of Physics’ building on Caledonian Road is also intended to strengthen links between the semiconductor sector and the physics community. UKSC said the proximity would support closer collaboration and reinforce the relationship between fundamental physics research and semiconductor materials and device innovation.
The announcement follows findings from a recent UKSC nationwide roadshow, which engaged more than 450 stakeholders across ten locations. That engagement highlighted limited access to finance and infrastructure as key barriers preventing some companies from scaling their operations.
Raj Gawera, chief operating officer at the UK Semiconductor Centre, said: “We’re bringing the UK semiconductor community right into the heart of the Knowledge Quarter with our new King’s Cross headquarters.
“It will provide us with the perfect platform to collaborate with leading research institutions, technology businesses and investors on a daily basis to help drive the sector forward and help UK companies scale.
“We chose the Institute of Physics because its mission aligns closely with ours, and together we can push the sector forward and make a global impact.”
Tom Grinyer, chief executive of the Institute of Physics, said the partnership came at a critical time for the industry. “It is such a vital time for the semiconductor sector and the perfect time to have a thriving physics success story in the building,” he said.
“Being able to play a part in their growth and development at such a crucial time is a wonderful opportunity. Partnership is a fundamental principle of the IOP strategy and, in that spirit, we look forward to watching their story develop and collaborating where possible to promote technology, manufacturing and of course physics and the role they can all play in driving growth in the UK economy.”
The UK Semiconductor Centre was established to connect, convene and promote the UK semiconductor industry internationally, with a focus on translating innovation into commercial scale and economic growth. Its work aligns around areas where the UK is seen to have competitive strengths, including photonics, compound semiconductors, quantum technologies and next‑generation computing architectures.
