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In this exclusive Q&A, we speak with Amar Abid-Ali, CEO of Novomorphic, about the UK's opportunity to lead in advanced semiconductor design.

From scaling chiplet architectures to meeting growing demand across AI, telecoms, automotive, and defence, Amar shares why the UK must prioritise capability over contracts - and how cross-sector collaboration will be critical to securing long-term resilience and innovation.
 

Q1. Tell me a bit about you; your role and responsibilities at Novomorphic, and a bit about what Novomorphic does.

I’m the CEO of Novomorphic, responsible for steering the company’s strategy and ensuring we deliver both commercial outcomes and national capability. Novomorphic is a semiconductor design company focused on advanced system and chip design, spanning digital, mixed-signal and compound semiconductors. With strong support from the Welsh Government, alongside partnerships with Cadence Design Systems and CSA Catapult, we are creating a centre of excellence in Wales where this capability has not previously existed. Our goal is to strengthen the wider UK design cluster and work collaboratively with established design houses across the country.

Q2. What are the key opportunities and challenges your industry is facing right now, both from a technical and operational perspective - particularly in areas related to semiconductor device design, characterisation and innovative test methodologies?

The opportunity lies in meeting surging demand for advanced chips in AI, telecoms, automotive and defence. The UK already has highly capable design houses, but the Wales region with a very strong compound semiconductor cluster needed to strengthen the chip design capacity. By building that capability in Wales, Novomorphic can complement and extend the UK’s design cluster. The challenge is scaling fast enough, not just in technology, but in people. Access to a strong talent pipeline, supported by government and industry, is as important as access to capital.

Q3. Which industries and sectors have the most potential for Novomorphic’s advanced semiconductor testing and design solutions, and why?

We see the strongest opportunities in telecommunications (5G/6G), automotive electrification and autonomy, aerospace & defence, and advanced computing. These sectors demand secure, high-performance, and energy-efficient systems, which is exactly where UK design expertise excels. Novomorphic’s role is to bring new capacity and innovation into the mix, while working in collaboration with existing design houses to ensure the UK has the scale and diversity needed to compete globally.

Q4. What are the key emerging technologies and use cases you are betting on - especially where Novomorphic’s expertise in semiconductor test innovation could be game-changing?

We’re betting on chiplet and heterogeneous integration, where modular approaches enable faster, more scalable design. Compound semiconductors are another priority, underpinning advances in high-frequency communications, power electronics, and aerospace. Finally, AI at the edge will require tailored system and chip design to balance performance with efficiency. In each of these areas, Novomorphic is focused on collaboration, working with partners across the UK to bring innovations from design through to application.

Q5. How important are events such as Microelectronics UK in helping bring businesses together?

They’re critical. This is an industry built on partnerships, no single company can do it all. Microelectronics UK gives us a platform to connect with government, academia, tool vendors and design houses across the UK. For Novomorphic, it’s also a chance to show how Wales, with Welsh Government backing, is adding to the UK’s semiconductor design capability and helping to expand the national talent pipeline.

Q6. What message are you hoping to get across at Microelectronics UK? What do you think the key topics of discussion will be on the show floor?

Our message is that Novomorphic is here to strengthen the UK’s design cluster by bringing sovereign capability to Wales and working collaboratively across the country. We’re not here to compete against the UK ecosystem, but to add capacity, complement existing design houses, and grow the skills base. On the show floor, I expect conversations to focus on supply chain resilience, AI-driven design, sustainability, and how to scale the UK workforce to meet growing demand.

Q7. Who is your business mentor (if any), and what is the biggest lesson you learned from them?

A key lesson I’ve carried forward is “Focus on capability, not just contracts.” In semiconductors, contracts come and go, but investing in people, tools and collaboration builds the foundations for long-term resilience. That’s why Novomorphic is centred on building design capability in Wales and linking it into the wider UK ecosystem.

Q8. What can we expect to see in terms of general roadmap from Novomorphic in the next 12 months?

In the year ahead, we will scale up Novomorphic, expand into system and chip design projects in telecoms and automotive, and strengthen partnerships with universities to develop the talent pipeline. Backed by the Welsh Government, Cadence and CSA Catapult, Novomorphic will contribute new design capacity that feeds directly into the UK’s semiconductor cluster. You’ll see us working on collaborative projects with other design houses, delivering commercial chip designs, and developing the next generation of engineers who will sustain this industry.