Cardiff electronics' centre is UK first

A Welsh company has joined forces with Cardiff University to set up the UK's first centre of excellence for compound semiconductors.

IQE will develop new technology for smart phones, tablets, healthcare and biotechnology.

The partnership has the potential to create thousands of jobs in Wales, the company said.

Vice-chancellor Prof Colin Riordan said the centre would put the university "ahead of our competitors".

The UK government announced in March it was backing a new semiconductor research foundation at the university with a £17m investment, on top of £12m from the Welsh government.

Last autumn, the university also announced it was ploughing £300m into new research and innovation facilities in the city.