The UK’s first sustainable electronics centre

The Responsible Electronics and Circular Technologies Centre (REACT) is part of a broader £25 million investment from UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Accelerating the Green Economy programme, with five centres across the UK sharing the funding.

This initiative is a component of UKRI’s Building a Green Future strategy, designed to accelerate the green economy by fostering research and innovation that are critical to achieving the UK's net-zero target by 2050. It is one of five strategic themes from UKRI aimed at addressing complex, large-scale challenges through the power of the UK’s research and innovation system.

REACT will be the UK’s first centre dedicated to sustainable electronics, with a focus on advancing net-zero electronics by tackling both environmental and economic issues. Through collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers, the centre will promote the adoption of green technologies in the electronics sector.

Led by the University of Glasgow, the four-year project will be a joint effort with the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, and The Compound Semiconductor Catapult in Scotland.

The electronics industry, which has traditionally prioritised technical and economic factors over sustainability, faces significant challenges. These include the disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), high emissions across the supply chain, and the extensive use of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) like gold, palladium, and indium, which have limited global reserves.

In Scotland, the electronics sector is crucial to the economy, contributing £2.8 billion in annual turnover and employing over 10,300 people across 130 companies. However, with increasing pressure from manufacturers and legislation to decarbonise products, the industry must evolve to meet these demands.

Professor Jeff Kettle of the University of Glasgow, who will lead the REACT Hub, stated: “The Centre will bring together leading researchers to help transition the industry toward a net-zero economy. We will focus on solutions that reduce electronic waste, decrease reliance on critical raw materials, and lower carbon footprints.”

REACT will harness the expertise of researchers in fields including electronic materials, design, manufacturing, environmental impact, supply chain management, and business modelling. The project will also work closely with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region to develop demonstrators, create market-driven solutions, and provide skills training.

Professor Bing Xu of Heriot-Watt University highlighted the centre’s practical goals: “REACT will leverage its partnerships to turn research into real-world applications, enhancing both the region’s and the UK’s competitiveness in the global electronics market.”

REACT will engage with industrial partners and the broader electronics supply chain to drive change across the sector. In addition to collaborating with businesses, the centre will work to communicate its goals to the public, with the aim of influencing policy and driving systemic change.

The Compound Semiconductor Catapult in Scotland will play a key role in the project, offering access to cutting-edge equipment and expertise to support startups, SMEs, large companies, and academic research in advancing compound semiconductor technology.

Key benefits of REACT’s work include reducing e-waste, improving energy efficiency, and generating cost savings through greener manufacturing processes. Additionally, the centre will foster public-private partnerships and focus on co-creation, outreach, and advocacy to drive the adoption of these innovations.

Through conferences, workshops, and applied research projects, REACT aims to transform the electronics industry in Scotland’s Central Belt, establishing it as a global model for sustainability in electronics.

The University of Glasgow is also contributing to the Centre for Net-Zero High Density Buildings, another centre supported by the Accelerating the Green Economy programme. Professor Gioia Falcone from the University’s James Watt School of Engineering is leading the University’s role in the centre, which is focused on enhancing energy efficiency in densely populated urban areas. This centre has received £4.5 million from UKRI, with an additional £1.1 million from industry, education, the public sector, and the community.