The Responsible Electronics and Circular Technologies Centre (REACT) was announced on 7 October, one of five new centres to share in £25m from a new UKRI programme intended to support the innovation necessary for net zero.
Described as the UK’s first sustainable electronics centre, REACT aims to address both the environmental and economic challenges of achieving net zero in the electronics arena, while promoting the adoption of green technologies.
The University of Glasgow will lead and coordinate the four-year project in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, and The Compound Semiconductor Catapult in Scotland.
The electronics industry is primarily driven by technical and economic considerations, often neglecting sustainability principles. This has led to significant challenges, including large amounts of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), high emissions across the supply chain, and widespread use of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) such as gold, palladium, and indium—materials with limited reserves.
In Scotland, however, the electronics industry is vital to the regional economy, driving economic growth, environmental commitments, and national security. With over 130 companies and 10,300 employees contributing to an annual turnover of £2.8bn+, this sector plays a crucial role in fostering productivity and growth. However, as more prominent manufacturers and buyers increasingly demand that suppliers commit to decarbonising their products, alongside growing legislative pressure, it is clear that the industry must adapt.
Professor Jeff Kettle from the University of Glasgow, who will lead and coordinate the REACT Hub, said: “The Centre will unite leading researchers to drive the industry’s transition toward a net-zero economy. Its primary focus will be developing solutions to reduce electronic waste, minimise reliance on critical raw materials (CRMs), and reduce carbon footprints.”
The REACT team brings expertise across various areas, including electronic materials, design, manufacturing, and assembly, environmental impact, supply chain management, and business modelling.
Professor Bing Xu of Heriot-Watt University said: “REACT will leverage its partnerships to translate research into practical applications, boosting both the region’s and the UK’s global competitiveness in the sector.”
REACT will collaborate with SMEs in the region to develop demonstrators and market-led solutions and provide skills training.
Prof Jason Love of the University of Edinburgh said: “REACT will bring together industrial partners as well as the supply chain of companies and proactively communicate to the wider public, driving change at a governmental level.”
The intention is that REACT’s work will offer benefits including reductions in e-waste, improved energy efficiency, and cost savings by adopting greener manufacturing processes. It will also play a role in fostering public-private partnerships to drive these innovations, focusing on co-creation, outreach, and advocacy.
The initiative is part of UKRI’s £25m Accelerating the Green Economy programme, which in turn comes under the umbrella of UKRI’s Building a Green Future strategic theme, which is geared towards accelerating the green economy by supporting research and innovation that unlocks solutions essential to achieving net zero in the UK by 2050.
