Moving a semiconductor technology from a successful laboratory demonstration to a reliable, scalable commercial product is not a straightforward process. As technologies move beyond R&D, engineering challenges increasingly emerge at the interfaces between fabrication, packaging, thermal management, electronics, testing and qualification. Processes that work at prototype level must become repeatable and manufacturable, while performance, yield, reliability, cost and supply-chain constraints begin to shape engineering decisions. At the same time, successful commercialisation requires more than proving that the technology works: product design, customer and market requirements, business strategy, cost, regulatory and international trade requirements, and building the right team - all need to be considered early to ensure there is a realistic pathway from technology to a commercially viable product.

Based on real-world examples and insights from Scotland’s Critical Technologies Supercluster and the Product Design Scotland network, this presentation will explore both the technical and commercial challenges encountered on the journey from semiconductor R&D to market-ready hardware products.  The presentation will also highlight how closer collaboration between technology developers, product designers, manufacturers, integration specialists and wider ecosystem can reduce risk, avoid costly redesign and create more effective pathways from promising technology to sustainable operations.