Vermont’s Gallium Nitride (V-GaN) Tech Hub, one of only 31 tech hubs in the country, was awarded $23.7 million in federal money from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. It’s the largest research award in University of Vermont history.
The Tech Hub, a consortium led by UVM and including GlobalFoundries and the State of Vermont, is focused on gallium nitride (GaN), an innovative material that promises better performing chips than those made from traditional silicon for a range of industries, from electric vehicles to medical imaging equipment and consumer electronics.
The GlobalFoundries semiconductor plant in Essex Junction, formerly IBM, has been working with GaN in two areas: power converters and RF (radio frequency) communications.
In RF communications, a GaN transistor can provide higher frequency and a stronger signal from any personal device such as a cellphone, or from infrastructure such as cellphone towers, supporting 5G and beyond, according to Scott Johnson, senior director of technology development.
Doug Merrill, as seen in UVM’s Device Characterization Lab on Jan. 29, 2024. Merrill, UVM’s regional innovation officer, is leading the Tech Hub effort.
How will Vermont’s Tech Hub help the growth of semiconductors
The Vermont Tech Hub will create a “comprehensive technology ecosystem,” to drive semiconductor design and manufacturing of GaN semiconductors, such as that going on at GlobalFoundries, according to a news release.
The Tech Hub is expected to train more than 500 new employees for semiconductor production and engage more than 6,000 K-12 students across Vermont in STEM participation over the next five years.
“This $24 million in federal funding for the Vermont Gallium Nitride Tech Hub solidifies UVM’s position as a national leader in research and workforce development within this critical technological field,” UVM interim president Patricia Prelock said in a statement.
Federal money will push a variety of GaN-related projects forward in Vermont
The money will be used to advance a variety of GaN-related projects, including:
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Advanced Design Computing Center − A cutting-edge facility offering start-ups affordable access to advanced GaN and semiconductor design tools, reducing financial risks and fostering innovation.
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Test and Characterization Lab (TCL) − Located at OnLogic in South Burlington, this will be the only publicly accessible lab in the United States offering comprehensive testing and technical advice for high-power and high-frequency GaN devices.
OnLogic headquarters in South Burlington’s Technology Park, as seen on Aug. 21, 2024.
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V-GaN Training, Innovation, Design and Engineering (TIDES) − UVM’s Professional and Continuing Education division will lead this workforce development effort, offering K-12 initiatives to spark interest in GaN technologies, increased rural access to semiconductor manufacturing jobs and continuing education in semiconductor design, manufacturing and GaN-specific skills. Partners include the Community College of Vermont, Norwich University, the Vermont State University System and the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center.
There are a dozen companies that have already committed to accelerating their product development through the V-GaN Tech Hub. The Tech Hub will make grant funding available to offset development costs for businesses owned by underserved and underrepresented populations in the semiconductor industry.
“The global demand for GaN and related semiconductor solutions is rapidly increasing and we are determined to meet that demand,” UVM Vice President for Research and Economic Development Kirk Dombrowski said in a statement. “GaN not only holds promise for a wide range of applications in the technology space, it also provides an opportunity for V-GaN Tech Hub members to make northern New England the global leader in that space.”
What other Tech Hubs received money
Vermont’s Tech Hub is one of six federal hubs awarded funding in this cycle. The other tech hubs were $48 million to American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Tech Hub in Washington and Idaho; $44 million to Birmingham Biotechnology Hub in Alabama; $45 million to Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub in Oregon; $29 million to Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy (CM2AE) Tech Hub in Missouri; and $22 million to Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub in Maine.
Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont’s Tech Hub receives $23.7 million from U.S. EDA: What’s next