Syracuse University announced this morning a $20 million investment to launch the SU Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing.

The center will include experts in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, manufacturing processes and robotics. The initiative aims to position the school and region “as a global leader in research and education on the intelligent manufacturing of semiconductors,” SU said.

It will be housed within the university’s Center for Science and Technology and will be paid for by $10 million from SU along with a $10 million grant from Onondaga County.

“One of the things we did not have before today was our own comprehensive focus, our own center for semiconductor manufacturing, specifically focusing in on practices,” said County Executive Ryan McMahon during the news conference at SU’s National Veterans Resource Center.

Seated in the front row of the crowd were representatives from Bluefors, INFICON, Rome Labs and the Manufacturers Association of Central NY, as well as other local leaders in the advanced technology space.

The announcement comes as part of Central New York’s efforts to train future workers for Micron Technology’s planned $100 billion investment in the region to build out four semiconductor manufacturing plants in Clay. Micron expects to employ 9,000 people over the next 20 years at the four “fabs,” with another 40,000 jobs expected to come as a result of the investment.

“Embracing students is critical,” said SU Vice Chancellor Gretchen Ritter, “given the palpable regional and national need for a far more robust and diverse STEM workforce.”

The new center at SU “will replicate an autonomous-advanced manufacturing floor,” according to the university, which expects to hire more than 10 new faculty members to staff the project over the next five years.

This will be part of a planned SU investment over that same time of more than $100 million to transform its STEM program and expand the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

“We expect to grow our student enrollment in the College of Engineering and Computer Science by 50% in the next four years,” Chancellor Kent Syverud said. “And that’s to keep up with market demands created by Micron and the burgeoning U.S. chips industry.”

SU says that it is already beginning to transform existing space at the school into the new facility.

“The reason that we’re here today,” SU Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation J. Michael Haynie said, “is to make it abundantly clear that that on behalf of the city that we’re named for and the region we call home, Syracuse University will not miss this moment.”

Brad Racino is a business enterprise reporter for Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard, where he covers innovation, workforce development and CNY’s future economy. Reach out with story ideas, tips or concerns to bracino@syracuse.com.