The Vermont Gallium Nitride (V-GaN) Tech Hub—a consortium led by the University of Vermont (UVM) and including GlobalFoundries and the State of Vermont—has been awarded $23.7M in US federal funding. The investment from the U.S. Economic Development Administration is the largest research award in UVM history.

The Vermont Tech Hub will create a comprehensive technology ecosystem in the Green Mountain State and New England to drive semiconductor design and manufacturing of high-power and high-frequency gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors. Pairing GlobalFoundries semiconductor leadership with UVM’s world-class researchers, the Tech Hub will fuel business growth and workforce development to enhance the region’s and state’s economic and social vitality—bringing new cutting-edge facilities and computing technology to Vermont.

Source: University of Vermont (UVM)

The Tech Hub will train over 500 new employees in the semiconductor workspace and engage over 6,000 K-12 students across Vermont in STEM participation in the next five years.

“This $24M 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. “We are profoundly grateful to our consortium partners—GlobalFoundries and the State of Vermont—and to our Congressional delegation for their collaboration and support in establishing the region and the state as a national hub for semiconductor innovation.”

Vermont’s Tech Hub is one of six federal hubs awarded funding in this cycle. The investment will advance innovative projects in Vermont promoting GaN semiconductor technology, economic growth, and workforce development, including:

• 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. Partnering with UVM’s Vermont Advanced Computing Center, the center will support commercial and national security applications, driving next-gen computing solutions.
• Test and Characterization Lab (TCL):  Located at OnLogic in South Burlington, V-GaN’s TCL will be the only publicly accessible lab in the U.S. offering comprehensive testing and technical advice for high-power and high-frequency GaN devices. Its capabilities were developed with input from key stakeholders, including GlobalFoundries, UVM’s College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, and smaller regional semiconductor firms.
• V-GaN Training, Innovation, Design and Engineering (TIDES): UVM’s Professional and Continuing Education division will lead this major workforce development effort, offering K-12 initiatives to spark interest in GaN technologies, career pathways to increase 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.

“The global demand for GaN and related semiconductor solutions is rapidly increasing, and we are determined to meet that demand,” said UVM Vice President for Research and Economic Development Kirk Dombrowski. “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. This work benefited from the participation of more than 30 partners—including GlobalFoundries, OnLogic, Cadence, and the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies—and represents the next generation of UVM’s land grant mission.”

Twelve companies 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.