MIT, Applied Materials and the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition Hub to Bring 200mm Advanced Research Capabilities to MIT.nano

Rhea-AI Summary

MIT and Applied Materials, Inc. have announced an agreement to add advanced nano-fabrication equipment to MIT.nano, committing over $40 million of private and public investment. The collaboration aims to create an open-access site in the U.S. to support research and development at industry-compatible scale, accelerating advances in silicon and compound semiconductors, power electronics, and other critical technologies. The project will bridge the gap between academic innovation and industry pathways, facilitating the transition of innovations from lab bench to industry foundries for manufacturing.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The collaboration between MIT and Applied Materials, supported by the NEMC Hub's grant, represents a significant investment in semiconductor research and development infrastructure. This collaboration is poised to enhance the United States' competitiveness in the semiconductor industry, which is a critical sector for a wide array of markets including consumer electronics, automotive and clean energy. The strategic partnership will likely attract attention from investors and industry stakeholders due to the potential for accelerated innovation and reduced time-to-market for new semiconductor technologies.

From a market perspective, the ability to prototype and produce semiconductors on 200mm wafers is an important industry standard that can facilitate the transition of products from research to commercialization. Applied Materials' contribution of advanced process tools and expertise could lead to the development of more efficient and powerful semiconductors, potentially impacting the stock performance of companies in the semiconductor supply chain. Additionally, the focus on compound semiconductors like silicon carbide and gallium nitride, which are key materials for power electronics and optical computing, indicates a strategic move towards next-generation technologies that could disrupt existing market dynamics.

Financial Analyst

The investment of over $40 million into MIT.nano, with contributions from both private and public sectors, underscores the financial commitment to maintaining a leading edge in semiconductor technology. This investment is expected to bolster Applied Materials' position as a key player in the semiconductor equipment market, potentially affecting its financial performance and investor perception. The public sector's involvement, particularly through the CHIPS and Science Act, signals a strong government interest in shoring up domestic semiconductor capabilities, which may have favorable implications for the industry's long-term stability and growth.

For investors, the announcement could be seen as a positive indicator of Applied Materials' strategic partnerships and innovation potential. The company's stock could see increased investor confidence as a result of this initiative, which aligns with broader industry trends towards increased semiconductor demand and the push for technological sovereignty in critical technologies. Furthermore, the potential job creation and workforce training opportunities mentioned could contribute to a positive economic climate, indirectly benefiting the broader stock market.

Technology and Innovation Expert

The establishment of an open-access site at MIT.nano with industry-compatible scale equipment is a significant milestone for semiconductor innovation. This move facilitates a tighter integration between academic research and industry application, potentially leading to breakthroughs in semiconductor technology. The focus on silicon and compound semiconductors aligns with the industry's push towards materials that enable higher performance and energy efficiency, which are essential for the next wave of technological advancements.

The presence of advanced nano-fabrication equipment capable of handling 150 and 200mm wafers is expected to accelerate the development cycle of new semiconductor technologies by allowing researchers to work with the same tools used in high-volume production. This could lead to a faster pace of innovation, as well as a reduction in the barriers to entry for new semiconductor products. The collaboration also has implications for the talent pipeline, as it will provide hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology for students and researchers, potentially fostering a new generation of industry-ready professionals.

State-of-the-art toolset will bridge academic innovations and industry pathways to scale for semiconductors, microelectronics and other critical technologies

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MIT and Applied Materials, Inc. announced an agreement today that, together with a grant to MIT from the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub, commits more than $40 million of estimated private and public investment to add advanced nano-fabrication equipment and capabilities to MIT.nano, the Institute’s center for nanoscale science and engineering. The collaboration will create a unique open-access site in the United States that supports research and development at industry-compatible scale using the same equipment found in high-volume production fabs to accelerate advances in silicon and compound semiconductors, power electronics, optical computing, analog devices and other critical technologies.

The equipment and related funding and in-kind support provided by Applied Materials will significantly enhance MIT.nano’s existing capabilities to fabricate up to 200mm (8-inch) wafers, a size essential to industry prototyping and production of semiconductors used in a broad range of markets including consumer electronics, automotive, industrial automation, clean energy and more. Positioned to fill the gap between academic experimentation and commercialization, the equipment will help establish a bridge connecting early-stage innovation to industry pathways to the marketplace.

“A brilliant new concept for a chip won’t have impact in the world unless companies can make millions of copies of it. MIT.nano’s collaboration with Applied Materials will create a critical open-access capacity to help innovations travel from lab bench to industry foundries for manufacturing,” said Maria Zuber, MIT’s Vice President for Research and E. A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics. “I am grateful to Applied Materials for its investment in this vision. The impact of the new toolset will ripple across MIT and throughout Massachusetts, the region, and the nation.”

Applied Materials is the world’s largest supplier of equipment for manufacturing semiconductors, displays and other advanced electronics. The company will provide at MIT.nano several state-of-the-art process tools capable of supporting 150 and 200mm wafers and will enhance and upgrade an existing tool owned by MIT. In addition to assisting MIT.nano in the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the equipment, Applied engineers will develop new process capabilities which will benefit researchers and students from MIT and beyond.

“Chips are becoming increasingly complex, and there is tremendous need for continued advancements in 200mm devices, particularly compound semiconductors like silicon carbide and gallium nitride,” said Aninda Moitra, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Applied Materials’ ICAPS Business. “Applied is excited to team with MIT.nano to create a unique, open-access site in the U.S. where the chip ecosystem can collaborate to accelerate innovation. Our engagement with MIT expands Applied’s university innovation network and furthers our efforts to reduce the time and cost of commercializing new technologies while strengthening the pipeline of future semiconductor industry talent.”

The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub, managed by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), will allocate $7.7 million to enable the installation of the tools. The NEMC is the regional “hub” that connects and amplifies the capabilities of diverse organizations from across New England plus New Jersey and New York. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) selected the NEMC Hub as one of eight Microelectronics Commons Hubs and awarded funding from the CHIPS and Science Act to accelerate the transition of critical microelectronics technologies from lab-to-fab, spur new jobs, expand workforce training opportunities and invest in the region’s advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.

The Microelectronics Commons program is managed at the federal level by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, and facilitated through the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL), which organizes the execution of the eight regional hubs located across the country. The announcement of the public sector support for the project was made at an event attended by leaders from the DoD and NSTXL during a site visit to meet with NEMC Hub members.

“The installation and operation of these tools at MIT.nano will have a direct impact on the members of the NEMC Hub, the Massachusetts and Northeast regional economy, and national security. This is what the CHIPS and Science Act is all about,” said Ben Linville-Engler, Deputy Director at the MassTech Collaborative and the interim director of the NEMC Hub. “This is an essential investment by the NEMC Hub to meet the mission of the Microelectronics Commons.”

MIT.nano is a 200,000 square-foot facility located in the heart of the MIT campus with pristine, class-100 cleanrooms capable of accepting these advanced tools. Its open-access model means that MIT.nano’s toolsets and laboratories are available not only to the campus but also to early-stage R&D by researchers from other academic institutions, non-profit organizations, government and companies ranging from Fortune 500 multinationals to local startups. Vladimir Bulović, faculty director of MIT.nano, said he expects the new equipment to come online in early 2025.

“With vital funding for installation from NEMC and after a thorough and productive planning process with Applied Materials, MIT.nano is ready to install this toolset and integrate it into our expansive capabilities that serve over 1,100 researchers from academia, startups, and established companies,” said Bulović, who is also the Fariborz Maseeh Professor of Emerging Technologies in MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). “We’re eager to add these powerful new capabilities and excited for the new ideas, collaborations, and innovations that will follow.”

As part of its arrangement with MIT.nano, Applied Materials will join the MIT.nano Consortium, an industry program comprising 12 companies from different industries around the world. With the contributions of the company’s technical staff, Applied Materials will also have the opportunity to engage with MIT’s intellectual centers, including continued membership with the Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL).

About Applied Materials
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAT) is the leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. Our expertise in modifying materials at atomic levels and on an industrial scale enables customers to transform possibilities into reality. At Applied Materials, our innovations make possible a better future. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.

About MIT.nano
MIT.nano is an advanced facility for nanoscience and nanoengineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Located in the heart of the MIT campus, the facility provides shared equipment, specialized environments, and support from highly qualified technical staff to any faculty member, researcher, student, or qualified partner who needs these resources to advance their investigations.

Researchers from MIT constitute the primary user community; individuals from other academic institutions, industry collaborators, member companies in the MIT.nano Consortium, and other external organizations may also access MIT.nano. Sharing resources through MIT.nano enables the MIT community to acquire the state-of-the-art equipment that would be challenging for individual labs or departments to afford or maintain on their own. The ample size of the 200,000-square-foot research facility also allows MIT to look beyond the present state-of-the-art by seeding dedicated lab spaces where new nanoscience and nanotechnology tools, instruments, processes, and techniques can be reinvented.

For more information, visit mitnano.mit.edu.

About the NEMC Hub
The mission of the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub is to create a vibrant, well-connected ecosystem that meets the needs of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), while fostering genuine engagement across the region to provide sustainable lab-to-fab enablement and strengthen the domestic microelectronics workforce. With the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) as the Hub Lead, the NEMC Hub consists of more than 160 member organizations from industry, academia, and government representing unique mix of defense-oriented microelectronics organizations with world-leading technical expertise, facilities, resources, and infrastructure. The NEMC Hub is poised to deliver on the mission of the national Microelectronics Commons network, helping stimulating job creation, startup maturation, workforce training opportunities, and investments in the region’s advanced manufacturing and emerging technology sectors.

Contact:
Ricky Gradwohl (editorial/media) 408.235.4676
Michael Sullivan (financial community) 408.986.7977

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b8d41999-ade8-491c-8e2f-55f0abbb4823

 

FAQ

What is the collaboration between MIT and Applied Materials about?

MIT and Applied Materials, Inc. have announced an agreement to add advanced nano-fabrication equipment to MIT.nano.

How much investment is committed to the project?

The collaboration commits over $40 million of private and public investment.

What is the aim of the collaboration between MIT and Applied Materials?

The collaboration aims to create an open-access site in the U.S. to support research and development at industry-compatible scale, accelerating advances in silicon and compound semiconductors, power electronics, and other critical technologies.

What is the purpose of the project?

The project will bridge the gap between academic innovation and industry pathways, facilitating the transition of innovations from lab bench to industry foundries for manufacturing.