SUNY News Release: Chancellor King Launches SUNY – NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute to Advance Semiconductor Research and Workforce Development

October 30, 2025

Supports New York’s Leadership in Next-Generation Semiconductor Innovation, Recruiting Top Faculty, and Supporting Academic-Industry Partnerships

Nearly $4 Million Investment in the First Two Years to Expand Industry-Relevant Projects, Increase the Number of Industry-Endowed Faculty, and Provide Student Internships

Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced the launch of the SUNY – NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute (TII), which was included in the 2025 State of the University Policy Agenda, to bolster future semiconductor research and workforce development. The new institute will support New York State’s leadership in next generation semiconductor innovation by leveraging the world-class infrastructure at NY Creates’ Albany NanoTech Complex so leading faculty researchers across SUNY’s four university centers can connect directly with experts from the industry consortia partners on site.

Specifically, the SUNY – NY Creates TII will work to:

  • establish a TII SUNY Corridor, which includes SUNY’s university centers and aligns with New York State’s growing semiconductor corridor,
  • create a TII Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, and
  • establish sustainable technology offerings; like access to semiconductor wafer services that include access to unique prototyping facilities at NY Creates and opportunities for students to experiment and learn, and start-up businesses to establish proof-of-concept initiatives in microelectronics design infrastructure in NYS.

“Thanks to Governor Hochul, New York State is a national and global leader in semiconductor innovation and research,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “The SUNY – NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute will bring the best in higher education and industry together to help inspire the next generation of researchers and professionals. The Institute will benefit industry leaders who make New York their home as well as our extraordinary faculty who are leading groundbreaking research and preparing the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs.”

SUNY Trustee Courtney Burke, Chair of the Research and Economic Development Committee, said, “SUNY is a catalyst for great research thanks to our world-class faculty, students, and facilities. With committed leaders like Governor Hochul and our State Legislature, SUNY is able to undertake innovative efforts to ensure that we are not only at the forefront of semiconductor research, but that we move the entire field forward by leaps and bounds. The NY Creates Albany NanoTech Complex is second to none and will continue to inspire research projects and students who want to join this growing industry.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State continues to invest in projects and programs that strengthen the state’s role in the resurgence of domestic semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing. The new Technology Innovation Institute represents the latest step in growing this dynamic ecosystem by leveraging two of the state’s greatest assets to promote new industry growth.”

NY Creates President Dave Anderson said, “As we initiate a pathway for The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) strategic partnership, I am grateful for the Governor’s and Chancellor’s support of this effort, as we seek to strengthen academic-industry collaboration and drive innovation in semiconductor R&D and workforce development. The initiative builds on NY Creates’ partnership with SUNY, connecting world-class SUNY researchers with our global industry consortia partners. Additionally, it further opens the doors for students to gain access to the cutting-edge opportunities. We can work together to tackle industry-relevant challenges in semiconductor manufacturing and related technologies and facilitate a pipeline of skilled talent combined with research experience.”

Alex Oscilowski, President of TEL Technology Center America, said, “As an industry partner deeply committed to advancing semiconductor innovation, TEL is proud to support the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) by SUNY and NY Creates. This framework represents a necessary step forward in aligning academic excellence with industry needs to create a dynamic corridor for research, workforce development, and real-world impact. Initiatives like TII are investments in people, ideas, and the future of a resilient, high-impact industry.”

State University of New York at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez said, “For three decades, UAlbany students and faculty have benefited from the rich academic-industry partnerships fostered by Albany NanoTech’s uniquely collaborative environment and NY Creates’ unmatched semiconductor R&D facilities. The SUNY – NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute will help extend those benefits throughout the SUNY system at a critical moment as we work collectively to ensure our teaching, research, and technology translation efforts strongly support New York’s nation-leading chips sector.”

State University of New York at Binghamton President Harvey Stenger said, “Binghamton University is excited to partner with the SUNY – NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute to advance and enhance the work we are doing in semiconductors. I am proud of the groundbreaking work in this area being done by the faculty in the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. Providing opportunities for them to team up with other SUNY faculty and industry partners is essential for New York to cement its position as the global leader in semiconductor technology and for SUNY to open doors for students and graduates in this emerging field.”

State University of New York at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi said, “The University at Buffalo is proud to be part of the SUNY – NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute, and we look forward to collaborating with our industry partners and SUNY colleagues to position New York State at the forefront of semiconductor manufacturing. This impactful initiative will expand opportunities for our students, create strategic partnerships, and drive breakthroughs that strengthen the innovation economy. We thank Governor Hochul and Chancellor King for their commitment to our scholarly community, and to advancing the state’s leadership in research and technology.”

State University of New York at Stony Brook President Andrea Goldsmith said, “This is a proud moment for Stony Brook University, and through the SUNY – NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute, our top scholars and field experts, along with state leadership and industry partners, will drive research in secure, high-quality semiconductor production, ultimately revolutionizing AI, microelectronics and biotechnology. With this initiative, our students, the next generation of innovators, will gain critical experience with ever-evolving technology and be prepared to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. I am grateful for the Governor’s and Chancellor’s leadership in establishing this effort and look forward to seeing its lasting success as we forge the next wave of semiconductor innovation.”

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Higher Education Committee Chair, said, “I am pleased to see SUNY and NY Creates join forces to strengthen New York’s position as a national leader in semiconductor research and innovation. This new Technology Innovation Institute will give our students and faculty the tools and partnerships they need to translate cutting-edge research into real-world applications. By investing in this collaboration, we are preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers and ensuring that New York remains at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and high-tech job creation.”

State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Internet and Technology Committee Chair, said, “The Technology Innovation Institute is an investment in both innovation and inclusion. By connecting SUNY research with real industry opportunities, we’re making sure New Yorkers, especially our students, can help build the future of tech right here at home.”

State Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, “The SUNY – NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute is a significant advancement for education and job training in New York. It directly links public universities with semiconductor industry leaders, ensuring SUNY students and faculty are at the forefront of research and equipped with the skills needed for this expanding field. I applaud Chancellor King and SUNY for their dedication to preparing New Yorkers for future jobs and enhancing our state’s technological leadership.”

State Assembly Science and Technology Committee Chair Steve Otis said, “Both SUNY and our education system have been the foundation of New York’s success in the technology economy. Companies are expanding in New York because of our educated workforce and leadership in research. SUNY’s Technology Innovation Institute will provide another vehicle to expand New York’s leadership in semiconductor innovation. Governor Hochul, Chancellor King, and the Legislature have been laser-focused on growing our infrastructure for continued progress in technology. Congratulations to SUNY on this announcement.”

SUNY – NY Creates TII will address high-impact, industry-relevant challenges by fostering academic-industry collaboration, facilitating recruitment of top faculty researchers, and cultivating a pipeline of skilled talent graduating from SUNY academic programs.

As the SUNY – NY Creates TII ramps up in the first two years, SUNY and NY Creates will contribute nearly $4 million to initially support:

  • faculty-industry research projects through initial seed grants, which are expected to be awarded during the Spring 2026 semester,
  • increases in the number of faculty, postdocs and students involved in projects and internships beginning in Fall 2026, which will be located at NY Creates’ Albany NanoTech Complex. Eligible students will include students in microelectronic degrees and credentials, and
  • creating endowed professorships to recruit top researchers.

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.

Media Mentions:

NY Creates Advancing Quantum Collaboration on the Global Stage

Quantum Computer
NY Creates President participating on panel for Accelerating Japan U.S. Cooperation in Quantum Technologies

NY Creates President Dave Anderson joined leaders from across the U.S. quantum ecosystem in Tokyo for the workshop “Accelerating Japan–U.S. Cooperation in Quantum Technologies.”

Hosted at the International House of Japan, the event convened government, industry, and academic leaders to explore new pathways for international collaboration in quantum innovation.

President Anderson said, “New York is a nascent quantum cluster that’s certainly expanding rapidly. It is clearly it’s an ecosystem of quantum science and technology, but it has clusters across many parts of the state.” 

Representing the New York Quantum Cluster on the panel “Perspectives from Key U.S. Quantum Clusters,” Anderson highlighted how New York’s rapidly expanding ecosystem—anchored by NY Creates, IBM, UAlbany, and RPI—is driving breakthroughs in quantum computing, materials, and devices.

Read more here.

Advanced Manufacturing Features AIM Photonics and NY Creates in “Enabling Quantum Leaps in PIC Technology”

Zoomed in wafer and tool
Amit Dikshit (right), AIM Photonics design enablement manager, at OFC 2024. The Optical Fiber Communication Conference is the largest global conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals.

A new feature from Advanced Manufacturing spotlights how AIM Photonics and NY Creates are driving innovation in photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology.

Over the past decade, the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics) has been instrumental in advancing U.S. manufacturing through its open-access, multi-project-wafer (MPW) platform, accelerating domestic development and prototyping of cutting-edge PICs.

At the heart of this progress is NY Creates’ Albany NanoTech Complex world-class facility provides the technologies, advanced cleanroom infrastructure, and high-volume semiconductor manufacturing tools that enable AIM Photonics to deliver wafer-scale photonic integration and specialized prototyping.

Read the full article in Advanced Manufacturing: AIM Photonics: Enabling Quantum Leaps in PIC Technology

Collaborative NY Creates Research Published in Nature Communications Physics

Light and photonics design
Light and photonics design
Researchers from NY Creates, Boston University, Lightmatter, and Cornell Tech published in Nature Communications Physics, “Photonics for sustainable AI.” The research “explores the potential of photonics as a carbon-sustainable solution for the next-generation AI hardware.”
 

NY Creates Showcases Innovation, Workforce Development, and Industry Leadership at SEMICON West 2025

Team NY Creates at SEMICON West 2025

NY Creates took center stage at this year’s SEMICON West conference, participating in multiple engaging sessions that highlighted the organization’s leadership in semiconductor innovation, workforce development, and collaboration across the semiconductor ecosystem. Held in Phoenix, Arizona, SEMICON West “wrangled” together global leaders from across the industry to discuss the innovative technologies, groundbreaking R&D, and new workforce development initiatives to drive partnerships that continue shaping the future of the semiconductor industry.

Throughout the week, Creates leaders and experts shared insights on topics ranging from artificial intelligence, sustainability, workforce development and recruitment strategies, and more.

Creates President, David Anderson, moderated an executive panel titled, “Powering the Next Decade: AI’s Impact on Semiconductor Infrastructure and Market.” This robust discussion examined how artificial intelligence is transforming semiconductor design, manufacturing, and supply chain operations. Pres. Anderson was joined by a distinguished panel of industry leaders, including Angada Sachid (ASM), Mukesh Khare (IBM), Laura Matz (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), and Mark Dougherty (Tokyo Electron US). Together, they explored how AI will drive technological advancement and reshape the semiconductor landscape over the coming decade.

Creates Vice President for Education and Workforce Development, Dr. Robert Geer, joined GlobalFoundries Workforce Development Lead, Christine McLear to present, “Building a Collaborative Regional Consortium for Semiconductor Workforce Development” at the Workforce Development session. The presentation explored how partnerships among industry, academia, and government are fueling a new generation of high-tech talent, supporting the semiconductor ecosystem, and ensuring a strong, sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals.

At that same session, Justin Rivers, Creates Director of Recruitment and Employment, presented “From Job Application to Onboarding: How to Lock Down the Position You Are Seeking” at the Workforce Development Pavilion. Drawing on years of experience in human resources and recruitment, Rivers shared practical advice for professionals pursuing careers in high-tech fields — including opportunities at Creates. Many in the large crowd stayed after the talk to ask Justin for his advice, with a line of interested individuals that lasted more than a half hour.

On Wednesday, Creates Sustainability Engineering Manager, Irina Spiry, took part in the SEMI Semiconductor Climate Consortium Scope 1 Working Group Gases Panel. Engaging discussions from the panel provided an opportunity for attendees to hear input on this topic and our creation of a testbed at Creates that will address important aspects of gas alternatives and abatement. 

Beyond the presentations, attendees were invited to connect with Creates representatives at their booth, where the team showcased the organization’s expanding role as a hub for research, innovation, and workforce growth in semiconductors.

Creates also recorded live episodes of its NanoChat podcast throughout the conference, featuring exclusive interviews with industry experts on topics such as recruitment, workforce development, and sustainability. 

The Creates team extends its appreciation to everyone who stopped by the booth, attended a session, or joined a conversation. Together with its partners and collaborators, Creates continues to drive innovation, strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem, and shape what’s next for advanced technologies.

If you would like to follow up with Creates following the SEMICON West Conference, you can do so by emailing contact@ny-creates.org.

Also, stay tuned for upcoming NanoChat episodes recorded live from the SEMICON West floor, and learn more about how Creates is redefining the future of the semiconductor industry.

GE Aerospace Release Press: GE Aerospace Foundation Launches Next Engineers with University at Albany, miSci and NY Creates in New York’s Capital Region

Plans to reach 4,000 local students with engineering learning and development opportunities

October 7, 2025 – Niskayuna, New York – GE Aerospace Foundation announced today its partnership with University at Albany – State University of New York and Schenectady’s Museum of Innovation & Science (miSci) and NY Creates to launch the Next Engineers program in the New York Capital Region. As a key location in the continued expansion of Next Engineers, New York will play a vital role in inspiring and preparing the next generation of engineering leaders.  

“We are proud to inspire and train the next generation of engineering professionals in the New York Capital Region, where GE Aerospace’s roots stretch back for over a century,” said Germaine Hunter, Vice President, Workplace & Employee Experience at GE Aerospace. “Nearly 1,000 employees help advance the future of flight at the GE Aerospace Research Center where ideas become reality, making it a fitting location as we continue growing our Next Engineers program—a key part of our philanthropic commitment to empowering and supporting the communities we serve.” 

“NY Creates is excited to support this positive initiative enabling experiential learning for students in the Capital Region to expand the critical innovation-centered pipeline which underpins the growth of high-tech companies across New York State and beyond,” said Dr. Robert Geer, NY Creates Vice President for Workforce Development and Education. “We are thrilled to partner with GE Aerospace, the University at Albany, and MiSci to deliver programming that will lead to tangible results for countless students, unlocking lifelong career opportunities as we leverage our workforce development network with our partners to inspire the next generation of talent.”

Read the full GE Aerospace Press Release HERE

News Mentions:

A Fresh Look for a Future-Focused Mission

3D rendering Albany NanoTech Complex with NY Creates logo
3D rendering of Albany NanoTech Complex with NY Creates logo

Check out Creates’ new look, with a fresh logo, updated visual identity, and new branding resources reflecting our commitment to sustainability, collaboration, and innovation.

NY Creates President Dave Anderson

“I am excited to share that we have officially launched a refresh of our organization’s logo and updated our branding guidelines, marking the  dynamic evolution of NY Creates. This rebranding reflects more than a progressive new look. It represents and highlights our continued commitment to being at the forefront of innovation and collaboration.

Our new visual design elements incorporate a vivid green, underscoring our commitment to industry sustainability while signaling a forward-looking, strategic focus on our partners, stakeholders, and the next generation of high-tech talent.”

 Dave Anderson, President, NY Creates

Accelerating Innovation

Creates’ Albany NanoTech Complex is a world-renowned hub for research and development, commercialization of nanotechnology, and semiconductor innovation. 

Located in Albany, New York, it has evolved over decades into a leading center for cutting-edge scientific exploration and a major hub for collaborating with industry partners across the globe. The 1.65 million square foot NanoTech complex boasts more than $25 billion in high-tech investments and myriad corporate partners, with approximately 3,000 semiconductor-related jobs on site.

Our core values and the foundation of Creates drives our work everyday

Integrity

Transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship.

Collaboration

Bridging government, academia, and industry to build stronger innovation ecosystems.

Innovation

Advancing solutions that drive economic and environmental progress.

Excellence

World-class facilities and people delivering measurable impact.

Community

Nurturing future engineers and strengthening local and regional collaboration.

Check out the fresh branding on our Social Media accounts

We’re excited to introduce the new Creates visual identity, a modern logo and brand that reflects our commitment to sustainability, collaboration, and innovation across our social media channels.

Branding Contact

For questions related to the updated branding, or to request co-branded materials, please contact:

The Marketing Department | marketing@ny-creates.org

Jason Conwall, Director of Marketing and Strategic Affairs | jconwall@ny-creates.org

We’re proud to share this fresh look with our community. The brand reflects who we are, an organization powered by integrity, collaboration, and a relentless focus on innovation.