Regional collaboration led by NY Creates and SUNY will connect education, workforce, industry, and economic development partners across 12 states as part of the National Network for Microelectronics Education
Albany, NY — NY Creates (the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science), in partnership with the State University of New York, industry leaders, workforce organizations, higher education institutions, and economic development partners from across the Greater Northeast, today announced the launch of NNME Northeast, one of the first Regional Nodes of the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME).
Led by the Trump Administration’s U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and implemented nationally by the SEMI Foundation as the NNME Hub Operator, NNME Northeast will help strengthen and scale workforce pathways into semiconductor and microelectronics careers across a rapidly growing region including New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.
The Regional Node is supported by up to $20 million over five years from NSF, along with an additional $900,000 investment from New York State Empire State Development focused on workforce development initiatives within New York.
NNME Northeast brings together more than 90 partners representing community colleges, universities, K-12 systems, workforce development organizations, economic development agencies, community-based organizations, and semiconductor employers to help build a more connected, employer-aligned talent ecosystem for the microelectronics industry.
As the Regional Node lead, NY Creates will help coordinate regional collaboration and industry alignment efforts across the broader Northeast ecosystem, working alongside SUNY as academic convener and key industry partners including Micron Technology.
The initiative builds upon existing regional momentum, including the Micron Northeast University Semiconductor Network, registered apprenticeship partnerships, workforce innovation collaboratives, and growing public-private investments in semiconductor manufacturing, research, and advanced technology development across the region.
“America’s leadership in semiconductors depends on our ability to develop our talent, and we are excited to partner with industry and regional leaders to stand up NNME Northeast to support the innovation capacity, talent readiness, and long-term competitiveness of the region’s semiconductor sector,” said Dr. Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. “This Regional Node will help ensure America has the next generation of talent ready to ensure that the memory and chips that power America will be made right here in America as well.”
“New York is continuing to build a world-class semiconductor ecosystem, and that success depends on developing a workforce prepared to meet the demands of this rapidly growing industry,” Governor Hochul said. “Through initiatives like the National Network for Microelectronics Education Northeast node, and in partnership with SEMI, NY Creates, Micron, SUNY, and stakeholders across the region, we are creating stronger pathways for New Yorkers to gain the skills needed for high-tech careers while reinforcing our state’s leadership in innovation, manufacturing, and economic growth.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has secured unparalleled semiconductor investments that are creating tens of thousands of jobs across the state. At ESD, our priority is empowering New Yorkers with the skills they need to step into these high-demand, good-paying careers. By partnering with SEMI and utilizing our targeted state funding to build this premier training hub at NY Creates, we are further cementing New York’s leadership role in this industry and ensuring our workers are ready to thrive in the growing ecosystem anchored by Micron’s historic investment in Central New York.”
U.S. Senator Schumer said, “Investing in our skilled workforce is key to cementing Upstate New York’s global leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. I’m proud to deliver up to $20 million from my CHIPS & Science Law to launch NNME Northeast in the Capital Region. This new hub for semiconductor workforce training will help our top-notch workers prepare for new, good-paying jobs building the technology that will power the future. Together, we are ensuring the next generation of microchips will be developed and made here in America, including in Upstate NY, not overseas.”
“This announcement reflects the power of regional collaboration through NY Creates’ and our partners’ commitment to strengthen America’s semiconductor workforce pipeline within this new national framework,” said Dave Anderson, President and CEO of NY Creates. “We are proud to work alongside the NNME with the SEMI Foundation, SUNY, Micron, and partners across the northeast and are grateful to the Trump Administration and Empire State Development for their critical investments as we collectively and strategically build scalable pathways into these critical careers.”
“America’s ability to lead in semiconductors depends on whether we can build strong, connected pathways into the workforce at national scale,” said Shari Liss, Vice President of Workforce Development and Initiatives at SEMI. “NNME Northeast reflects the power of regional collaboration aligned through a shared national strategy. By bringing together industry, education, workforce, and community partners across the Greater Northeast, this effort will help expand opportunity, strengthen talent pipelines, and prepare more Americans for the high-demand careers driving the future of microelectronics.”
“At Micron, we’ve always known that the strength of the semiconductor industry begins with the strength of its people,” said April Arnzen, EVP and Chief People Officer, at Micron Technology. “NNME NE is exactly the kind of bold, collaborative framework needed to ensure that people across the Northeast, from high school classrooms to community colleges and beyond, have a clear, supported pathway into the careers that will define the next era of American innovation. We are proud to stand alongside NY Creates, the SEMI Foundation, and our many partners in building a talent ecosystem as ambitious as the industry itself.”
“The future of the semiconductor industry depends on building strong, inclusive, and scalable talent pathways,” said John B. King Jr., Chancellor of The State University of New York. “As the academic convener for NNME Northeast, SUNY is proud to work with NY Creates and help bring together higher educational institutions, industry leaders, workforce organizations, and communities across the region to prepare students and workers for the next generation of microelectronics careers. This partnership reflects the power of collaboration at scale to advance innovation, economic opportunity, and national competitiveness.”
Rob Simpson, CEO at CenterState CEO said, “As Central New York plans for unprecedented growth and generational opportunity, we must think at a larger scale and develop new partnerships to best prepare workers for careers in the semiconductor industry. We are proud to be a subrecipient of the National Network for Microelectronics Education award. Through this initiative, we will collaborate with peers across the Northeast to deepen our understanding of how to build and sustain a workforce ready for careers in microelectronics manufacturing. This investment will support implementation of the Micron-approved Future Ready Workforce Innovation Consortium (FRWIC) 2025-2026 Roadmap, aligning jobseeker outreach, career exploration, and curriculum design with the evolving workforce needs of Central New York’s semiconductor sector. We are deeply grateful to our partners at NY Creates and SUNY for their leadership and vision in addressing our region’s critical workforce needs. We also appreciate Micron’s continued engagement and support, as well as Syracuse University’s partnership with FRWIC.”
“The launch of the NNME Northeast Node arrives at a pivotal moment for our region, as highlighted by Micron’s monumental celebration of 1α DRAM manufacturing right here in Manassas, VA,” said Dr. Anne M. Kress, President of Northern Virginia Community College. “This major milestone in U.S. memory manufacturing proves that Northern Virginia is a premier hub for semiconductor innovation. Sustaining this momentum will require a robust, locally grown talent pipeline. With the support of the NNME NE, NOVA is expanding our semiconductor career-exploration ecosystem to meet this demand. By driving regional awareness and securing workforce pathways through hands-on summer bridge programs for high schoolers, educator externships, tuition support for pre-apprentices, and cutting-edge VR-based micro-internships, NOVA is ensuring our students are fully prepared to power the next generation of American manufacturing. We are incredibly proud to partner with industry leaders like Micron to transform regional talent into the pride of our national workforce.”
NNME Northeast is part of the broader National Network for Microelectronics Education, a national initiative designed to establish coordinated workforce infrastructure that connects regional ecosystems into a scalable national strategy for semiconductor and microelectronics talent development.
Collectively, the first Regional Nodes of NNME represent a growing national network of hundreds of organizations working together to strengthen America’s semiconductor workforce pipeline, expand access to high-demand careers, and support the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. microelectronics industry.
Through this collaborative framework, the consortium will help expand educational excellence, technical skill development, and experiential learning opportunities, and the Northeast node is further supported through a complementary first-year commitment of $900,000 from Empire State Development with a focus on New York State-centered workforce development opportunities to enable training-to-career outcomes.
The launch of NNME Northeast further reinforces the growing role of the Greater Northeast as a major hub for semiconductor innovation, research, manufacturing, and workforce development, while helping to ensure that students and workers across the region can connect to emerging career opportunities in one of the nation’s most critical industries.
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About NY Creates
NY Creates serves as a lab-to-fab bridge for advanced electronics, fostering public-private and industry-academic partnerships for technology development and innovation. Creates attracts and leads industry-connected innovation and commercialization projects that secure significant investment, advance R&D in emerging technologies, and generate the jobs of tomorrow. Creates runs some of the most advanced facilities in the world, boasts more than 2,700 industry experts and faculty, and manages public and private investments of $25 billion—placing it at the global epicenter of high-tech innovation and commercialization. Learn more at www.ny-creates.org.
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, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its 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 $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
About NNME
The NNME is a national workforce development initiative supported by NSF in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce. The NNME connects industry, education, workforce systems, and regional partners through a national network designed to accelerate the development of America’s microelectronics workforce ecosystem. Visit the NNME online to learn more.
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