Renewing American Innovation hosted Dave Anderson, President of NY CREATES, for a timely conversation on the establishment of the National Semiconductor Technology Center called for under the CHIPS Act, and how it can leverage the world-leading semiconductor research and development facilities at NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex.
Charles Wessner, senior adviser to the Renewing American Innovation Project and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University moderated the conversation.
Albany Business Review
“A research company is moving to the Albany Nanotech Complex to be closer to collaborators. Meanwhile, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is set to lease 10 times more square footage at the complex come next year” and “The final steps for the complex’s new $495 million building, NanoFab Reflection, were approved by the NY CREATES Board Thursday. Even without shovels in the ground yet, requests for space already exceed what will be available at the new space, an official said…”
The New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science (NY CREATES) and its Northeast Advanced Technological Education Center (NEATEC) hosted 11 faculty from regional community colleges supporting New York’s chip manufacturing workforce and a Central New York high school teacher for a day-long Integrated Circuit (IC) Manufacturing Workshop on March 1, 2024. Attendees took part in a cleanroom tour and learned about New York State’s growing semiconductor-focused career opportunities.
As part of the day, the faculty cohort also received a tour of the sub-fab, the area underneath the cleanroom that supports cutting-edge chip development, and visited an on-site cleanroom training center to learn more about IC fabrication and related careers.
A key joint NY CREATES and SUNY program, the Northeast Advanced Technological Education Center (NEATEC) is an organization funded by the National Science Foundation and focused on developing workforce training programs, serving as a critical, sustainable resource to build and maintain a skilled technical workforce for the semiconductor and nanotechnology industries throughout New York and Western New England.
View news coverage from Spectrum News here.
Albany Business Review
“Even without shovels in the ground yet, requests for space already exceed what will be available at NanoFab Reflection, said Paul Kelly, NY CREATES chief operating officer.
Read More (paywall)
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Contact: Steve Ference | sference2@ny-creates.org | +1 (518) 424-6029
Pete Genzer | genzer@bnl.gov | +1 (631) 357-1028
Samantha Murray | murras7@rpi.edu | +1 (518) 960-4051
Collaboration to Drive Quantum Information Science Engineering and
Technology and Microelectronics Advancements
Albany, NY — NY CREATES, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) announced they are collaborating to advance Quantum Information Science Engineering and Technology and Microelectronics in New York State and the nation.
The New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY CREATES), Brookhaven Science Associates, which manages BNL on behalf of DOE’s Office of Science, and RPI have formalized a partnership to foster collaborative and mutually beneficial programs that will enhance intellectual exchange between the three organizations. The agreement lays the groundwork for joint research projects and other collaborations that will strengthen the quantum and microelectronics ecosystems in New York State and beyond, supporting timely U.S. efforts to reestablish its preeminence in areas important to national security and economic vitality.
“This strategic partnership, which leverages NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex, the nation’s most advanced public/private 300mm semiconductor research center, will advance technologies in the important areas of microelectronics and quantum, and we look forward to building on our strong relationships with BNL and RPI,” said NY CREATES President Dave Anderson. “By bringing together the expertise of NY CREATES, RPI, and BNL, we are poised to make substantial contributions to the quantum and microelectronics landscapes as we address the evolving needs of our industry partners.”
“Brookhaven Lab has the unique facilities, capabilities, and expertise in materials science needed to drive research in microelectronics and quantum technologies,” said John Hill, BNL’s Deputy Director for Science and Technology. “We believe this partnership is essential and well positioned to advance information science, engineering, and technology, areas crucial to our future economy—within NY State and across the nation.”
“We are excited to take this next step with NY CREATES and Brookhaven National Lab and further critical collaborations among our three institutions,” said Martin A. Schmidt, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “This development comes at an opportune moment. New York is fast becoming an epicenter of quantum computing and microelectronics exploration and innovation, and in April we will officially unveil an IBM Quantum System One at RPI, the first deployed on a university campus. Having this system at RPI, and making it accessible to researchers and students in the region, will be an asset to this important partnership.”
Representatives from each organization signed a memorandum of understanding during a ceremony at NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex on Friday, February 9, 2024. The MOU will guide research alignment, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and developing joint research programs that leverage each partner’s strengths.
The three organizations will also establish joint programs in educational outreach and workforce development to support the next generation of researchers and address industry needs. The agreement will provide opportunities for graduate students and postdocs to pursue collaborative research at BNL, RPI, or NY CREATES’ facilities, enhancing their exposure to cutting-edge technologies. In addition, the MOU sets the stage for joint quantum technologies and microelectronics research-focused workshops, network engagement, and the collaborative use of each organization’s resources.
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About NY CREATES
NY CREATES serves as New York’s bridge to the advanced electronics industry. As the primary resource for fostering public-private and academic partnerships in New York State, NY 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. NY 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 more than $20 billion – placing it at the global epicenter of high-tech innovation and commercialization. Learn more at www.ny-creates.org.
About Brookhaven National Laboratory
One of 10 national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by DOE’s Office of Science, Brookhaven Lab conducts research in the physical, biological, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies, computation, quantum technologies, and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry, and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed by Brookhaven Science Associates, a partnership founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit applied science and technology organization.
About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America’s first technological research university. Rensselaer encompasses five schools, over 30 research centers, more than 140 academic programs including 25 new programs, and a dynamic community made up of over 6,800 students and 110,000 living alumni. Rensselaer faculty and alumni include upwards of 155 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, six National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. To learn more, please visit www.rpi.edu.
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Times Union
ALBANY – A top executive from NY CREATES, which operates Albany NanoTech, was at the White House on Friday as the Biden administration announced the first major steps being taken to create the National Semiconductor Technology Center, a new national computer chip research lab that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer of New York believes should be located in Albany…
“I am delighted that our organization was represented at (Friday’s) event in Washington, D.C., showing our support of Natcast, alongside a number of our industry partners,” NY CREATES President David Anderson said in a statement. “We eagerly look forward to the opportunities to leverage our world-class Albany NanoTech Complex and further build collaborations to drive the success of these critical investments.”
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German-American collaboration between research institutes
Bridges of Innovation: Fraunhofer IPMS and NY CREATES strengthen cooperation
The research institutes Fraunhofer IPMS and NY CREATES provide the framework for international understanding and collaboration.
The New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY CREATES) is one of the world’s leading research and development institutions for digital technologies and microelectronics. Last year, representatives from Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) met with counterparts at NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex in New York State. There, Wenke Weinreich, Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer IPMS, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer.
The collaboration includes the initiation of joint research projects, symposia, and workshops, as well as the promotion of scientific exchanges. This step marks a significant milestone in the international cooperation between the two institutions, which are focused on promoting innovation and progress in the fields of digital technologies, energy technologies, and microelectronics.
“With our expertise and technologies in advanced microelectronics, we ideally complement the capabilities of NY CREATES. Together we can make significant progress in the development of future semiconductor systems,” said Dr. Wenke Weinreich.
“We are pleased to partner with Fraunhofer IPMS to pursue common goals, such as the ways in which we can further enable next-generation semiconductor research, a highly qualified workforce, and economic advancement,” said NY CREATES President Dave Anderson. “As we anticipate large-scale growth at our Albany NanoTech Complex site, including the new High NA EUV Lithography Center, we look forward to complementary collaborations with Fraunhofer IPMS along with other leading global organizations.”
NY CREATES representatives recently visited the Fraunhofer Institute in Dresden and the Silicon Saxony office where Fraunhofer IPMS and NY CREATES agreed on concrete dates for a joint exchange in 2024.
View a video featuring Dr. Weinreich, “Why Partnerships are Critical for Semiconductor Organizations,“ here.
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About Fraunhofer IPMS
Fraunhofer IPMS is one of the leading international research and development service providers for electronic and photonic microsystems in the application fields of intelligent industrial solutions and manufacturing, medical technology and health, and mobility. In two state-of-the-art clean rooms and with a total of four development sites in Dresden, Cottbus and Erfurt, the institute develops innovative MEMS components and microelectronic devices on 200 mm and 300 mm wafers. Services range from consulting and process development to pilot production.
About NY CREATES
NY CREATES serves as New York’s bridge to the advanced electronics industry. As the primary resource for fostering public-private and academic partnerships in New York State, NY 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. NY 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 more than $20 billion – placing it at the global epicenter of high-tech innovation and commercialization. Learn more at www.ny-creates.org
Contact:
Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS):
Frank Balvin | +49 351-8823-1144 | franka.balvin@ipms.fraunhofer.de
NY CREATES:
Steve Ference | +1 518 424-6029 | sference2@ny-creates.org
View Additional Coverage:
Azo Optics: Bridges of Innovation: Fraunhofer IPMS and NY CREATES Strengthen Cooperation
Capitol Pressroom
“Our guests are David Anderson, President of NY CREATES and Kevin Younis, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Deputy Commissioner of Empire State Development…We discuss Gov. Kathy Hochul’s December announcement of a public-private partnership at NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech site, where the state is investing $1 billion on research and development equipment that will be used by Micron, IBM, and other high-tech players.”
Listen Here
“On behalf of NY CREATES, I congratulate Deirdre Hanford as the first Chief Executive Officer for Natcast. Her extensive background in the semiconductor design community will undoubtedly and adeptly lead this critical U.S. effort toward successful outcomes that will bolster the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem and our national security at a time when the world faces numerous technological challenges. We look forward to working with her and the Natcast board to boost high-tech R&D and manufacturing in the U.S. while simultaneously creating new jobs and economic growth. We, at NY CREATES, applaud this selection by the Natcast board and stand ready to leverage our globally recognized Albany NanoTech Complex, cutting-edge semiconductor R&D capabilities, and international partnerships with leading members of industry and academia to serve the U.S. and further strengthen our collective innovation-based competitiveness.”
-Dave Anderson
NY CREATES President
Find a link to the announcement here: https://natcast.org/deirdre-hanford-appointed-as-ceo-of-natcast
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Superconducting technologies are the lifeblood of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in its ongoing mission to probe the quarks and gluons inhabiting the quantum universe.
Superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) technology, a core competency of Jefferson Lab, is used to accelerate the fundamental electron particles in the lab’s Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, enabling researchers from around the world to conduct cutting-edge experiments to study the fundamental building blocks of matter. With the investment from DOE’s Office of Nuclear Physics, Jefferson Lab scientists and engineers have been constantly improving the SRF technology to benefit particle accelerators for nuclear physics and other programs in the DOE’s Office of Science. That includes innovative superconducting materials and structures.
Now, leveraging its nearly four decades of expertise and capabilities in SRF science and technology, the lab is leading a multidisciplinary team to explore concepts to use these new superconducting materials and structures in ultra-energy-efficient Superconducting Digital (SCD) electronics aimed at emerging artificial intelligence and quantum computing technologies.
The team includes imec and the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY CREATES) — both leading hubs for high-technology research and innovation — and Cornell University. Its strength lies in bringing together concept and design (imec), fundamental material development (Jefferson Lab), characterization (Cornell), and process development and implementation (imec and NY CREATES).
Their project, “Advanced superconducting integration process enabling sustainable hardware for AI and quantum computing,” is one of 11 multidisciplinary peer-reviewed projects selected by DOE to receive a total of $73 million in investments to accelerate new technologies from discovery to commercialization. The project is being funded through the Accelerate initiative through DOE’s Offices of Advanced Scientific Computing Research and Nuclear Physics.
During the DOE review process, the collaboration was qualified as “an A+ Team … of exceptional talent.”
“Society needs faster, better-performing computer technology,” said Anne-Marie Valente-Feliciano, Jefferson Lab senior physicist and SRF process and materials group leader. “The project is aimed at developing a new computer chip technology using superconducting materials for faster performance and improved efficiency.”
From imec, Anna Herr and Quentin Herr are renowned world experts who have pioneered several new technologies for computer memory. Both are former Northrop Grumman Fellows and now scientific directors at their company. Both imec and NY CREATES are able to turn innovation into processes and device structures that will lead to faster circuits.
“Without greater innovation in high-performance computing,” said Quentin Herr, “it’s predicted that by 2040, half of the world’s energy will go toward computing.”
“In order to satisfy humanity’s need for computing, new paradigms are required,” said team member Satyavolu Papa Rao, materials scientist, engineer and vice president for research at NY CREATES. “Superconducting digital logic circuitry is a very critical path that needs to be explored, and that’s what we are doing.”
The vision is in sight
Identifying a key technology gap that currently hinders advancing digital superconductor electronics, the team’s approach is to innovate major changes, including scalability, to the existing fabrication process.
A critical goal is to develop improved superconducting and barrier materials that would perform better and tolerate higher processing temperatures, making them fully compatible with the fabrication processes of conventional electronics technology.
In a large-scale application such as AI running in a data center, superconducting materials offer a 100X improved energy efficiency, even after accounting for the overhead of a closed-loop cryogenic system for cooling. Superconducting digital logic chips (suitably modified) can also be placed near quantum computing chips, to control and communicate with them. That means that this technology is important for enabling both quantum and classical computing in the future.
Team member Katja Nowack, assistant professor of physics at Cornell University, has significant experience in the characterization of superconducting materials. Her toolbox of techniques enables imaging the properties of these materials so they can be better tuned to application at scale.
“My lab brings expertise in a pretty unique way to image the relevant materials and structures,” Nowack said. “We specialize in a type of magnetic imaging at low temperatures that we typically use to explore emergent phenomena in quantum materials. But it so happens that our imaging is well-suited to help develop a greater understanding of the fundamentals of the materials involved in SCD electronics. This is a critical need to advance the kind of technology we pursue in this project.”
“There’s potential for 100X improvement,” said Quentin Herr. “Ours is a very aggressive project, but one that’s extremely important because computing permeates all of our lives and continues to expand.”
Ever-faster computing would further revolutionize the promise of AI.
“AI needs large datasets and six-month-long learning cycles on energy-hungry computing systems today,” said Anna Herr. “Our proposed technology will allow energy-efficient learning much faster on real-time data closer to human rates of learning.”
Reaching that goal, however, won’t happen overnight.
“Eventually,” said Valente-Feliciano, “the materials and technology are going to mature to where they can be implemented in devices useful for the community at large. Of course, this will happen in stages — you’re not going to find a computer like that on the shelf tomorrow. But you can imagine it can be used for experiments and larger data centers.
“It is exciting to see the development of such a concept using our research in innovative materials coming to reality and being used in the future by society. It will take a long time, but that is our vision.”
Accelerating innovation
DOE’s larger goal with its Accelerate initiative is to fuel innovation in basic research so that new materials and technologies can be scaled and transitioned into new products and capabilities to enhance the country’s economic health and security.
“This research will integrate novel concepts and approaches in use-inspired basic research to address gaps or challenges that limit the ultimate transition to applied research for further development and demonstration,” said Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, director of DOE’s Office of Science, in announcing the grants. “Achieving these research goals will greatly accelerate the innovation cycle, which currently can take years to decades to realize.”
The 11 funded projects are supported by the Office of Science programs in Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Biological and Environmental Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, and the DOE Isotope Program.
Each project is led by a national laboratory with partners from other national labs, industries and universities, often including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).
This project is one of several at Jefferson Lab that aims to apply the lab’s expertise in niche technologies toward innovations that will have a positive impact on society. It is supported by DOE’s Offices of Advanced Scientific Computing Research and Nuclear Physics. Learn more about opportunities for partnering with Jefferson Lab in our Technology Transfer pages.
Further Reading
Department of Energy Announces $73 Million for Basic Research to Accelerate the Transition from Discovery to Commercialization
By Tamara Dietrich
Contact: Kandice Carter, Jefferson Lab Communications Office, 757-269-7263, kcarter@jlab.org
-end-
Jefferson Science Associates, LLC, manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, or Jefferson Lab, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. JSA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southeastern Universities Research Association, Inc. (SURA).
DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science
Summary: A multidisciplinary team led by Jefferson Lab and including imec, NY CREATES, and Cornell University has been selected by DOE to advance a superconducting approach to advanced computer chip technology. The team will explore concepts to use new superconducting materials and structures in ultra-energy-efficient Superconducting Digital (SCD) electronics aimed at emerging artificial intelligence and quantum computing technologies.