Albany Leaders Write to President Biden & Highlight Capital Region as Ideal Location for NSTC & Federal Semiconductor Investments

February 23, 2022

President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear President Biden,

Thank you for your unwavering support of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Your focus on this issue has the United States on the cusp of an historic investment in the industry. The need for this legislation is clear: pandemic-related disruptions to the global semiconductor supply chain have had a ripple effect on our economy, fueling inflation and highlighting the importance of domestic manufacturing.
The $52 billion CHIPS for America Fund included in both the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S. 1260) and America COMPETES Act (H.R. 4521) provides needed incentives to increase domestic semiconductor production. We would like to bring to your attention a key provision of this legislation, the creation of a National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), and highlight Albany, New York as the perfect location for such a Center.

The NSTC will serve as a hub that brings together industry, government, and academia to conduct advanced semiconductor research and prototyping to strengthen our domestic ecosystem. The Albany Nanotech Complex is the blueprint for this type of R&D collaboration, bringing together a public university, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, with industry leaders like IBM, Applied Materials Inc., Tokyo Electron Ltd., Intel Corp. and Wolfspeed Inc. Just in the last year, IBM and Intel announced a next-generation semiconductor research initiative at SUNY Polyi and IBM and Samsung announced that their Albany partnership had led to a semiconductor breakthrough with the potential to reduce energy usage by 85 percent.ii These are just two of many innovations that have emerged from Albany’s proven chip innovation ecosystem.

Albany is also the best choice to ensure that the NSTC is an instant success, thanks to our existing infrastructure, academic institutions, and our skilled and diverse workforce. These attributes are no doubt part of the reason GlobalFoundries chose to invest in a second chip factory in Malta, New York, just 25 miles north of Albany. As Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves saw when he visited in January, the Albany’s Nanotech Complex has the cleanroom and office infrastructure to immediately begin hosting the Center upon award. In addition, Albany Nanotech is already seeking the approvals needed to quickly expand its footprint.
Should the CHIPS for America Fund become a reality, the Department of Commerce should invest in what is already working. Senate Majority Leader Schumer, a tireless advocate for American semiconductor manufacturing, said it best: “there’s only one place for this center to be.”

National Semiconductor Center Letter to President Biden

IBM and 40+ business and academic leaders urge Congress to act on semiconductor crisis

January 13, 2022

New York State Congressional Delegation
United States Senate
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Members of the New York Congressional Delegation:

The ongoing global semiconductor shortage is disrupting our supply chains, impacting consumers and businesses, and threatening our national security. This shortage exposes the lack of sustained domestic investment in the semiconductor industry and highlights the need for the United States to reinvest to guarantee a steady and secure supply of chips for long into the future.

We are a group of academics, businesses, government and non-profit leaders who are committed to leveraging existing semiconductor infrastructure in New York to combat the current shortage. Together, we urge you to pass the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), which, among other things, would fully fund the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act (CHIPS Act). Funding the CHIPS Act will accelerate investments in new manufacturing facilities, boost domestic semiconductor production, and establish a National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) and the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program.

The NSTC will serve as a hub to marshal semiconductor expertise and resources to deliver much-needed breakthroughs in chip innovation and production, and it will support a steady supply of chips now and long into the future. An advanced research hub like the NSTC will require a unique innovation ecosystem that is ‘prototype ready’ with first-class resources, scientists, facilities, and partners who can work quickly and efficiently to ease the global chip shortage and secure a strong domestic chip supply chain for the future.

As Senator Chuck Schumer said earlier this year and New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently wrote in Bloomberg, the NSTC needs a proven chip innovation ecosystem, which has a sophisticated infrastructure that is already operational and is backed by partner companies, academic institutions, and a highly skilled workforce. For instance, the Albany Nanotech Complex is the product of billions of dollars in public and private investment over two decades and now hosts more than 2,700 industry experts, staff, students, and faculty who have leveraged the center to produce leading edge semiconductor innovations such as the world’s first 2 nanometer node chip technology.

We have no time to waste. For the United States to retain its semiconductor leadership, we must act with speed and the NSTC should use existing assets to produce results quickly. To enable fast results, our group includes universities and academic institutions in New York and across the United States to strengthen the semiconductor R&D pipeline, cultivate a diverse and talented semiconductor workforce and translate technology into tangible business and consumer solutions.

How we rise to the challenge of building resiliency back into our semiconductor supply chain is a defining moment not only for the nation, but also New York State, to retain our position as a leader in semiconductor innovation, research expertise and the workforce of the future. Additionally, New York is uniquely positioned to support new American semiconductor fabs, as we have more shovel-ready sites than any other state and have already established the infrastructure needed for new chip fabrication.

That is why we urge the New York congressional delegation to support R&D, innovation and manufacturing by fully funding the CHIPS Act in USICA. In doing so, we can cement the United States’ leadership in the semiconductor industry and strengthen our supply chains, economy, and national security for years to come.

We look forward to working with you on this shared goal.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey B. Shealy, PhD, MBA
Founder & CEO
Akoustis, Inc.

Daniel Leibholz
SVP & Chief Technology Officer
Analog Devices

Benjamin Bunday
President
AMAG Consulting

Ron Kelly
Chief Executive Officer
Ambature

Vincent Guerriero
Sr. Director, Silicon Product Group – META Center
Applied Materials

Tom Kelly
Chief Executive Officer
Blue Cheetah

Doon Gibbs
President
Brookhaven Science Associates

Mark Eagan
President & Chief Executive Officer
Center for Economic Growth

Joshua C. Brumberg, Ph.D.
Dean of the Sciences, The Graduate Center
City University of New York

John L. Sheff
Director of Public & Industry Affairs
Danfoss

Hope Knight
Acting Commissioner
Empire State Development

James A. O’Neill, PhD
Chief Technology Officer
Entegris

Dr. Thomas Caulfield
Chief Executive Officer
GlobalFoundries, U.S., Inc.

Heather Hage
President & CEO
Griffiss Institute

Brian Sapp
Senior Director
i3 Microsystems

Dr. Darío Gil
Senior Vice President and Director of Research
IBM

Loria Brown Gordon, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, Du Bois – Harvey Honors College
Jackson State University

Dennis Ralston
Senior Director, Government Relations and Cooperative R&D
KLA

Mark Campito
Chief Executive Officer
Marktech Optoelectronics

Vladimir Bulovic
Director
MIT.nano

Steven J. DiMeo
President
Mohawk Valley EDGE

Christine B Whitman
Chairman & CEO
Mosaic Microsystems LLC

Tim Vehling
Senior Vice President, Product & Business Development
Mythic

Ryan Silva
Executive Director
New York State Economic Development Council

Shahin Sharifzadeh
Co-CEO
NexGen Power Systems Inc.

Paul Kelly
Chief Operating Officer
NY CREATES

Hassane El-Khoury
President and CEO
onsemi

Ganesh Subbarayan, Ph.D.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Purdue University

Robert Hull, Ph.D.
Acting Vice President for Research, Henry Burlage Jr. Professor of Engineering, and Director of Center for Materials, Devices, and Integrated Systems
Material Science and Engineering Department
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Paul Farrar Jr.
Vice President Strategy
SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions Co., Ltd

John Levy, Chief Executive Officer
Oleg Mukhanov, Chief Technical Officer
Seeqc

Johanna Duncan-Poitier
Senior Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges and the Education Pipeline
State University of New York System Administration

Shadi Sandvik, PhD
Provost-in-Charge
State University of New York System Administration

Bahgat Sammakia, PhD
Vice President of Research
State University of New York at Binghamton

Krishnaswami Srihari, PhD
Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Science
State University of New York at Binghamton

Jon Longtin, PhD
Interim Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Stony Brook University-State University of New York

Rich Reeder, PhD
Vice President for Research
Stony Brook University-State University of New York

Mike O’Brien
Vice President
Synopsys, Inc.

Alexander Oscilowski
President, TEL Technology Center America
TEL

Mark Tolbert
President & CEO
Toptica Photonics, Inc.

Sameer Desai
Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations
TTM Technology

Venu Govindaraju, PhD
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
SUNY Distinguished Professor
University at Buffalo

Rashid Bashir
Dean, Grainger College of Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

 

Download the letter as a PDF.

 

 

 

Source: https://www.ibm.com/policy/usica-semiconductor-crisis-ny-letter/

AS CHIP SHORTAGE DISRUPTS GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS, SCHUMER LAUNCHES MAJOR PUSH TO MAKE ALBANY NANOTECH THE NATION’S HUB FOR THE NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY CENTER AND NATIONAL ADVANCED PACKAGING MANUFACTURING PROGRAM; SENATOR SENDS PERSONAL INVITE TO COMMERCE DEPT. LEADERSHIP TO SEE ALBANY’S WORLD-CLASS FACILITY & NY’S UNIQUE ABILITY TO POWER & REVIVE U.S. CHIP INDUSTRY

01.13.22

Last Year, Schumer Brought Sec. Raimondo To Albany To Pitch Capital Region As The Home Of Future National Semiconductor Center; Schumer Doubles Down On Effort & Calls On Top Brass To Tour Albany Nanotech Campus & See World-Class Facility Firsthand

 New +30 Partner National Coalition – Including IBM, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, SUNY, RPI, & MIT, Combined With Unique Support For Startups And Workforce– Makes NY Ideal Spot For NSTC

Schumer To Commerce Department: Come See For Yourself Everything Albany Has To Offer — Albany Nanotech For The NSTC Is A Win-Win-Win; Will Create 1,000+ Good Paying NY Jobs, Supercharge American Manufacturing for the National Semiconductor Industry, And Maintain Global U.S. Tech Leadership

After years of staunch advocacy to invest in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and R&D, including in New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer successfully passed his U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) in the Senate and immediately brought Secretary Raimondo to the Capital Region to pitch the Albany Nanotech Complex as the ideal hub for the nation’s first National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP), two programs that will be funded by USICA.

To continue this momentum, in a letter sent this week, Schumer directly urged Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves to tap New York’s premier assets for positioning the U.S. to lead the global chip industry, including the multibillion dollar Albany Nanotech Complex, which he personally invited them to visit to see first-hand how it is a model for the NSTC and NAPMP. Schumer also revealed that Albany Nanotech has assembled a national coalition of over 30 partners across industry, academia, and economic development to compete to be the central hub for the NSTC and NAPMP.

“As Secretary Raimondo heard this summer: Upstate New York’s unique combination of a robust semiconductor supply chain, world-class workforce, sites primed for investment that feature low-cost reliable power and water infrastructure, renowned higher education institutions, and premier facilities like the Albany Nanotech Complex means it has all the ingredients to power and revive the U.S. chip industry, including serving as the hub for the nation’s first National Semiconductor Technology Center and Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program. Now, it’s time for the Commerce Department to see this unique cauldron of innovation and groundbreaking, collaborative research first-hand,” said Senator Schumer. “I wrote and championed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act with Upstate New York and facilities like the Albany Nanotech at the forefront of my mind. That is why I personally invited Secretary Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Graves with me to the Capital Region to join me for a tour to see for the first time just how ideally Albany Nanotech’s national partnerships and infrastructure are uniquely suited to lead the NSTC, quickly serve the needs of the nation’s semiconductor industry, and supercharge American chip production and leadership in technology.” 

“NY CREATES has a track record of building connections and capabilities with emerging technology ecosystem partners in academia, industry and government,” said Paul Kelly, Chief Operating Officer, NY CREATES. “Whether it’s working with SUNY and private universities, start-up companies or global leaders, we are actively engaged with a broad cross-section of partners and working to advance technology development in areas ranging from computing to nano-biology. Albany Nanotech’s existing facilities and ecosystem of more than 20 innovative partners collaborating on leading edge semiconductor R&D should be the model for greater national collaboration for the future NSTC.” 

“In just the past few months, the Albany Nanotech innovation ecosystem has delivered major leaps forward in semiconductor technology, from unlocking the promise of 2-nanometer technology to chip designs that could cut energy consumption up to 85 percent. No other site in the country is as well suited to accelerate and expand access to American chip innovation than New York’s unique ecosystem, including the Albany Nanotech Complex and a network of universities and small and large businesses that reaches across the state and country,” said Darío Gil, Senior Vice President, IBM and Director of Research.

Schumer included in USICA $52 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to implement the semiconductor-related manufacturing and R&D programs he had successfully pushed to authorize in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act; including $10.5 billion appropriated upfront and allocated over 5 years to implement programs like the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP), and other R&D programs. Funds will also support legacy chip production at companies like GlobalFoundries that is essential to the auto industry, the military, and other critical industries. Schumer is now actively working with President Biden and Speaker Pelosi for the House to move USICA to final passage into law.

Schumer said that Albany Nanotech is the most “shovel-ready” R&D facility in the country to quickly stand up the NSTC and NAPMP. Albany Nanotech is the most advanced, publicly-owned, 300-millimeter semiconductor R&D facility, has well established partnerships with industry leaders and top academic research institutions, including in critical logic and packaging capabilities, and is set up to immediately begin supporting the needs of the broader semiconductor ecosystem, including startups, small businesses, and the workforce. New York is currently home to 88 semiconductor companies that employ over 34,000 New Yorkers, including global industry leaders like GlobalFoundries, Wolfspeed, onsemi, and IBM. In addition, New York offers shovel ready sites primed for further investment by the semiconductor industry, including: White Pine in Central New York, Marcy Nanocenter in the Mohawk Valley, and STAMP in Western New York.

Senator Schumer has a long history of fighting to advance semiconductor manufacturing and R&D in Upstate New York. Last year, Schumer  brought Secretary Raimondo to Malta, NY to announce GlobalFoundries’ plans to build a second chip fab to focus primarily on auto and military chip production, creating thousands of construction and permanent jobs, on top of the 3,000 workers that GlobalFoundries already employs in Malta, and helping to expand domestic supply chains of critical chip technology. During this visit, Schumer also arranged for a meeting between Secretary Raimondo and Albany Nanotech stakeholders, including NY CREATES and IBM, to discuss how New York is well-positioned to quickly stand up the NSTC to serve the needs of the nation’s semiconductor industry. Since that meeting, a coalition of over 30 national partners from industry, academia, and economic development has formed to prepare for Albany Nanotech’s application to compete for the NSTC and NAPMP.  

A copy of Schumer’s letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Don Graves appears below:

Dear Secretary Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Graves:

I first want to thank you and President Biden for your leadership in strengthening domestic supply chains and ensuring the U.S. remains on the cutting-edge of new research and development (R&D). As you know, I led the effort to pass in the Senate the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) to advance these efforts. Given the chip shortage faced by the nation and that the U.S. is losing its leadership role in the chip industry, I prioritized the inclusion of $52 billion in emergency spending to implement the semiconductor manufacturing and R&D programs that I successfully pushed to authorize in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283). As we work with the House to pass a final USICA bill into law and as the Administration begins planning for implementation of the semiconductor programs, I want to highlight for you the central role New York can play in quickly expanding domestic chip production and enhancing the nation’s R&D leadership. In particular, New York is perfectly positioned as a model for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP), and I would invite you and your team back to New York to see first-hand New York’s premier assets for the nation’s competitiveness in the semiconductor industry.

Decades of private and public investment has positioned New York as a leader in the semiconductor industry. New York is currently home to 88 semiconductor companies that employ over 34,000 New Yorkers, including global industry leaders like GlobalFoundries, Wolfspeed, onsemi, and IBM. New York is primed to support an expansion of domestic chip production, as you saw first-hand in your participation in GlobalFoundries’ announcement last year of their plans to build a second fab in the Albany region. The state also offers several shovel ready sites: White Pine in Central New York, Marcy Nanocenter in the Mohawk Valley, and STAMP in Western New York. These sites all offer low-cost, reliable water and power infrastructure and access to a world-class workforce.

Additionally, New York is home to the multibillion-dollar Albany Nanotech Complex, affiliated with the State University of New York (SUNY). Albany Nanotech is the most “shovel-ready” R&D site in North America, comprising the most advanced, publicly-owned, 300-millimeter semiconductor R&D facility. Albany Nanotech is led by NY CREATES, which serves as a resource for public-private and academic partnerships not only across the state but also the world. The Albany facility also specializes in commercialization projects, enabling access to semiconductor design and prototyping for startups, smaller businesses, and universities, as well as helping to attract investment for entrepreneurs. In fact, Albany Nanotech is already set up to help startups and the broader ecosystem and can help create hundreds of new U.S. semiconductor companies as the NSTC. This capability allows Albany Nanotech to uniquely fulfill a necessary goal of the NSTC of serving the needs of the entire domestic semiconductor ecosystem, and not just larger companies.

Furthermore, Albany Nanotech is well positioned to develop the nation’s semiconductor workforce with strong university partnerships across the SUNY system and with top engineering schools like Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Cornell, Clarkson, Columbia, and Rochester Institute of Technology. Albany Nanotech also has developed partnerships with premier universities outside of New York like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, and University of Arizona and is focused on working with community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to prioritize the development of a diverse workforce for the industry. Additionally, late last year, SUNY Polytechnic Institute announced that they have developed with a collaboration of companies a Career Alignment Platform initiative, which is partially funded by $1.25 million from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, to provide students and existing workers with training and career pathway support through the Albany Nanotech Complex to access jobs in the semiconductor industry.

From a technical perspective, Albany Nanotech works with several industry leaders and end-users, with a focus on logic and packaging capabilities, among many others. These industry partners include IBM, Applied Materials, onsemi, Saab, Lockheed-Martin, Tokyo Electron Ltd., and Wolfspeed. New York is also home to the federally-funded AIM Photonics Manufacturing USA institute, a cutting-edge packaging R&D program, which combined with Danfoss’s power electronics packaging facility in Marcy, NY, among other assets, positions the state to achieve meaningful and quick outcomes for the NAPMP.

In preparation to compete for the NSTC and NAPMP, I am pleased to share that Albany Nanotech has already started to build a national coalition of over 30 partners across industry and academia. Establishing Albany Nanotech as the central hub for NSTC and NAPMP would allow the Federal government to leverage billions of dollars in other public and private investment that has stood up cutting-edge R&D infrastructure and partnerships that will ensure in a matter of months that real results can be achieved by the NSTC and NAPMP for companies of all sizes and the broader domestic semiconductor industry. Time is of the essence for our nation’s competitiveness, and Albany Nanotech is uniquely suited to drive the rapid progress America needs.

I appreciate all of your partnership to date on passing USICA into law and look forward to continuing to work with you on implementation of these critical programs, including investment in New York to advance the nation’s competitiveness. I also am very appreciative that you took time during your Albany visit last year to meet with Albany Nanotech stakeholders to begin to learn about the unique, highly effective public-private model they offer for NSTC and the NAPMP. I invite you and your team to join me in now touring the Albany Nanotech Complex so you can see the facility, as well as be briefed on Albany Nanotech’s newly formed coalition of national partners brought together to prepare for implementation of the NSTC and NAPMP. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

###

 

Source: Charles E. SCHUMER, UNITED STATES SENATOR FOR NEW YORK, Newsroom/Press Releases

How New York’s Ecosystem is Uniquely Positioned to Drive American Semiconductor Innovation

Dec 09,2021

Unparalleled Partnerships in Academia Including SUNY, RPI, and MIT Uniquely Position New York for Chip Innovation and R&D Hub

Today’s chip shortage shows we must immediately strengthen American leadership by moving semiconductor innovations into prototyping and production to strengthen our supply chains, economy, and national security.

The global semiconductor shortage continues to cause grave disruptions to supply chains, threatening American businesses, consumers, and our national security. Without these critical components, many companies have been forced to halt production, and consumers are unable to purchase goods or are forced to pay higher prices for products integral to their daily lives — like cars, computers, and dryers.

The ongoing chip shortage exposes the lack of domestic investment in the semiconductor industry and is proof positive that the United States needs to rethink its approach and increase investment in the areas of chip innovation, packaging, and manufacturing.

Congress must fund the CHIPS Act and should place the R&D hub of the NSTC at a proven chip innovation ecosystem with first-class facilities, scientists, and partners.

Congress must immediately finish work on the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, including fully funding the CHIPS for America Act, which establishes the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) to allow industry and academic partners to work hand-in-hand to advance a technology development roadmap that will alleviate the global chip shortage and provide a secure, domestic supply chain for the future.

As New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently wrote in Bloomberg, the NSTC should rely on a proven chip innovation ecosystem like Albany Nanotech where it could draw on an array of infrastructure already in place, and that is backed by partner companies, academic institutions, and a skilled workforce. For the NSTC to be most effective quickly, R&D should be placed in an ecosystem capable of continually moving new chip designs to production, ensuring collaboration on advanced semiconductor R&D, and meeting the full spectrum of U.S. economic and national security needs. Under the banner of NSTC, access to the Albany innovation ecosystem hub would be extended to a national network of partner companies, universities, workforce partners, and startups to create a true national innovation capability and broad technical roadmap to drive innovation across the entire semiconductor supply chain.

Additionally, the NSTC should focus on leading technology development, prototyping and advanced packaging, and technology transfer to manufacturing. The technology transfer capability is crucial as it would enable design transfer to manufacturing and provide needed flexibility in the domestic semiconductor supply chain to support both government and commercial needs.

Albany Nanotech is the Most Advanced 300mm Public-Private Collaborative Semiconductor R&D Facility in the Country

NY CREATES and industry partners have been successfully unlocking groundbreaking innovations in nanotechnology and semiconductor research for decades. The Albany network is the product of $15 billion in public and private investment over two decades. IBM has been part of the ecosystem since 2002, which now boasts more than 2,700 industry experts, staff, students, and faculty who leverage the center to produce leading edge semiconductor innovations. The center has fostered a public-private partnership with the state of New York and equipment, materials, and manufacturing companies to achieve significant technological breakthroughs that are shaping the next generation of semiconductor innovation.

Through sustained investments and a collaborative R&D ecosystem approach, scientists in Albany are continuing to push the boundaries of semiconductor technology. For example, Albany Nanotech pioneered work in cutting-edge technologies such as extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV), and is still the only facility in the country conducting collaborative research on EUV. IBM researchers, along with ecosystem partners, announced the 7nm chip breakthrough in 2015 [R. Xie et al, IEDM 2016], which led to the POWER systems product announcement in 2021. The Albany ecosystem has continued to be the hub of innovations for semiconductor chips, including first demonstrations of novel device architectures such as nanosheet. [N. Loubet et al., VLSI 2017]

These advancements have real impacts on business outcomes, consumers’ lives, and our national security. For instance, the latest 2 nanometer node chip built at Albany Nanotech in 2021 would enable 45% performance improvement over today’s 7nm chip using the same amount of power or it could mean 75% power savings at the same performance level. This could translate to a longer life of your cell phone battery and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of data centers.

In the past half decade, the Albany ecosystem has made significant inroads in setting up state of the art 14nm Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) technology [D. Edelstein et al., IEDM 2020] and 14nm analog in-memory compute technology for AI applications [R. Khaddam-Aljameh et al., VLSI 2021, P. Narayanan et al., VLSI 2021]], and made investments to enable a world-class micro-bump facility. The work enabled by the launch of the IBM Research AI Hardware Center in 2019 has delivered significant progress in new heterogenous integration techniques like advanced silicon bridges [K. Sikka ECTC 2021], ultra-dense substrate innovations and through silicon via (TSV)-enabled 3-D Integration technologies. This has resulted in the Albany ecosystem being well positioned to lead the way for national research in Heterogenous Integration and ‘More than Moore’ technologies.

Albany’s collaborative 300mm infrastructure, including nationwide partnerships in academia, makes it ready to host the innovation hub of the NSTC today.

Time is of the essence, and well-established partnerships with universities and academic institutions, like at Albany NanoTech, are essential for the United States to retain leadership in semiconductors. Higher education institutions not only provide a diverse and qualified workforce pipeline, but also include a network of unique research facilities and deep connections to local and regional economies around the country, helping enable small businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups.

The breadth of academic partnerships in Albany NanoTech, including State University of New York’s (SUNY), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and neighbor MIT in Massachusetts, means diverse representation in thought, background, and expertise. And we are continuing to rapidly expand our university partnerships to include community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and others around the country to facilitate educational and training opportunities in semiconductors for a broad, diverse student community.

Our breadth of academic partnerships also means access to some of the best research centers and experts in the world, which through a sustained and well-funded national approach, are capable of even greater semiconductor breakthroughs. Albany NanoTech’s wide and unique partnerships with academic institutions — not just in Albany, but around the country — are invaluable to augmenting the research and development pipeline, promoting a diverse and talented semiconductor workforce, and translating technology into business and consumer solutions that strengthen our economy and national security.

Placing the innovation hub of the NSTC in Albany Would Help New Yorkers and Americans Across the Country

Critically, by leveraging this proven ecosystem, the innovation hub of the NSTC could be operational at Albany in as little as 6-12 months. The quicker the NSTC hub is implemented, the faster consumers and businesses will see results.

The highly successful public-private model cultivated in Albany can be leveraged and augmented through the NSTC, which would allow further technological breakthroughs, benefit businesses, consumers, and our national security, and enable the United States to retain its rightful place as the leader in semiconductor technology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

R. Xie et al., “A 7nm FinFET technology featuring EUV patterning and dual strained high mobility channels,” 2016 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), 2016, pp. 2.7.1-2.7.4, doi: 10.1109/IEDM.2016.7838334.
N. Loubet et al., “Stacked nanosheet gate-all-around transistor to enable scaling beyond FinFET,” 2017 Symposium on VLSI Technology, 2017, pp. T230-T231, doi: 10.23919/VLSIT.2017.7998183.
D. Edelstein et al., “A 14 nm Embedded STT-MRAM CMOS Technology,” 2020 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), 2020, pp. 11.5.1-11.5.4, doi: 10.1109/IEDM13553.2020.9371922.
R. Khaddam-Aljameh et al., “HERMES Core – A 14nm CMOS and PCM-based In-Memory Compute Core using an array of 300ps/LSB Linearized CCO-based ADCs and local digital processing,” 2021 Symposium on VLSI Circuits, 2021, pp. 1-2, doi: 10.23919/VLSICircuits52068.2021.9492362.
P. Narayanan et al., “Fully on-chip MAC at 14nm enabled by accurate row-wise programming of PCM-based weights and parallel vector-transport in duration-format,” 2021 Symposium on VLSI Technology, 2021, pp. 1-2.
K. Sikka et al., “Direct Bonded Heterogeneous Integration (DBHi) Si Bridge”. 2021 IEEE 71st Electronic Component and Technology Conference (ECTC), Proceedings, p. 136

 

Source: https://www.ibm.com/policy/nstc-semiconductors/

ICYMI: Governor Hochul’s Op-Ed in Bloomberg: America’s Microchip Resurgence Runs Through New York

NOVEMBER 24, 2021 | Albany, NY

Today, Bloomberg published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul on the future of the American semiconductor industry and how New York State is poised to take the lead. Text of the op-ed is available below and can be viewed online here.

As the U.S. economy continues to recover from Covid-19, one critical shortage in the global supply chain is touching every aspect of our lives: a severe lack of microchips.

The U.S. Senate, under the leadership of Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, has passed bipartisan legislation containing provisions for the CHIPS Act, which stands for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America. It would invest $52 billion to create a pipeline of chip manufacturing across the country. It would also form a National Semiconductor Technology Center that would bring together leaders in industry, academia and government to put the U.S. back in the lead in semiconductor research and development.

CHIPS is that rare thing: a significant bill with true bipartisan support. Now it is up to the House to pass companion legislation, quickly. Expanding the U.S. semiconductor industry isn’t a moonshot — and New York State can play a large role.

Americans are struggling to buy everything from automobiles to cell phones to home appliances. Devices run by semiconductors are vital for doctors and first responders; they protect the integrity of the financial industry and are a key driver of America’s global competitiveness and national security. Industry estimates suggest chip manufacturing accounts for over 250,000 direct and nearly 1.6 million indirect jobs nationwide.   

Several elements are contributing to the chip shortage, but a lack of domestic production is a driving factor. As we experienced more broadly during the Covidepidemic, when critical supplies are scarce, national borders matter and reliance on imports is costly.

According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, the U.S. share of semiconductor manufacturing shrank from 37% in 1990 to just 12% today.  The proliferation of overseas chip fabrication plants has been accelerated by government subsidies. China is investing an estimated $150 billion into new fabrication plants over 10 years to reach national self-sufficiency. South Korea, Japan and the European Union are stepping up efforts to secure their own production. And the global leader, Taiwan, also provides state subsidies. The U.S. must compete, and federal incentives have a role.

New York has been preparing to meet this moment for decades. As a lifelong New Yorker, I have seen the effects that the loss of domestic manufacturing in all sectors has had on families, especially upstate, where such jobs were the lifeblood of many communities.

New York has been a leader in computing design, development and manufacturing since the opening of IBM’s Watson Computing Laboratory in 1945 in New York City. More recently, the state has invested hundreds of millions of dollars under a succession of governors and legislatures into developing shovel-ready sites for chip plants — more than any other state in the nation.

New York has built the necessary complex infrastructure, including low-cost, reliable power and plentiful water and wastewater capacity. For example, over the last decade, GlobalFoundries Inc. has invested $15 billion in its semiconductor plant in Malta, New York, and recently announced plans to build a second factory on the same campus. But that may depend on CHIPS passing.  

In addition to its potential for manufacturing sites, New York is the logical headquarters for the act’s National Semiconductor Technology Center. The multibillion-dollar Albany Nanotech Complex, affiliated with the State University of New York, is the most advanced, publicly owned, 300-millimeter semiconductor R&D facility in North America. Global industry leaders like IBM, Applied Materials Inc., Tokyo Electron Ltd., Intel Corp. and Wolfspeed Inc. collaborate every day with state engineers and scientists on technological breakthroughs, such as IBM’s recent development of the world’s first 2-nanometer chip.

The House needs to follow the Senate’s lead, pass CHIPS and make the U.S. again the global leader in chip manufacturing. New York is ready to do its part.

Source: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/icymi-governor-hochuls-op-ed-bloomberg-americas-microchip-resurgence-runs-through-new-york

SCHUMER BRINGS COMMERCE SECRETARY GINA RAIMONDO TO MEET WITH IBM & OTHER ALBANY NANOTECH COMPLEX STAKEHOLDERS & DISCUSS CUTTING-EDGE SEMICONDUCTOR R&D HAPPENING IN ALBANY; SENATOR SAYS ALBANY IDEAL FOR FUTURE NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY CENTER THAT WOULD BRING 1,000+ JOBS TO CAPITAL REGION

07.22.21

Schumer-Led U.S. Innovation & Competition Act Includes $10.5B For Semiconductor R&D Programs At Commerce, Including Establishing National Semiconductor Technology Center 
Senator Says Albany Nanotech Complex Is Ideal For NSTC Between Cutting-Edge R&D By Companies Like IBM, Applied Materials, & Existing Partnerships and Infrastructure 
Schumer To Sec Raimondo: Albany Is The Future For Semiconductors!

Following more than a year of major advocacy to expand domestic semiconductor manufacturing, research and development (R&D), and jobs and make historic investments in overall federal R&D and innovation, which eventually culminated in Senate passage of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act that will invest $52 billion in the domestic semiconductor industry, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer brought Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to Albany this week to meet with stakeholders about the Albany Nanotech Complex and witness the cutting-edge semiconductor research and development currently being conducted. The secretary met with representatives from NY CREATES (which oversees the Complex), IBM, Applied Materials, and the New York State Economic Development Council.

Schumer said that his U.S. Innovation and Competition Act included $10.5 billion for the Department of Commerce to carry out semiconductor research and development programs, including establishing a National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). The senator explained that, “Given the major research and development facility already in place on the Complex and IBM’s prominence in semiconductor research and development – including their recent development of the world’s first chip with 2 nanometer technology at their Nanotech Complex facility – Albany is the ideal location for the new NSTC.”

“Albany is already a global leader in semiconductor research and development, powering the technology of tomorrow with revolutionary semiconductor tech that secures our national security and establishes U.S. prominence in microelectronics,” said Senator Schumer. “That is why I brought Secretary Gina Raimondo to Albany: to hear directly from local stakeholders about cutting-edge semiconductor research and development that will revolutionize the whole industry, being conducted right here in the Capital Region. Establishing the Albany Nanotech Complex as a National Semiconductor Technology Center would cement the Capital Region as the epicenter of global semiconductor R&D for years to come, bring billions of dollars in federal research and development to the area and add over 1,000 jobs to the Capital District.”

Schumer said, “Selecting the Nanotech Complex – which is the most advanced, publicly-owned semiconductor R&D facility in the U.S. and one of the most advanced sites in the world – as the NSTC would establish the region as the nation’s leading hub for next generation chip R&D.”

“We applaud Senator Schumer and Secretary Raimondo’s efforts to ensure the U.S. not only retains, but strengthens its position in the semiconductor industry in the increasingly competitive global economy,” said Paul Kelly, Chief Operating Officer for NY CREATES, who participated in the discussion. “The Albany Nanotech Complex is the most advanced R&D site and semiconductor ecosystem in the nation and it will continue to play a critical role in moving the industry and economy forward, which is good news for the Capital Region. Between industry partnerships with companies like IBM, Applied Materials and TEL, and SUNY’s strong foundation in academia and workforce development, the Albany Nanotech Complex is the perfect site for the NSTC and its success will generate significant economic opportunities for New York.”

“IBM commends Senator Schumer and Secretary Raimondo for their focus on reinvigorating America’s competitive edge in semiconductor innovation and manufacturing,” said Dr. Dario Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research, who participated in the discussion. “The Albany Research Center is home to the most advanced collaborative semiconductor R&D ecosystem in the United States, and offers an ideal environment from which to build and scale the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). As a proud member of this ecosystem, IBM is prepared to take a leadership role to make the NSTC a success.”

“We thank Senator Schumer, Secretary Raimondo and the Biden administration for their vision and commitment to significant new investments in advanced technologies and U.S.-based facilities like the Albany Nanotech Complex,” said SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras. “Their efforts are a matter of strategic global importance, and the State University of New York—the nation’s largest comprehensive system of higher education—in collaboration with industry and government partners, is ready to take the next steps to bring that vision to life. SUNY has established a world-class operation in Albany, where we’ve seen major R&D breakthroughs, academic achievement, and the development of a successful workforce development pipeline. The Albany Nanotech Complex has all the ingredients needed to significantly advance the nation’s semiconductor R&D, and SUNY alongside our research universities, private industry partners, and national network of higher education allies is ready to help bring the NSTC to fruition in New York.”

In total, the NSTC is estimated to create 1,000+ jobs in the Albany region and could bring $2 billion or more in federal funding for expanded R&D facilities and operations. The NSTC is expected to bring together public, private, and university partners to develop and prototype experimental semiconductor technologies with access to the most leading-edge equipment for R&D. In June, Schumer met with IBM’s CEO Arvind Krishna to reaffirm his commitment to passing the $52 billion in federal semiconductor incentives into law and fighting to secure the NSTC for Albany once the funding has passed into law. Schumer also announced in March a new partnership between IBM and Intel that will bring hundreds of jobs to the Albany region to conduct new semiconductor research in advanced semiconductor technology, further positioning the region as a preeminent global hub for semiconductor R&D.

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Source: Charles E. SCHUMER News Room | Press Releases 

NY CREATES ANNOUNCES DOUGLAS A. GROSE APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Contact: Jason Conwall | jconwall@sunypoly.edu | (518) 956-7373

The New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science (NY CREATES) today announced the appointment of Dr. Douglas A. Grose, as Chair of the Board of Directors. Dr. Grose replaces Dr. Bahgat G. Sammakia, Distinguished Professor and Vice President for Research at Binghamton University, who held the position since its inception in December 2019.

Dr. Grose’s new role coincides with his retirement as President at NY CREATES, following a career spanning decades in semiconductors and advanced microelectronics. During this transition, the search for a president will begin immediately.

“While the decision to retire is a difficult one, I am proud of the work we’ve done to grow our organization and look forward to remaining involved during this exciting time for our industry,” said Douglas Grose, Ph.D. “During the past three years, NY CREATES has worked closely with our partners to successfully innovate and accelerate technologies and generate economic opportunities in New York, reaching a number of milestones, strengthening our R&D partnerships, and facilitating multiple economic development initiatives across the state. We are thankful to Bahgat for his leadership and guidance during the formation of NY CREATES, and he has continued to be an integral member of the team throughout his time as chair.”

“I’m grateful to have worked with an array of smart and innovative people around New York State during my time with NY CREATES,” said Bahgat Sammakia, Ph.D. “I remain committed to advancing research that has a transformational impact on society, and I look forward to supporting meaningful R&D initiatives in my capacity as Vice President for Research at Binghamton University.”

During Dr. Grose and Dr. Sammakia’s tenure as President and Chair, respectively, of NY CREATES, the organization was formally established and assumed management of the Albany Nanotech Complex, the most advanced, publicly-owned 300mm wafer R&D facility in the United States and one of the most advanced sites in the world. Under their leadership, the organization has achieved stability, grown its footprint within the semiconductor and emerging technologies industries, and established major new partnerships, including with IBM, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron (TEL), and Cree | Wolfspeed, which is building the world’s first 200mm silicon carbide power electronics chip facility in Marcy, NY.  In addition to the many R&D partnerships, NY CREATES also helped to drive several successful New York economic development initiatives, including Danfoss Silicon Power expanding to the Quad-C facility in Utica; Norsk Titanium establishing operations in Plattsburgh; NexGen Power Systems in Dewitt; Athenex to Dunkirk; and many other impactful programs.

Dr. Sammakia’s decision to step down from the board has no impact on his roles at Binghamton University.

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, “Doug Grose has brought leadership, integrity and a mastery of the semiconductor industry to NY CREATES and ESD is grateful for the productive partnership we have built growing high-tech manufacturing and R & D in New York State. Under Doug’s guidance, we have attracted and retained industry leaders such as Cree, TEL, Applied Materials, IBM and others to the state and we are very fortunate that Doug will be remaining in a leadership role on the NY CREATES Board.  Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Bahgat Sammakia for his dedication and knowledge as the inaugural Board Chair of NY CREATES and I wish him well on his future endeavors.”

Larry Smith, President of Tokyo Electron US Holdings said, “All of us at TEL appreciate Doug’s many contributions to the semiconductor industry, especially his steady leadership which allowed the NY CREATES ecosystem to continue its pursuit of world-class technology development. We value the deep partnership between NY CREATES and TEL, and we look forward to working closely with Doug and his team in his new role as Chairman of the NY CREATES Board of Directors.”

Mukesh Khare, Vice President of Hybrid Cloud, IBM Research said, “On behalf of IBM, we thank Dr. Grose for his transformational leadership as president of NY CREATES, and congratulate him on becoming the next Chair of the Board of Directors. During his tenure, IBM and NY CREATES launched a multi-billion dollar AI hardware center in Albany, NY, which has become a hub for innovation in the U.S. and around the world. We look forward to continuing our partnership with him and NY CREATES to grow and accelerate the semiconductor ecosystem in Albany.” 

Dr. Om Nalamasu, SVP and CTO, Applied Materials, Inc. and President, Applied Ventures, LLC said, “We thank Doug for his many contributions to the semiconductor ecosystem and we especially appreciate his leadership in helping drive our partnership with NY CREATES and Empire State Development to establish Applied’s META Center in Upstate New York.  We look forward to working with Doug in his new role to further build on our collaboration with NY CREATES and New York State.”

Dr. Tod A. Laursen, SUNY Poly Acting President and Chair of the AIM Photonics Leadership Council said, “On behalf of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, as well as the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics, I am thankful for the service of both Drs. Grose and Sammakia, who helped NY CREATES navigate fast-changing global circumstances while continuing to foster critical high-tech partnerships to support workforce and public-private research opportunities across New York State.”

Harvey Stenger, President of Binghamton University said, “Bahgat Sammakia’s leadership and work ethic have enabled him to contribute to many significant projects as a researcher and as an administrator during the past several years. I appreciate his efforts to bolster entrepreneurship across New York through his work with NY CREATES, and I know he’ll continue to make a difference as an educator, inventor and researcher.”

 

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.

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SCHUMER ANNOUNCES SENATE PASSAGE OF U.S. INNOVATION AND COMPETITION ACT; $250 BILLION BIPARTISAN BILL WILL BE BLUEPRINT TO MAKE NY GLOBAL TECH & SEMICONDUCTOR HUB; SCHUMER’S BILL INCLUDES $52B FOR U.S. SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY & $10B FOR REGIONAL TECH HUBS TO CREATE JOBS IN UPSTATE NY & PUT NY ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE GREATEST RACE OF THE CENTURY

06.09.21

Schumer’s Bill, The U.S. Innovation And Competition Act, Would Make Largest R&D Investment In Generations & Secure Critical Federal Funding For Domestic Manufacturing Of Semiconductors And Other Critical Technology 

Senator Says Bill Includes Massive Investment To Boost U.S. Competitiveness And Supercharge Upstate CHIP Production And R&D, Making It Essential To Growing NY Companies & Easing U.S. Reliance On Foreign-Made Semiconductors, Alleviating National Security Risks 

Schumer: U.S. Innovation And Competition Act Is The Blueprint To Make NY The Global Innovation & Semiconductor Hub

After a year of staunch advocacy to secure the domestic semiconductor and microelectronic supply line and make historic investments in federal R&D and innovation, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced senate passage of the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, which combines Schumer’s Endless Frontier Act, other bipartisan competitiveness bills, and includes $52 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to implement the semiconductor-related manufacturing and R&D programs Schumer authorized in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act and a program to support legacy chip production that is essential to the auto industry, the military, and other critical industries. An additional $1.5 billion was included for implementation of implement the USA Telecommunications Act that was also passed as part of last year’s NDAA to foster U.S. innovation in the race for 5G.

Senator Schumer said, “Senate passage of the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act moves forward historic legislation to invest in science, technology, and U.S. manufacturing that will shore up critical industries like semiconductors, artificial intelligence, advanced communications like 5G, quantum computing, biotechnology, and advanced energy, and create opportunity to reshape the Upstate New York economy with investment in new regional tech hubs and support for New York entrepreneurs and research at universities and laboratories.”

“With its rare combination of a world-class workforce, advanced manufacturers, and renowned higher education institutions, I wrote and championed this legislation with Upstate New York always at the forefront of my mind,” Schumer added. “In the midst of one of the most consequential battles in our nation’s history, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act lays the foundation for the next century of American economic leadership and preserves our competitive edge for generations to come, and I’ll continue to fight to put Upstate New York on the frontlines of that battle.”

Details on the supplemental appropriations appear below:

  • $49.5 billion allocated over 5 years for a CHIPS for America Fund. Funding must be used to implement the Commerce Department semiconductor incentive and R&D programs authorized by the FY21 NDAA (Sec. 9902 & 9906). Within the fund, the following appropriations are available:
  • Incentive Program: $39 billion appropriated upfront and allocated over 5 years to implement the programs authorized in Sec. 9902. $2 billion is provided to solely focus on legacy chip production to advance the economic and national security interests of the United States.
    • $19 billion in FY22, including the $2 billion legacy chip production funding
    • $5 billion each year, FY23 through FY26
  • Commerce R&D programs: $10.5 billion appropriated upfront and allocated over 5 years to implement programs authorized in Sec. 9906, including the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program, and other R&D programs authorized in Sec. 9906.
    • $5 billion in FY22
    • $2.5 billion for advanced packaging
    • $2 billion for NSTC
    • $500 million for other related R&D programs

For use across the advanced packaging, NSTC, and other related R&D programs, the following would be provided:

  • $2 billion in FY23
  • $1.3 billion in FY24
  • $1.1 for FY25 and FY26 
  • $2 billion for a CHIPS for America Defense Fund: Funding is appropriated up front and $400 million is allocated each year, over 5 years for the purposes of implementing programs authorized in Sec. 9903(b), providing support for R&D, testing and evaluation, workforce development, and other related activities, in coordination with the private sector, universities, and other Federal agencies to support the needs of the Department of Defense and the intelligence community.
  • $500 million for a CHIPS for America International Technology Security and Innovation Fund: Funding is appropriated upfront and $100 million each year, allocated over 5 years to the Department of State, in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Export-Import Bank, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, for the purposes of coordinating with foreign government partners to support international information and communications technology security and semiconductor supply chain activities, including supporting the development and adoption of secure and trusted telecommunications technologies, semiconductors, and other emerging technologies.

An additional $1.5 billion is provided for implementation of implement the USA Telecommunications Act that was also passed as part of last year’s NDAA to foster U.S. innovation in the race for 5G.

READ MORE

IN A MEETING WITH IBM CEO ARVIND KRISHNA, SCHUMER REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SECURING FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING AND R&D; SAYS HE’LL FIGHT TO SECURE FEDERAL INVESTMENT FOR PLANNED IBM-LED NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY CENTER THAT WOULD BRING 1,000+ JOBS TO CAPITAL REGION

06.03.21

In March, Schumer Announced Partnership Between IBM & Intel To Conduct Research & Development Of Next Gen Chips At IBM’s Albany Research Center 

Schumer Continues To Lead Fight In Senate To Make An Historic Investment in Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing And R&D; Says Fed Support Combined with IBM’s Industry Leadership and Regional Innovation Ecosystem Could Land New National Semiconductor Technology Center, Along With 1,000+ New Jobs At Albany Research Facility 

Schumer: Fed Support For IBM, Semiconductor Industry Means Jobs In Upstate New York 

After nearly a year of tireless effort to secure an historic federal investment in the domestic semiconductor industry, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer last week, in a meeting with IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, reaffirmed his commitment to securing $52 billion in federal funding for domestic semiconductor manufacturing and R&D through his U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, which he is pushing the Senate to pass next week. Part of this investment is $10.5 billion in R&D funds through the Department of Commerce, some of which will support the creation of a National Semiconductor Technology Center to conduct research, prototyping, and workforce training in advanced semiconductor technology with the private sector. Schumer noted that IBM’s planned collaboration with Intel, along with its renowned leadership in the semiconductor industry as highlighted by their recent major breakthrough in developing the world’s first chip with 2 nanometer technology, positions IBM’s Albany Research Center, where regional and national partners combine efforts in a collaborative innovation ecosystem, to be home to the proposed National Semiconductor Technology Center that would be expected to double the Capital Region’s semiconductor industry innovation jobs, bringing 1,000 or more new, good-paying jobs to the area.

“The $52 billion for domestic semiconductor manufacturing and R&D that I am fighting to pass as part of my U.S. Innovation And Competition Act will be the blueprint to make Upstate New York the global innovation and semiconductor hub,” said Senator Schumer. “IBM is one of the leaders of the charge to ramp up the semiconductor industry in New York, bringing with it good-paying jobs and the development of cutting edge technology. IBM with its world-renowned R&D in semiconductor technology, combined with a recently announced partnership with Intel to grow the semiconductor industry in the U.S., positions the company’s Albany Research Center to secured federal funds as the National Semiconductor Technology Center that would be funded through my bill. I expressed my strong support for IBM’s goals in the region in a meeting with CEO, Arvind Krishna, and I stand ready to pass this funding into law and fight for IBM to get this critical federal investment that will mean 1,000 or more new jobs for the Capital Region’s semiconductor ecosystem.”

Schumer has led the effort to create an historic new federal investment in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and R&D, which would fund the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), which IBM would compete for.  Last year, Schumer unveiled his bipartisan American Foundries Act to bolster U.S. leadership in the semiconductor and broader microelectronics industries. He successfully added this bill as an amendment in July 2020 to the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and these provisions became law as part of last year’s defense bill. The new programs included in NDAA will increase federal support for semiconductor manufacturing by providing new federal incentives to conduct advanced research and development of semiconductor technology, including the creation of the NSTC, secure the supply chain, and ensure national and economic security by reducing reliance on foreign semiconductor manufacturing. Schumer is now pushing for Senate passage of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, which along with including his Endless Frontier Act, also features $52 billion in emergency funding to implement the NDAA semiconductor programs to boost U.S. research and technology leadership.

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Charles E. SCHUMER
UNITED STATES SENATOR FOR NEW YORK

Press Releases

IBM Research Debuts 2nm Test Chip with 50 Billion Transistors

May 6, 2021

IBM Research today announced the successful prototyping of the world’s first 2 nanometer chip, fabricated with silicon nanosheet technology on a standard 300mm bulk wafer. With ~50 billion transistors, the chip will enable major leaps in performance and energy efficiency for the next decade, according to IBM. The company’s research arm is projecting 45 percent higher performance or 75 percent lower energy use for its 2m node compared with today’s leading 7nm chips. (Similar performance gains were cited for IBM’s 5nm node, comprising ~30 billion transistors, announced in 2017.)

The target date for 2nm foundry technology to go into production is late 2024, said Mukesh Khare, vice president at IBM Research, in a pre-briefing held earlier this week. He emphasized the importance of having a partner ecosystem that leverages the platform.

Key technology enablers highlighted by IBM Research are:

•  Bottom dielectric isolation – providing the reduction in leakage current that is needed to scale gate length to 12nm.
•  A second generation inner spacer dry process for precise gate control.
•  Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography enabled in the front-end to produce variable nanosheet widths from 15nm to 70nm.
•  A multi-threshold-voltage (Multi-Vt) scheme – enabling threshold voltage control for applications that span from low-power mobile to HPC server chips.

IBM Research has been using EUV since its 7nm node, announced in 2015, but has now enabled EUV patterning at the front-end to create structures for the nanosheet and the gate.

“All the critical layers for the 2nm technology will use single exposure EUV, and that will have significant value and benefit, both in terms of cycle time reduction and defect reduction,” said Khare.

Khare said all these nanosheet enhancements are essential to the 2nm node technology, and he stated that these innovations are what differentiate IBM’s 2nm node from competing technologies, for example TSMC’s 3nm process.

As shown on the graphic below, the node’s transistor has three layers of nanosheet, and each sheet has a width of ~40nm and a height of ~5nm. The pitch is ~44nm, and gate length ~12nm.

The 2nm node number does not refer to a specific physical feature on the die. While in past decades, a semiconductor node name would relate to a given feature of the chip, this relationship has dissolved in the era of single-digit process nodes.

Khare described the current naming convention as “a metric that’s a combination of many parameters, including power, performance and density, to enable appropriate value and function that you can put on the chip every two-to-two-and-a-half years.”

Partner focused

IBM highlighted its partner ecosystem, which includes newly added R&D partner Intel, as well as Samsung (which is manufacturing IBM’s upcoming 7nm Power10 chips).

“We expect all our partners to benefit from this [2nm technology] innovation,” said Khare. “We’re very proud of our partnership with Intel and Samsung; that said, Samsung is our manufacturing partner and we’re very proud to have them manufacture our 7nm products.”

IBM has been shifting to a collaborative IP model, where it commercializes its research for partner use rather than (or in addition to) prioritizing its use for IBM’s own products. Arvind Krishna, who ran IBM Research when the 5nm and 7nm nodes were announced (in 2015 and 2017 respectively), is now the company’s CEO.

“The IBM innovation reflected in this new 2nm chip is essential to the entire semiconductor and IT industry,” said Darío Gil, senior vice president and director of IBM Research in a statement. “It is the product of IBM’s approach of taking on hard tech challenges and a demonstration of how breakthroughs can result from sustained investments and a collaborative R&D ecosystem approach.”

Khare echoed similar sentiments. “We’re very proud of being able to build an innovation platform for semiconductor,” he said, “and we’re very proud to be able to bring these world leaders in semiconductor manufacturing, equipment, EDA, materials, all of these companies, to this platform.”

Asked what’s next after 2nm and whether semiconductor miniaturization has hit a wall, Khare gave a nod to future progress, but provided no details. “With all the partners we have in Albany with New York State and NY CREATES, and the amount talent and energy we have, I don’t think there’s a wall that we can’t break through,” he said. “There are more breakthroughs in the pipeline and we will be sharing more as the technology matures.”

The 2nm prototype technology is being developed, manufactured and tested at the IBM Research facility in Albany, NY, which maintains 100,000 square foot of clean room space with 24/7 operation. Since selling its chip manufacturing business to GlobalFoundries in 2015, IBM relies on partners to manufacture production parts for its Power and z platforms.

IBM’s 7nm process technology, manufactured by Samsung, is scheduled to debut in Power10 later this year, six years after the test chip was announced.

IBM Research Debuts 2nm Test Chip with 50 Billion Transistors