University of Arkansas starts building SiC facility
New research and fabrication facility will provide SiC prototyping capability for US
The University of Arkansas in the US has began constructing the national Multi-User SiC Research and Fabrication Facility (MUSiC), enabling the government, businesses and universities to build prototypes in SiC.
The facility will offer low-volume prototyping for high-volume manufacturing, bridging the gap between traditional university research and the needs of private industry. The aim is to accelerate both workforce development and technological advancement in semiconductors by providing a single location where chips can be go from developmental research to prototyping, testing and fabrication.
Alan Mantooth, distinguished professor of electrical engineering at the U of A, is principal investigator for MUSiC. He said that with MUSiC, the university could “begin training the next generation at a variety of degree levels to provide well-trained and educated talent for onshoring semiconductor manufacturing that domestic suppliers offshored in the late 90s and early 2000s. Our training will be equally applicable to silicon and SiC and other materials.”
