Vermont GaN Tech Hub awarded nearly $24M
The Vermont Gallium Nitride (V-GaN) Tech Hub — a consortium led by the University of Vermont (UVM) and including GlobalFoundries and the State of Vermont — has been awarded $23.7M in US federal funding.
The Tech Hub aims to drive semiconductor design and manufacturing of high-power and high-frequency GaN semiconductors. The Tech Hub will also train over 500 new employees in the semiconductor workspace and engage over 6,000 students across Vermont in STEM participation in the next five years.
The investment will advance a number of projects in Vermont promoting GaN semiconductor technology, economic growth, and workforce development.
These include a facility offering start-ups affordable access to advanced GaN and semiconductor design tools, reducing financial risks and fostering innovation. Partnering with UVM’s Vermont Advanced Computing Center, the center will support commercial and national security applications, driving next-gen computing solutions. Another project is the publicly accessible Test and Characterisation Lab (TCL) located at OnLogic in South Burlington, offering comprehensive testing and technical advice for high-power and high-frequency GaN devices.
“The global demand for GaN and related semiconductor solutions is rapidly increasing, and we are determined to meet that demand,” said UVM VP for Research and Economic Development Kirk Dombrowski. “GaN not only holds promise for a wide range of applications in the technology space, it also provides an opportunity for V-GaN Tech Hub members to make northern New England the global leader in that space. This work benefited from the participation of more than 30 UVM partners—including GlobalFoundries, OnLogic, Cadence, and the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies—and represents the next generation of UVM’s land grant mission.”
Twelve companies have already committed to accelerating their product development through the V-GaN Tech Hub. The Tech Hub will make grant funding available to offset development costs for businesses owned by underserved and underrepresented populations in the semiconductor industry.
