Photo courtesy of Samantha Chow/ASU
The Southwest Advanced Prototyping Hub, based at Arizona State University and comprised of more than 170 members — 75 large companies, 28 academic institutions and more than 60 small businesses — has been awarded nearly $30 million in federal funding for five projects aimed at strengthening U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Hubs such as this serve as a crucial link between initial research and large-scale commercial production, ensuring the U.S. remains competitive in the global semiconductor market.
The funding, announced by the U.S. Department of Defense as part of the CHIPS and Science Act, underscores Arizona’s role in boosting national security and advancing technological innovation.
ASU President Michael Crow said of the project awards, “Arizona State University has been an advocate for a collaborative approach to making America competitive globally in this vitally important industry, and we strongly believe that universities have a critical role to play in our nation’s success.”
These projects, part of the Microelectronics Commons initiative, are designed to bridge the gap between research and commercial production, focusing on reducing reliance on foreign microelectronics. Arizona, with its rapidly expanding semiconductor sector, is now home to one of the fastest-growing tech clusters in the country, attracting more than $100 billion in private investment.
The projects include advancements in wireless systems, secure processors for military applications and space-based artificial intelligence computing. Each project is a collaboration between industry leaders such as NXP, Raytheon and Sandia National Laboratories and emphasizes the development of next-generation technologies that will serve both commercial and defense sectors.
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.