BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub have awarded $10,174,823 to 10 microelectronics projects through its Supporting Chip Advancement from Lab to Enterprise (SCALE) Capital Program. The SCALE Capital awards will fund the purchase of capital equipment to support workforce and technology development at higher education institutions, companies and nonprofit organizations.
The program builds on NEMC’s mission to rapidly accelerate microelectronics ecosystem development by supporting projects that unite the microelectronics community, develop technologies to attract additional investment, and boost workforce development programs to fill regional gaps.
“The SCALE Capital Program is a strategic investment in the future of Massachusetts’ microelectronics industry,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Massachusetts is focused on bridging the gap between development and commercialization so that microelectronics companies based here can better compete globally. That starts with providing the equipment to advance projects and supporting training for new entrants in the industry.”
“Massachusetts is taking a statewide approach to innovation and providing support to the most advanced research institutions and technology companies in the world,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This program will increase opportunities in the microelectronics industry and the chance for breakthroughs that will grow our economy.”
Governor Healey announced the funding at a Defense Sector Convening at the Massachusetts State House on Monday, October 27. Attendees included academic leaders, statewide officials, representatives from military installations, SCALE Capital awardees and NEMC defense and commercial industry partners. The event reflected the strategic importance of microelectronics innovation to both economic and national security that is being led through NEMC and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
“Microelectronics are the foundation of so many industries that power our daily lives, from defense and life sciences to advanced manufacturing and AI,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “Through these SCALE Capital investments, we’re strengthening Massachusetts’ leadership in innovation, reducing supply chain costs, and creating new opportunities for students, workers, and companies across Massachusetts.”
“With $10 million in funding, SCALE Capital is further delivering on NEMC’s mission to advance the lab-to-fab transition of critical microelectronics in the region,” said NEMC Hub Director Mark Halfman. “These investments will enable engineers, researchers, and students to leverage state-of-the-art equipment to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative products in applications including AI hardware, quantum computing and nanotechnology.”
The SCALE awards will fund transformative projects at academic and research institutions across Massachusetts. The recipients are:
- Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield – $202,200. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following workforce development project: “Electron Microscopy System for Workforce Microelectronics Training Program.”
- Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater – $1,116,107. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following workforce development project: “VISPACK: A Shared-Use Facility for Visible Photonics Testing and Packaging to Accelerate Workforce and Innovation in the Commonwealth.”
- The Center for Nanoscale Systems at Harvard University, Cambridge – $627,360. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following ecosystem development project: “Photo Induced Force Microscopy (PiFM): Nanoscale Spectral Characterization of Electronic Materials, Devices, and Systems.”
- The Center for Nanoscale Systems at Harvard University, Cambridge – $1,396,062. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following technology development project: “Thermal Laser Epitaxy (TLE) System for Synthesizing Novel Thin Film Quantum Materials.”
- imec USA, Cambridge – $560,042. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following technology development project: “Collaborative Hub for Integrated Prototyping in Health Electronics (CHIP-Health).”
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington – $3,900,000. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following ecosystem development project: “A High-Efficiency RF and 2D Materials Lab Fueling the Northeast Microelectronics Ecosystem.”
- The MITRE Corporation, Bedford – $419,957. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following ecosystem development project: “Advanced Collaborative Research Lab for Quantum and Semiconductor-based Photonics and Optical Technologies (Q-SPOT).”
- North Shore Community College, Danvers – $1,363,761. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following workforce development project: “Workforce Pathway and Lab for Semiconductor Processing and Semiconductor Equipment Technicians.”
- Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford – $353,105. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following ecosystem development project: “High-Resolution X-Ray Diffraction Measurement System for Structural Analysis of Electronic Materials.”
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester – $236,226. The grant will fund capital equipment for the following technology development project: “SAIL: Securing AI Chips and Intelligent Design Automation for Trusted Hardware.”
Each recipient will use their funding to acquire specialized equipment that enhances capacity for workforce development, technology advancement, and stronger ecosystem connectivity.
About the NEMC Hub
The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub is a network of over 280 organizations including commercial and defense companies, leading academic institutions, federally funded R&D centers (FFRDCs), and startups concentrated in eight Northeast states. Established in 2023, the Hub is one of eight regional Microelectronics Commons Hubs working to expand the nation’s global leadership in microelectronics and accelerate domestic semiconductor prototyping. The NEMC Hub is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and was established under the Microelectronics Commons program and executed through the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) and the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). The Hub fosters a vibrant, connected microelectronics ecosystem to provide sustainable lab-to-fab enablement, boost education and workforce development, and spur new jobs.
Learn more at nemicroelectronics.org.
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