Indiana University has been awarded $4 million from the second round of Indiana's Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative to advance its microelectronics research and development capabilities. The funding will allow the university to acquire specialized equipment that will enable IU researchers working in microelectronics to accelerate the development of resilient microchips and support the growth of the Indiana Uplands microelectronics sector.
Indiana University will use new READI 2.0 funding to accelerate the development of resilient microchips and expand the suite of tools available for use by industry partners. Photo courtesy of IU CREATE
The READI 2.0 funding award leverages IU's commitment to invest at least $111 million over the next several years in microelectronics.
"Indiana University is deeply committed to accelerating Indiana's progress in building the state's microelectronics industry," IU President Pamela Whitten said. "This generous READI 2.0 grant will support IU's major investments in this area, push the boundaries of research on high-reliability microelectronics and ensure IU is well-positioned to support the country's mission to reassert our leadership in microelectronics."
A centrally administered center under IU Research, IU CREATE is currently leading more than $10 million in research and technology maturation programs, the development of over $5 million in facility upgrades, new industry training programs and new workforce development initiatives. Since its inception, IU CREATE - which is led by founding director Daniel Loveless, an associate professor of intelligent systems engineering at the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering - has tripled the number of personnel working on microelectronics at IU and has 11 new integrated circuits under development. The center includes 12 faculty members from four schools, 16 graduate students and 20 undergraduate student researchers.
IU will use the READI 2.0 funding to acquire specialized equipment, including:
- Optical lasers for microelectronics characterization.
- High-performance computing tools for microelectronics modeling and simulation.
- Tools to support advanced packaging applications.
The READI-funded equipment will shorten the chip development process by providing IU CREATE researchers with new ways to test chip design configurations and verify their reliability in harsh environments. It will also expand the suite of tools available for use by industry partners in radiation-hardened microelectronics and advanced packaging, two key technology areas for Indiana microelectronics companies in the region and state.
"Indiana's future-focused sectors are growing like never before, thanks to a concerted and collaborative effort across government, industry and academia," Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb said. "Indiana University's unprecedented investment in microelectronics will power R&D, industry and defense applications, and talent development for this critical sector, bolstering Indiana's microelectronics leadership and supporting U.S. innovation and national security for years to come."
The new equipment will be installed in Multidisciplinary Engineering and Sciences Hall at IU Bloomington, which houses several Luddy School research labs, over the next two years. As such, it will elevate IU Bloomington's teaching and research enterprise, underpinning newly created degree programs to train students for careers in microelectronics design and nanofabrication, helping to accelerate new research discoveries and breakthroughs that will shape future generations of microelectronics systems, and supporting the transition of these advancements to key industry sectors.
"These enhancements will ensure that IU faculty are at the forefront of technological advancements that will shape a vibrant microelectronics innovation ecosystem here in Indiana and beyond," Luddy School Dean Joanna Millunchick said. "We continue to build our capabilities to fully address the challenges to designing and developing safe, secure and reliable microelectronics, as we also provide our students with technically excellent STEM education and hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for success in the semiconductor workforce."
IU associate professor Daniel Loveless leads IU CREATE, which has tripled the number of personnel working on microelectronics at IU since its inception and has 11 new integrated circuits under development. Photo courtesy of IU CREATE
"This READI 2.0 funding award to Indiana University reinforces our vision for the Indiana Uplands as an innovation center, leveraging advanced technologies in key employment sectors to drive growth," said Tina Peterson, president and CEO of Regional Opportunity Initiatives. "This investment not only accelerates cutting-edge research but also positions the Indiana Uplands as a key player in national efforts to advance microchip technology and strengthens our region's capacity to develop, retain and attract in-demand talent."
IU continues to partner with Regional Opportunity Initiatives, the Applied Research Institute and the Uplands Science and Technology Foundation on several regional innovation initiatives, including the development of the WestGate@Crane Technology Park. The park is emerging as a critical hub in the region's economy, fueled by the attraction of new microelectronics companies, new research and development and collaboration facilities, and a significant investment in infrastructure through the READI 1.0 grant program.
"As a core part of our IU 2030 strategic plan, we are committed to further aligning our research initiatives with our state's and our nation's major economic development efforts," IU Vice President for Research Russell J. Mumper said. "This new READI 2.0 funding will bolster one of our key capabilities in microelectronics research while also ensuring a greater impact of IU innovation in collaboration with industry partners as well as contributing to broader economic development efforts in a critical area to the state of Indiana."
IU's $111 million investment in microelectronics - one of the largest commitments made by a university to high-tech industry and national defense - focuses on boosting the growth of the microelectronics industry in Indiana and across the U.S. while strengthening IU's collaboration with NSWC Crane. It also supports the growing CHIPS and Science ecosystem in Indiana championed by members of Indiana's congressional delegation, including Sen. Todd Young, the lead Republican sponsor of the CHIPS Act, which marked its second anniversary over the summer.
Holcomb established the now $1.25 billion READI program in 2021, and it has since been nationally recognized for its success. READI 1.0 was established with an initial $500 million in partnership with the Indiana General Assembly. READI 2.0, which secured additional funding awarded by Lilly Endowment Inc., is allocating another $750 million to accelerate community development investments statewide.
READI 2.0 funding allocations were awarded in April to 15 regions representing all 92 Indiana counties. IU's Bloomington campus is part of the 11-county Indiana Uplands READI region.
