News: Microelectronics
4 April 2024
Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance launched by Penn State University
Penn State University has launched the Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance (SCIA), a coalition of industry leaders, academic institutions and government support with a focus on becoming the USA’s central hub for research, development and workforce training in silicon carbide (SiC) crystal technology.
The alliance’s flagship will be the recently established onsemi Silicon Carbide Crystal Center (SiC3) at Penn State’s Material Research Institute. The SiC3 is funded via an $8m partnership with intelligent power and sensing technologies company onsemi.
Academic research in SiC crystal growth made significant advances 20 years ago, producing materials mainly for the Department of Defense. But, while the application space has dramatically expanded, university education and research in this space has since diminished in the USA, according to SCIA director Joshua Robinson, professor of materials science and engineering.
“Our goal with the SCIA is to put SiC crystal growth and processing research back on the map in the United States,” Robinson says. “Our vision is to be the central location for research and workforce development in silicon carbide crystal science for the nation.”
The US Air Force also provided key support in making the SCIA possible through a Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) award.
“The Air Force provided critical funding for the purchase of essential instrumentation that was key to securing our partnership with onsemi and laying the foundation for SCIA,” notes Robinson. “This support also underscores the strategic importance of SiC in national security and defense applications.”
SCIA’s vision aligns closely with the goals of the CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to revitalize the USA’s semiconductor industry and bolster domestic manufacturing capabilities. The alliance will also be key in efforts around the Mid-Atlantic Semiconductor Hub (MASH), an interdependent coalition of top universities and industries founded by Penn State to combine resources and expertise to meet the needs of the semiconductor industry in the USA by strengthening and aligning research, manufacturing and workforce development.
“SCIA’s focus on workforce development and fostering collaboration between industry and academia in Pennsylvania and beyond contributes to the realization of the CHIPS Act’s objectives,” says Clive Randall, distinguished professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Materials Research Institute (MRI) at Penn State. “This will be foundational toward Penn State’s leadership of MASH, which aims to accelerate semiconductor innovation.”
The next step for the alliance is growing membership. “We see abundant opportunities for collaboration throughout the SiC substrate supply chain, and we are eager to connect with industry stakeholders to explore potential partnerships,” says David Fecko, industry liaison for MRI. “Our focus will be on addressing industry-relevant challenges alongside SCIA members and on nurturing a skilled workforce through hands-on training in a pilot-scale facility. With this approach in mind, we are actively seeking new companies to join us in our endeavors.”
Penn State and onsemi sign MOU for $8m collaboration on silicon carbide growth
