News: Microelectronics
17 July 2025
Vermont Tech Hub’s semiconductor lab awarded $3.4m from Northeast Microelectronics Coalition
The Vermont Gallium Nitride (V-GaN) Tech Hub — a consortium founded in 2023 with over 60 member and partners and led by the University of Vermont (UVM) and including GlobalFoundries and the State of Vermont — has secured $3.4m of funding from the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) for a microelectronics testing laboratory to bolster innovation and economic development in the Green Mountain State and the Northeast.
“This will be the first publicly accessible lab in the nation that offers comprehensive testing and technical advice for high-power and high-frequency GaN and wide-bandgap devices,” notes UVM’s regional innovation officer Douglas Merrill.
The V-GaN Test and Characterization Lab will provide NEMC and V-GaN member businesses and researchers with advanced testing services for high-power and high-frequency devices, such as semiconductor chips used in motor controllers, power inverters, voltage regulators, battery chargers, and amplifiers and switches for 5G/6G devices and radar applications.
Expected to open in January 2026, the South Burlington facility will be operated by the University of Vermont and housed within the OnLogic headquarters building in Technology Park. The NEMC funding will support the infrastructure build-out and operating expenses for the facility. UVM will provide management and back-office support to the lab.
“Our investment in this lab isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s about enabling scientists and engineers to turn bold ideas into game-changing technologies,” says NEMC’s director Mark Halfman. “This facility represents our commitment to bridging the gap between groundbreaking research and real-world impact.”
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University of Vermont–GlobalFoundries consortium designated a Tech Hub
