The subsequent is a collaborative announcement from the MIT Microsystems Technology Laboratories and GlobalFoundries.
MIT and GlobalFoundries (GF), a prominent producer of vital semiconductors, have revealed a fresh research agreement aiming to collectively pursue enhancements and breakthroughs in the performance and efficiency of crucial semiconductor technologies. This partnership will be spearheaded by MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL) alongside GF’s research and development division, GF Labs.
Initially concentrating on artificial intelligence and various applications, the first endeavors are anticipated to harness GF’s unique silicon photonics technology, which monolithically integrates radio frequency silicon-on-insulator (RF SOI), CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor), and optical components onto a single chip to achieve energy efficiencies for data centers, as well as GF’s 22FDX platform, enabling ultra-low power consumption for intelligent edge devices.
“The partnership between MIT MTL and GF showcases the strength of collaboration between academia and industry in addressing the most urgent challenges within semiconductor research,” states Tomás Palacios, MTL director and the Clarence J. LeBel Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Palacios will take on the role of MIT faculty lead for this research endeavor.
“By merging MIT’s globally recognized capabilities with GF’s leading semiconductor platforms, we are positioned to foster considerable research advancements in GF’s essential chip technologies for AI,” remarks Gregg Bartlett, chief technology officer at GF. “This collaboration emphasizes our commitment to innovation and illustrates our dedication to nurturing the next generation of talent within the semiconductor sector. Together, we will investigate transformative solutions in the industry.”
“Integrated circuit technologies are fundamental drivers for a wide array of applications, spanning mobile computing and communication devices to automotive, energy, and cloud computing,” explains Anantha P. Chandrakasan, dean of MIT’s School of Engineering, chief innovation and strategy officer, and the Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. “This collaboration empowers MIT’s outstanding research community to utilize GlobalFoundries’ extensive pool of industry domain experts and advanced processing technologies to foster exciting innovations in microelectronics across various sectors — while equipping our students to assume leadership positions in the workforce of the future.”
The newly established research agreement was solidified during a signing ceremony held on the MIT campus. This initiative builds upon GF’s fruitful history and ongoing partnerships with the university. GF participates in MTL’s Microsystems Industrial Group, which unites industry and academia to engage in research. Faculty members from MIT actively contribute to GF’s University Partnership Program focused on collaborative semiconductor research and prototyping. Furthermore, GF and MIT team up on several workforce development efforts, including participation in the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition, a U.S. Department of Defense Microelectronics Commons Hub.