Sarah Travers
New York State has announced an ambitious $1 billion program to enhance its semiconductor research capabilities in Albany, marking a significant step in its journey to become a leading global center for semiconductor technology. Governor Kathy Hochul is at the forefront of this initiative, which is expected to significantly boost the state’s tech industry and stimulate the local economy.
The project aims to create 700 new permanent jobs and safeguard several thousand existing ones. A central feature of this expansion is the purchase of a highly advanced and costly manufacturing machine, which will be installed in a newly built facility designed for its complex operations.
The initiative is poised to attract further investment, potentially bringing in an additional $9 billion from the semiconductor industry. This is seen as a strategic move to enhance New York’s candidacy for hosting the National Semiconductor Technology Center, a vital component of the research strategy funded by the 2022 CHIPS Act.
The State University of New York at Albany’s Albany Nanotech Complex will play a central role in these developments. Half of the $1 billion budget is earmarked for building a new 50,000-square-foot clean room in the complex. This expansion is not only physical but also represents a significant technological advancement, particularly in lithography – an essential part of chip manufacturing that involves transferring circuit patterns onto silicon wafers.
Another $500 million will be used to acquire a cutting-edge Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system, the “High NA” (numerical aperture) system. This technology will facilitate the production of more sophisticated semiconductor chips, thereby enhancing the capabilities and efficiency of various electronic devices.
The project’s economic benefits extend to the creation of 500 to 600 temporary construction jobs over two years. The High NA tool, expected to arrive in Albany by late 2025, represents a novel approach in the industry, being state-owned and operated. It will serve as a public asset to support the broader U.S. semiconductor sector.
This initiative underscores the Northeast United States’ growing significance in the semiconductor industry’s evolution. In related news, BAE Systems in New Hampshire is set to be the first recipient of a manufacturing grant under the CHIPS Act.
Additionally, Micron Technology has revealed plans for a major investment of up to $100 billion over the next decade to build a new manufacturing facility near Syracuse, NY. This development further solidifies New York’s role as a crucial hub in the national and international semiconductor industry.
With these strategic investments, New York is not only reinforcing its position in the high-tech sector but also helping the United States maintain its competitive edge in the global semiconductor market.
