MIT and Applied Materials forge $40m partnership for advanced nano-fabrication

In a landmark collaboration, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Applied Materials, Inc. have joined forces, along with a grant from the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub, in a venture exceeding $40 million. This significant private and public investment is aimed at augmenting the advanced nano-fabrication equipment and capabilities at MIT.nano, MIT’s hub for nanoscale science and engineering. The collaboration is set to establish a unique open-access site in the United States, enhancing research and development on a scale compatible with industry standards. The initiative targets advancements in silicon and compound semiconductors, power electronics, optical computing, analog devices, and other vital technologies.

Applied Materials, the world’s leading supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, will bolster MIT.nano’s capabilities to fabricate up to 200mm (8-inch) wafers. This enhancement is critical for industry prototyping and production of semiconductors, pivotal in markets such as consumer electronics, automotive, and clean energy. The collaboration is poised to bridge the gap between academic experimentation and commercialization, helping early-stage innovations find their pathway to industry markets.

Maria Zuber, MIT’s Vice President for Research, emphasized the significance of this collaboration. “MIT.nano’s partnership with Applied Materials is crucial in transforming innovative chip concepts into millions of manufacturable units. This will have a profound impact across MIT and beyond,” she stated.

Applied Materials will equip MIT.nano with several advanced process tools for 150 and 200mm wafers and upgrade existing equipment. Aninda Moitra, the Corporate Vice President of Applied Materials, highlighted the increasing complexity of chips and the need for advancements in 200mm devices. “Our collaboration with MIT.nano is a strategic step in accelerating innovation in the chip ecosystem,” said Moitra.

The NEMC Hub, managed by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), will provide $7.7 million for the installation of these tools. The Hub, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense through the CHIPS and Science Act, aims to transition critical microelectronics technologies from lab-to-fab and foster job creation and workforce training.

MIT.nano, a 200,000 square-foot facility at the heart of MIT’s campus, is set to integrate these tools into its operations, serving over 1,100 researchers from academia and industry. Vladimir Bulović, faculty director of MIT.nano, expressed excitement for the installation, anticipating new ideas and innovations to emerge from this enhanced capability.

The collaboration between MIT and Applied Materials, Inc., supported by the NEMC Hub, represents a significant leap in the field of nano-fabrication and semiconductor research. By providing an open-access platform with industry-standard equipment, this initiative is likely to accelerate the development of critical technologies in the semiconductor sector. The investment not only reflects the growing importance of microelectronics in various industries but also highlights the potential for university-industry collaborations to drive technological advancements and economic growth.