Wolfspeed and NC A&T to advance silicon carbide devices with new US R&D facility

Wolfspeed, a silicon carbide technology provider, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (NC A&T) State University, a black land-grant research university, have joined forces to construct a new research and development (R&D) facility in the US.

To this effect, Wolfspeed and NC A&T plan to submit the proposal for the CHIPS and Science Act funding.

The R&D facility, which is expected to come up on the NC A&T campus, anticipates to bolster the next generation of advanced compound semiconductors and develop a new generation of innovators.

Gregg Lowe — Wolfspeed President and CEO said: “Wolfspeed has been working with North Carolina A&T to develop a workforce of the future, and we are excited to expand that partnership to develop the technology of the future.

“The R&D facility will enable the next generation of innovators to explore new processes, applications and breakthrough advancements to support the global transition from silicon to Silicon Carbide technology and achieve new levels of sustainability and energy efficiency across a variety of industries.”

Wolfspeed and NC A&T to advance silicon carbide devices with new US R&D facility. Photo courtesy of Business Wire.

The proposed R&D facility is expected to support the company’s under construction The John Palmour Manufacturing Center in Siler City, North Carolina.

The silicon carbide manufacturing facility will supply 200mm silicon carbide wafers to Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab, a 200mm Silicon Carbide fabrication facility, upon completion of the full build out.

The facility combined with Wolfspeed’s currently ongoing materials expansion at its Durham headquarters, anticipates to increase the company’s material production by over 10 times.

Harold Lee Martin, Sr. — North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Chancellor said: “As one of the top three public research universities in North Carolina and the nation’s largest HBCU [historically black colleges and universities], we are keenly interested in the future of the semiconductor chip industry in our state.

“This new facility will integrate our research and development interests toward major economic and social impact, not just in North Carolina, but globally.”

The Notice of Funding Opportunity for R&D facilities is released this fall.

Last month, Wolfspeed also announced plans to construct a cutting-edge 200mm wafer fabrication facility in Saarland, Germany, to produce next-generation silicon carbide devices.