Purdue inks semiconductor partnership with Dominican Republic
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Purdue University this week announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of the Dominican Republic to help the country build its semiconductor ecosystem.
The university said the partnership will also bolster joint research and academic exchange opportunities with some of the country’s leading universities.
As part of the deal, Purdue said it will lead the development and implementation of programs aimed at accelerating the growth of the country’s semiconductor industry, including an assessment of workforce development and developing a road map to build up design, manufacturing, assembly and testing capacity.
“There is a universal realization that semiconductor chip technology is now fundamental to humanity, and it is going to take a global alliance of like-minded nations for us to make sure that supply chains, including human capital, are stable and resilient,” Vijay Raghunathan, Purdue’s vice president for global partnerships and programs and director of semiconductor education, said in a news release. “This newest partnership further illustrates Purdue’s resolve to convene partnerships on a global scale.”
Purdue said international partnerships such as this will help create potential near-shoring opportunities for semiconductor manufacturing and packaging.
Alyssa Wilcox, senior vice president of partnerships at Purdue, added that the reciprocal collaboration also represents a significant opportunity for academic exchange and research efforts that benefit students, faculty and research.
Víctor Bisonó, the Dominican Republic’s minister of commerce, industry, and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), said the country aims to be a center of excellence in semiconductor technology.
“We believe that the research opportunities and extensive curriculum offered by Purdue are invaluable tools for strengthening the competencies of our human capital. In an increasingly digitalized world, mastering semiconductor manufacturing processes is crucial to driving our country’s innovation and competitiveness in this critically important area,” Bisonó said.
The partnership is the latest in a series of international agreements Purdue has made related to semiconductors.
In February, the university announced a partnership with French software maker Dassault Systèmes to use 3D-modeling technology to accelerate semiconductor training and research.
In December, Purdue and Belgium-based semiconductor research company Imec cut the ribbon on a new research and development hub at the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration on the West Lafayette campus.