Purdue lands $5M for semiconductor research
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Purdue University has received more than $5 million in federal research grants to improve semiconductor performance and energy efficiency.
The funds were among $42.5 million in grants announced earlier this month by the National Science Foundation in partnership with Ericsson, Intel Corp., Micron Technology Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Purdue was the only university to receive grants in each of three target areas designated for funding.
“These grants will build on and expand the critical semiconductor research that Purdue is known for throughout the world,” Karen Plaut, executive vice president for research, said in a news release. “Receiving grants from the NSF and major semiconductor corporations in each of the available topic areas underscores Purdue’s reputation as a leader in chips research.”
Purdue received funding to continue research in these three specific areas, each of which fell under one of the target areas:
- Creating new computer systems that use indium oxide, a material only a few atomic layers thick that could lead to smarter, faster and more energy-efficient AI systems.
- Using advanced imaging techniques to find minute defects in semiconductor materials, which helps improve semiconductor quality, performance and reliability.
- Improving manufacturing processes involving ferroelectric oxides to improve performance and create more reliable and efficient electronic devices.
Semiconductor research is a key pillar of Purdue Computes, a three-pronged initiative launched by the university in 2023 that also focuses on computer sciences and artificial intelligence. Purdue said at the time that it wants to achieve a top 10 national ranking in computer sciences before the end of the decade, Inside INdiana Business reported.
“The nation’s semiconductor challenge is a Purdue priority,” Mark Lundstrom, chief semiconductor officer and head of the university’s Semiconductor Task Force, said. “This funding from NSF and its corporate partners confirms that the work we are doing is critical to the advancement of the U.S. chip industry and all the current and future technological necessities that rely on it.”