Now and then, on and off campus: Semiconductors at Purdue

Purdue has been “one of the powerhouses in semiconductor technology” since the 1930s, according to Mark Lundstrom, the university’s chief semiconductor officer, in a recent interview with Purdue Alumnus magazine (included below).

Yet, despite Purdue’s decades of excellence in the chip industry, Lundstrom’s family has never really understood his field. At least, that is, until pandemic-driven supply chain issues brought the vital role of semiconductors into focus for many people as nearly every essential industry felt the pressure to secure the development and distribution of these tiny, vital pieces of tech.

Check out some of the latest ways Purdue University is securing the Midwest’s strength in semiconductor development and research while creating a workforce pipeline.

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Looking forward: New industry partner on campus
SK hynix will bring semiconductor and R&D plant to Purdue Research Park

An advanced packaging fabrication and R&D facility for AI products is coming to Purdue Research Park. The university’s partnership with SK hynix marks a giant leap forward in the industry and the state by strengthening the U.S. supply chain.

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Watch: President Chiang on SK hynix

Purdue President Mung Chiang explains the significance of the partnership between Purdue and SK hynix that will see mass production of next-generation, high-bandwidth memory chips, as well as more than 1,000 new employment opportunities in Greater Lafayette.

Related:

• SK hynix CEO: “The potential of AI technology is infinite” … Expresses intent to invest in America (Business Korea) — “I am confident that this investment will realize the aspirations of SK hynix, the state of Indiana and Purdue University,” Kwak Noh-jung said.
• Leading Research Universities Report, American Association of Universities

Listen: ‘AI Daily Podcast’

‘Securing AI’s Future: Semiconductor Updates and Workforce Dynamics’

A discussion about how the current U.S. administration’s “focus on the semiconductor industry intertwines with national security and economic viability as AI technologies sweep through our lives. Discover why talent development, particularly at innovative institutions like Purdue University, serves as a linchpin for the future of AI chip production — a sector recently energized through a multibillion-dollar partnership with South Korean giant SK hynix.”

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Off campus

Purdue, industry partners convene second CHIPS summit in D.C. with top international and national leaders

On April 17, Purdue again hosted a CHIPS summit in Washington, D.C., bringing together allies from around the globe to consider the future of U.S. innovations in microelectronics and the semiconductor workforce. “We’re honored to convene such a high-level set of academic, government and industry partners during this transformative period,” said Mark Lundstrom, Purdue’s chief semiconductor officer. “The conversations held here revealed a common bond — that collaboration is key and will be integral to how we reengineer how we work across multiple sectors.”

Boilermakers visit semiconductor partners in Japan

Students in Purdue’s semiconductor programs recently took an international trip to the academic and industry facilities of several key university partners, including the campuses of the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Hiroshima University as well as Tokyo Electron Ltd. The opportunity was made possible because of Purdue’s role in the landmark UPWARDS Network (University Partnership for Workforce Advancement and Research and Development in Semiconductors), a partnership signed at the G7 summit to bolster both workforce development and research and development in semiconductors.

Illinois and Michigan schools join Purdue-led program to embed microelectronics in K-12 curricula

Part of a Department of Defense strategy to build a domestic semiconductor industry, the SCALE (SCalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement) K-12 program will now impact 19,000 students in 12 school districts across the three states.

In the news

WISH-TV: Indiana official sees Amazon data center as key win for development strategy
Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg says the Indiana Economic Development Corp. is focusing on building an entire business ecosystem for companies in the artificial intelligence field. He says the Amazon announcement would play into, among other things, SK hynix’s artificial intelligence chip manufacturing facility in West Lafayette. The Purdue president said the chipmaker’s investment of $3.87 billion, announced April 3, was the largest ever in Indiana.

Setting the stage: Reflecting on Purdue’s history in microelectronics

‘Pivotal moment’

The latest edition of Purdue Alumnus magazine asks today’s semiconductor leadership to review the past, present and future of semiconductors at Purdue. From development of the world’s first transistor to a new Summer Training, Awareness, and Readiness for Semiconductors program, this review outlines how Purdue earned — and maintains — its reputation as a powerhouse in the field of microelectronics.

Purdue’s growing semiconductor innovation ecosystem is one of four key pillars of Purdue Computes, a comprehensive initiative that also includes positioning the Department of Computer Science as a top 10 national program, becoming a leader in the field of physical artificial intelligence, and advancing quantum science and engineering to create future technologies that enable unparalleled excellence at scale. 

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.