Northern Illinois University

Amount Appropriated?

$1.5M

FFID tracks stages 1–2 — stages 3–5 vary by agency, assistance type, and earmark structure.

Project Description

The global pandemic caused an international microchip shortage that underscored the fragility of the supply chain. The resulting challenges, exacerbated within the U.S. due to decades of offshoring manufacture and development, have led to an industry crisis and national security threat. To help reverse this trend, the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology is poised to expand its existing infrastructure and talent pool to meet increasing demands to train a technical workforce and conduct ground-breaking research and development in microchip design and fabrication. This effort will ultimately bolster Illinois prosperity through workforce development, job creation, high-tech startup support, and increased microchip-related research and development within the State.\n\nMicrochip manufacturing is inherently a complex undertaking requiring specialized lab spaces, cleanrooms, and complex advanced instrumentation. Only a handful of institutions in the state have such capabilities. In this regard, NIU is at a unique advantage. NIU is endowed with ~ 4200 sq.ft. of cleanroom infrastructure and serves a diverse student population. With Congressional funding support, NIU will modernize existing infrastructure to develop a state-of-the-art laboratory focusing on three primary technology areas of direct relevance to the US economy and national security: microelectronic devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and Chemical/Biological sensors. While engaged in these thrust areas, the facility will enable educating the next generation of engineers in hands-on microchip related technologies, supporting the needs of the local industries through workforce development, training and service, and serving as a valuable resource for high-tech. industry start-ups to prototype and test their designs.