Building on several ongoing collaborations, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and GlobalFoundries (GF) are working together to further grow and strengthen the semiconductor workforce in the region.
RPI has launched a partnership program with GF to provide their employees with opportunities to pursue degrees and enhance their skills in semiconductor technology. Through dedicated RPI scholarships and GF’s tuition assistance program, GF employees will be able to pursue a new Master of Science in Semiconductor Technology (MaST) degree and take part in other graduate programs including Rensselaer at Work certificates.
Under the expanded partnership, GF has pledged a gift totaling $150,000 over the next three years to sponsor RPI students who have a strong interest in the semiconductor industry, interwoven with an internship opportunity. The initiative aims to incentivize students to join the semiconductor industry.
“When industries and educational institutions seek ways to work together, great things happen,” said Rebecca Doerge, Ph.D., provost at RPI. “This advancement of our ongoing partnership with GF further solidifies the Capital Region’s preeminence as a hub of semiconductor research and manufacturing while addressing workforce development needs that are at the core of the CHIPS initiative.”
“At GF, we are committed to fostering a diverse and skilled semiconductor workforce. Our partnership with RPI is a testament to our dedication to developing the next generation of innovators and leaders in the semiconductor industry,” said Hui Peng Koh, vice president and general manager at GF in Malta. “Together, we are creating opportunities that will drive technological advancements and strengthen the industry.”
This expanded partnership builds upon GF and RPI’s existing collaborative workforce development portfolio, which includes:
* Leveraging and expanding on the success of the collaboration between RPI and GF on unique industry-university courses focused on cutting-edge chips topics;
* Engaging RPI students in paid internships, co-ops, and job opportunities each year;
* Hosting students and faculty in the RPI-Hudson Valley Community College Semiconductor Scholars program at GF’s Malta facility;
* Collaborating on STEM outreach initiatives to K-12, community colleges, and beyond to enhance the semiconductor workforce pipeline;
In addition to investing in workforce development, GF and RPI plan to explore joint semiconductor research and work together to attract top researchers to lead these projects.
“RPI has a strong history of semiconductor research, education, and innovation. With the growing workforce demands of the chip industry in upstate New York, we are committed to developing and supporting new programs and partnerships with industry,” said Shekhar Garde, Ph.D., dean of the RPI School of Engineering. “We have enjoyed a wonderful partnership with GF around workforce development and look forward to deepening our collaborations.”
The RPI-GF initiative furthers regional and nationwide efforts to reshore semiconductor manufacturing in the United States. According to a 2022 report from Deloitte, the global semiconductor industry is expected to surpass one trillion dollars in revenue by 2030. However, the industry faces a significant talent shortage, with more than one million additional skilled workers needed over the next six years.
Thanks to the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which aims to make the United States a leading chips manufacturer, universities, including RPI, and leading semiconductor companies like GF are preparing the workforce that will not only run semiconductor fabs but also innovate the essential chips of the future.