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New York launches Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium for next-gen semiconductor materials
(Nanowerk News) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the State will partner with over 100 private companies, led by GE, to launch the New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium. The Consortium will invest over $500 million and create thousands of high-skilled, high-paying jobs in Upstate New York over the next five years – including at least 500 in the Capital region – focusing on the development and manufacture of the next generation of materials used on semiconductors.

“This partnership will create thousands of new jobs in Upstate New York, tapping into our highly trained workforce and existing centers of high tech research and development,” Governor Cuomo said. "With commitment from our partners, we are advancing New York's capability to compete in the international marketplace and make this state the place to develop and manufacture high tech materials. This investment and partnership today will utilize the workforce of tomorrow, creating jobs and increasing long-term investments in New York State."

The New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium (NY-PEMC) is a public-private partnership that will help develop the next generation of materials used on semiconductors at the State-owned R&D facility in Albany. Managed through the newly merged SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE)/SUNY Institute of Technology (SUNYIT), this next generation of semiconductors will enable power devices to get smaller, faster and more efficient as the current material, silicon, has reached its entitlement.

GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said, “GE is proud to support New York’s Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium, which places New York at the forefront of the next revolution in power. By partnering, we are bringing breakthrough reliable technology to market faster and at lower cost so our customers and global industries see major productivity gains and operate at peak efficiency. It is true that New York is open for business, and I commend Governor Cuomo for his successful efforts to make the State a place where companies like GE want to continue to invest and expand.”
The site will act as a global “open-innovation” user-shared facility, which will enable the expansion and growth of major corporate partners, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) with a particular emphasis on MWBE firms and enterprises.
Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, Chief Executive Officer and Officer in Charge, SUNY CNSE/SUNYIT, said, “Since coming into office Governor Cuomo has focused squarely on investing in the assets in our State that will make New York more hospitable for high tech R&D, more attractive for private investment, more efficient for advanced manufacturing and more conducive for job creation. Power electronics is one of the fastest growing global markets and New York is now poised to lead the way in their continued refinement. Partnering CNSE’s world-class research and development resources with the combined expertise of our corporate and university partners will provide tremendous advances for the business, technology and academic communities. We applaud the Governor and look forward to great success with the NY-PEMC.”
GE will be a lead partner in the fab, housed at the CNSE Nano Tech complex, which will develop and produce low cost, high performance 6” silicon carbide (SiC) wafers. These SiC-based power electronic devices have significant advantages over silicon (Si), including the capacity to handle much higher frequencies, and temperatures, which decreases the size and cost for companion filtering and cooling systems. Additionally, the devices can be half the size of similar Si devices, providing increased power density and reliability. In its current form, SiC technology can be cost prohibitive to smaller to medium size companies. All NY-PEMC partner companies will have access to state-of-the-art 6” SiC tools and a baseline process flow, contributed by GE, where they can make their own enhancements in preparation for high volume, cost effective manufacturing.
The partnership is enabled by the START-UP NY tax free initiative, in addition to $135 million in New York State funds provided to CNSE for the establishment of the NY-PEMC facilities, which will attract $365 million in private funds and know-how to support personnel, equipment and process flow, tool installation, facilities and materials for a total 5-year investment of $500 million. Collaboration with CNSE will enable the expansion and growth of both major corporate partners and small and medium-sized enterprises within a vibrant power electronics device and systems integration eco-system.
Source: CNSE