New York state announced in July it will
partner with over 100 private companies, led
by GE, to launch the New York Power Electronics
Manufacturing Consortium in the Capital
District.
The consortium will invest over $500 million
and create thousands of high-skilled, highpaying
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, state officials said.
The initiative, which will include dozens of
companies — including GlobalFoundries and
Lockheed Martin — and universities from
across the state, will use silicon carbide to
make a new generation of power electronics
components.
“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,” Gov.
Andrew 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,
according to the governor’s office. 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 is proud to support New York’s Power
Electronics Manufacturing Consortium, which
places New York at the forefront of the next
revolution in power, said GE Chairman and
CEO Jeff Immelt. “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.”
Officials said 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, CEO and officer in
charge, SUNY CNSE/SUNYIT, said, “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.”
Officials said 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-inch 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-inch 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.
Senator Hugh T. Farley said “Here in the
Capital Region, we have seen that investments
in nanotechnology are paying off–leveraging
investments and greatly boosting the job
outlook. Combining technological innovation
and manufacturing, while also partnering with
some of the country’s leading corporations,
will further cement New York’s position at the
forefront of the industry.”
The partnership is enabled by the STARTUP
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
five-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.