A New York nonprofit organization that promotes semiconductor research has announced a development agreement with Japan.
NY CREATES at Albany Nanotech Complex works with partners around the world to advance semiconductor technology.
The company signed a new agreement with the Hokkaido government on Tuesday.
Leaders say the new cooperation will boost technological advances in the high-tech industry.
Speaking at the ceremony, NY CREATES President Dave Anderson said this builds on the organization’s existing collaboration with Japan.
“This agreement marks the creation of North America’s only not-for-profit research and development center utilizing extreme ultraviolet lithography, which will produce the semiconductor industry’s most advanced manufacturing technology,” Anderson said.
High numerical aperture extreme ultraviolet lithography uses high-energy light to cut patterns into silicon wafers used for semiconductors, allowing the production of even smaller features than ever before.
Empire State Development President and CEO Hope Knight said New York and Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, have a lot to learn from each other.
“Tokyo Electron was our first tenant here at Albany NanoTech, and last year the company celebrated its 20th anniversary in the Capital Region,” Knight said.
Knight said the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) brought a delegation of Japanese semiconductor companies to New York last year.
“And this spring, I had the honor of joining my New York colleagues on a trade mission to Japan to meet with industry leaders and partners,” Knight said.
More than 34,000 people are employed in the semiconductor industry in New York.
Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki, addressing the audience through an interpreter, said the collaboration would help technology company Lapidus develop a 2-nanometer semiconductor that he said would be the most advanced to date.
“We expect to gain know-how and knowledge to accelerate the semiconductor ecosystem, as well as knowledge about New York State’s semiconductor policies. And finally, we expect many overseas engineers from IBM and other equipment companies to come and work in Hokkaido,” Suzuki said.
Suzuki says Lapidus has received widespread support from U.S. companies.
“The Lapidus project is supported by IBM and NY CREATES. In particular, 130 Lapidus engineers from NY CREATES are being trained at NY CREATES,” Suzuki said.
Anderson said the deal has implications for the national security of both countries, as part of the federal CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which aims to increase domestic semiconductor production to reduce reliance on foreign technology.
“Part of the CHIPS Act is based on that, bringing cutting edge technology to our allies here at home and around the world. So this partnership really helps build cutting edge capabilities in our allies, allowing us to make the most of the resources that are available to us,” Anderson said.
Japanese engineers are already undergoing training in Albany, and the partnership aims to send American engineers to Japan.
