Partnership will foster science and education collaboration on emerging technologies
Purdue University and Panama signed a memorandum of understanding to foster scientific and academic collaboration on emerging technologies, including semiconductors. The agreement was signed by Purdue University President Moon Chang and Panamanian Ambassador to the United States Ramon Martinez de la Guardia (Photo provided by the Embassy of Panama to the United States).
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University and Panama have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance educational opportunities and workforce development, with a particular focus on developing and strengthening the Central American country’s semiconductor industry. The MOU also seeks to create training programs, research opportunities and academic exchanges in key areas such as cybersecurity, supply chain management, emerging technologies and other areas related to training and developing Panama’s workforce.
Purdue President Moon Chan signed the strategic agreement with Panamanian Ambassador to the United States Ramon E. Martinez de la Guardia during a ceremony at the Panamanian Embassy in Washington, DC.
“Purdue University is proud to collaborate with the Republic of Panama on this important effort to advance innovation and educational collaboration in emerging technologies and strategic supply chains, particularly in semiconductors,” said Chang. “This MOU highlights Purdue’s strength as America’s leading university in the semiconductor space, recognized for its pioneering workforce development efforts, cutting-edge research and expanding global partnerships with like-minded partners. Following U.S. Secretary of Commerce Raimondo’s engagement with the Republic of Panama last year, we look forward to this collaboration as the United States continues to implement the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.”
In addition to the signed MOU, Purdue and the University of Panama have agreed to collaborate on future agreements that will provide Panamanian students access to Purdue’s advanced field programs.
The partners said they would also explore the possibility of establishing a Global Workforce Development Center for Advanced Technologies in Panama to support regional efforts in semiconductors, cybersecurity and other emerging technologies.
“Working with Purdue University, we aim to foster an innovative ecosystem that will drive economic and workforce development while positioning Panama as a regional leader in technology and semiconductor advancements,” said José Alejandro Rojas, Panama’s Ministerial Advisor for Private Investment. “As a proud Panamanian and Purdue alumnus, I am excited about the strategic partnership forged between the government and Purdue University. This MOU marks an important milestone in our efforts to foster the growth of semiconductors, cybersecurity and other technology sectors in Panama.”
Last July, the U.S. Department of State announced it would work with the government of Panama and other like-minded partner nations to explore opportunities to diversify and grow the global semiconductor ecosystem. The partnership was made possible by the International Technology Security and Innovation Fund, which was established as part of the CHIPS and Science Act.
Panama joins a growing list of countries looking to grow their semiconductor industry. In April, the Panamanian government launched a national initiative to develop and promote microelectronics and semiconductor activity. The partnership with Purdue University will help bolster these efforts through academic collaboration and workforce development.
“We all know that chips and semiconductor technology are essential to human progress, and global collaboration is needed to ensure the stability of the semiconductor supply chain. Perhaps the most important supply chain to secure is the talent,” said Vijay Raghunathan, vice provost for Global Partnerships and Programs and director of Semiconductor Education at Purdue University. “Purdue is committed to fostering international collaboration to strengthen scientific advances and make the world’s economy and technology more resilient.”
International partnerships have become a hallmark of Purdue University’s excellence. Since the beginning of 2024, the university has signed agreements with several academic, government and industry partners, including SK Hynix, a South Korea-based semiconductor and memory chip manufacturer; Dassault Systèmes, a multinational software giant that provides virtual twin experiences to industries around the world; and Lam Research, a manufacturer of wafer fabrication equipment for the semiconductor industry.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research institution that demonstrates excellence at scale. Ranked among the top 10 public universities in the U.S. and with two universities ranked in the top four, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with unmatched quality and scale. More than 105,000 students learn at Purdue in a variety of ways and places, with nearly 50,000 learning face-to-face at the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition for 13 consecutive years. With the first integrated urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computing, the One Health initiative and more, Purdue never stops for its next big leap at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
