Thriving Innovation Ecosystem

Virginia offers coordinated partnerships between universities and companies to produce talent and R&D critical to the future of semiconductors and chip-reliant industries. 

 

Collaboration Across Universities, Companies, and Government

Over the next three years, cross-collaboration across universities, companies, and state government is anticipated to produce over 50,000 hours of hands-on semiconductor and microelectronics lab and equipment training, 5,000 STEM degrees, and 500 semiconductor fast-track workforce certifications.

Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology 

Led by Virginia Tech and in partnership with University of Virginia, George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Norfolk State University, and Northern Virginia Community College, Virginia Alliance of Semiconductor Technology (VAST) is a coalition of Virginia’s leading universities that will offer new Fast-Track to Semiconductor Career certification programs, expand R&D and cleanroom lab access across universities, and develop new curriculum in collaboration with industry partners. The public launch of the alliance – which was hosted at Northrup Grumman’s headquarters – convened academia and businesses in developing talent and establishing manufacturing and research facilities as part of an initiative to become a bigger part of the country’s burgeoning semiconductor chip industry.

The initiative will create three 10-week Fast Track to Semiconductor Careers certificate programs: Chip Fabrication and Nano Characterization, Semiconductor Packaging and Characterization, and Semiconductor Equipment Maintenance and Repair. VAST expects to enroll about 300 students per year, with veterans and underserved communities receiving preference, beginning in spring 2024. During the two-year grant period, VAST aims to train 600 adult learners, award 550 certificates, and create up to 100 internships.

 

Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation

Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) leads Venture Capital investments in start-ups and entrepreneurs, supports entrepreneur-in-residence programs, and invests in faculty and research efforts through its Virginia Venture Partners (VVP) equity investment funds and its Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) grant fund. 

Virginia Microelectronics Consortium

Virginia Microelectronics Consortium (VMEC) invests in faculty-in-residence R&D initiatives and student internship scholarships through collaboration between universities and industry partners. Since 1997, VMEC has supported 327 VMEC scholars, at least half of whom have pursued microelectronics careers in the Commonwealth. During the same period, VMEC has funded over 75 seed projects with grants totaling $1 million.

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Virginia Tech Innovation Campus rendering, Alexandria

Virginia Tech: Innovation Leader

Virginia Tech's $1 billion, 1 million-square-foot graduate Innovation Campus focused on technology positions the university and its future partners near the nation's capital, diverse industries, and leading tech companies, including Amazon HQ2. Research at the Innovation Campus will emphasize quantum information sciences, intelligent interfaces, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Virginia Tech's Chip-Scale Integration program is one of 14 specialized majors in electrical engineering and computer engineering. 

Read the full case study here

Robust Talent Pipeline

Virginia is the sixth-most educated state in the U.S. and is the most educated state in the South in terms of percentage of population with a bachelor’s degree or higher. The Commonwealth has almost 350,000 workers in advanced materials manufacturing and related occupations, as well as over 315,000 people working in the tech sector and/or tech occupations. Companies can draw from these workers as well as engineering graduates from nearby top universities, and from the many service members exiting the armed services from military installations in Virginia each year.

CNBC_#1_Education_2024
Business Facilities_#1_Training_2024
Business Facilities #3 Top Tech Talent pipeline ranking graphic

We believe that diversity and inclusion leads to a more innovative environment. Our site in Virginia is represented with 55 different nationalities. This diversity of talent promotes a culture of innovation and is a key contributor to our success, and we love that.

Sanjay Mehrotra President and CEO, Micron Technology
Prof. Jon Kropko teaches students in his Practice and Application of Data Science class

University of Virginia

Largest U.S. Investment in Computer Science and Computer Engineering Education

Through its historic, innovative Tech Talent Investment Program, targeted philanthropic gifts, corporate partnerships, and K-12 computer science initiatives, Virginia is investing more than $2 billion to expand its tech talent pipeline, doubling the number of graduates each year in computer science and closely related fields. Additionally, Virginia higher education institutions already produce roughly 12,000 tech-related degrees and certificates annually in areas ranging from computer science to modeling and simulation. 

Read more about the Tech Talent Investment Program

Premier Engineering and Computer Science Programs

University of Virginia

  • The Department of Electric and Computer Engineering offers a bachelor’s, masters, and doctorate program in computer and electrical engineering
  • The Center for Research in Intelligent Storage and Processing in Memory, a member of the Joint University Microelectronics program, is conducting research into intelligent storage and memory systems
  • Numerous other laboratories related to the semiconductor industry, include: the Energy Science Nanotechnology and Imagination Lab, the Microfabrication Laboratories, and the Virginia Nano Computing Group

Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Virginia Commonwealth University offers a bachelor’s, masters, and doctorate program in electrical and computer engineering
  • The Virginia Microelectronics Center focuses on the fabrication and development of micro- and nano devices and state-of-the art material creation. This laboratory, which has supported the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Defense, conducts research in nanoelectronics and nanophotonic devices, micro- and nano-electromechanical systems, drug discovery, microfluidics, flexible electronics, bio-electronics, and nano-bio interfaces

Virginia Tech

  • Virginia Tech offers a B.S. in electrical and computer engineering with available focuses in chip scale integration, micro/nano systems, and photonics. A minor is also available in microelectronics engineering. Virginia Tech also offers a M.S., M.E., and PhD program with the M.S. having a specialization in semiconductors and microelectronics
  • The VT MEMS Lab pursues research in MEMS, nanotechnology, and microfluidics
  • The Micro and Nano Fabrication Laboratory provides ample cleanroom space for the research and development of MEMS, nanotechnology, bio-sensing applications, photonic, and microelectronic devices

George Mason University

  • The Volgenau School of Engineering offers a B.S. and M.S., in electrical engineering with the M.S. allowing a specialization in microelectronics and nanoelectronics
  • The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department includes electronics as one of their key research areas with an emphasis on semiconductors, including classical semiconductor devices, nonelectronic devices, sensors, digital and analog circuits, and integrated circuits, as well as the necessary fabrication and manufacturing technologies

Norfolk State University

  • The College of Science, Engineering, and Technology offers a Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master’s of Science in Electronics Engineering with a microelectronic and photonics track available to students
  • The Center for Materials Research conducts pioneering research into materials science and engineering, including semiconductor materials and devices
  • Norfolk State University is the lead institution in the Southeastern Coalition for Engagement and Exchange in Nanotechnology Education (the SCENE)

Old Dominion University

  • The Batten College of Engineering & Technology offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical and computer engineering
  • One of the core research areas of The Batten College of Engineering & Technology is advanced manufacturing, including micro and nano-electronics
  • The Applied Research Center has an interdisciplinary team of researchers working in areas that would be of interest to semiconductor manufacturing, including nanotechnology and MEMS
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Micron Technology, Inc., Manassas

Micron: Making Memory in Manassas

Micron Technology, Inc., is an industry leader in memory solutions and instrumental to the world’s most significant technology advancements. Micron Technology’s Manassas facility, one of the 20 major fabs currently operating in the U.S., is home to Micron’s Center of Excellence for long-lifecycle products and cements the company’s standing as one of Virginia’s largest exporters. It is also home to Micron’s global research development center for memory and storage as well as the Micron Foundation, the company’s philanthropic organization, committed to dedicating $1 million toward growing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technicians at several Virginia universities and community colleges. 

Read the full case study here

Market Access Map

Strategic Mid-Atlantic Location

Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic location offers companies proximity to economic centers up and down the East Coast, including critical customer markets like the federal government, Northeast Corridor, and Southeast metro areas. Additionally, Virginia has a variety of large and midsize sites that accommodate aggressive production timelines and industry-specific infrastructure needs.

47%

of the U.S. population is located in the Eastern Time Zone

$36.6 billion

committed for transportation projects over the next six years 

2,000+

miles of fiber, ensuring ubiquitous access to broadband for tech firms

Washington Dulles International Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport

Optimal Access and Connectivity

Virginia is serviced by 16 commercial airports, collectively providing nonstop flights to 100+ domestic and 50+ international destinations. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is one of the nation’s busiest airports, visited by more than 20 million passengers annually — the most international passenger traffic of any airport in the Mid-Atlantic outside the New York metropolitan area, traveling nonstop to 77 domestic and 62 international destinations.

MITRE, Fairfax County

MITRE, Fairfax County

A Welcoming Business Climate for Microelectronic and Nanotechnology Companies

  • Virginia has one of the oldest right-to-work laws in the country and is the northernmost right-to-work state along the I-95 Corridor.
  • Virginia has had a stable 6% corporate income tax rate, one of the lowest in the nation, since 1972.
  • Sound economic policy and prudent financial management has earned Virginia a AAA credit rating since 1938 — longer than any other state.
  • Manufacturing and research and development operations receive some of the broadest sales and use tax exemptions for purchases used directly in production or R&D offered by any state in the U.S.