Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and GlobalFoundries (GF) announced a new strategic partnership to foster collaboration in semiconductor research, education, talent development, and workforce development.
The agreement builds on and formalizes a longstanding collaboration between the two institutions. GF recently endowed two Dean’s Faculty Fellows in the School of Engineering to recognize outstanding mid-career faculty working in the areas of mutual interest in chips and semiconductors. Additionally, GF has supported RPI students with a strong interest in the semiconductor industry and RPI’s Community College Scholars Program.
GF and RPI are also engaged in a unique curricular development initiative, bringing modern practical industrial perspectives into the classroom through lectures in RPI’s Microelectronics Manufacturing courses. These courses are co-taught by industry experts from GF and RPI faculty. They include industry-focused lectures and field trips to GF’s fabs, benefitting graduate and undergraduate students from many disciplines. The program is currently in its fourth year and has engaged nearly 200 students interested in semiconductor manufacturing.
More than 150 RPI alumni currently work at GF, and each year a sizeable cohort of RPI students are hired for internships and full-time roles at the company. RPI recently opened a 6,000 square-foot facility at NY Creates' Albany NanoTech Complex, where GF maintains a significant presence. RPI professors are also active in GF’s University Partnership Program, a design innovation program that bridges the academia-to-industry gap.
“RPI has a long history of groundbreaking research and education in semiconductors and microelectronics,” said RPI President Martin Schmidt ‘81, Ph.D. “Formalizing a strategic partnership with GlobalFoundries allows RPI faculty, students, and researchers to collaborate with one of the world’s most innovative and technologically advanced companies to advance solutions that benefit society and foster economic development in New York State, across the country, and globally.”
“GlobalFoundries is at the forefront of essential innovation, and this new partnership with RPI strengthens our ability to deliver differentiated semiconductor technologies and shape the future of microelectronics,” said Dr. Ted Letavic ‘90, Ph.D., corporate fellow and senior vice president of technology and innovation at GF. “By combining RPI’s world-class research and education with GF’s industry expertise, we are creating opportunities that will accelerate technology development, strengthen the workforce through a robust talent pipeline and drive economic growth in New York and beyond.” Dr. Letavic also serves on the School of Engineering Leadership Council and the ECSE Advisory Council.
