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Abstract:
Nanoelectronics is the foundation for emerging technologies that are expected to generate trillions of dollars in the future

Austin Community College and SEMATECH Partner with the State of Texas to Launch Nanoelectronics Training Program

Austin, TX | Posted on April 18, 2006

Austin Community College (ACC) and SEMATECH today announced the launch of a $4 million, multi-year program to train technicians and engineers in nanoelectronics, including internships in the Advanced Technology Development Facility (ATDF). Nanoelectronics is the foundation for emerging technologies that are expected to generate trillions of dollars in the future.

The resulting Nanoelectronic Workforce Development Initiative (NWDI) combines the expertise of Austin Community College (ACC), SEMATECH, ATDF, and Texas State Technical College-Waco (TSTC) in a program that initially will train 160 two-year technical, undergraduate, and graduate students in nanoelectronics.

"This program is a cornerstone in the State's new Nanoelectronics Initiative, for which SEMATECH is the leading partner," explained Randy Goodall, director of SEMATECH External Programs. "This workforce program will include development of new nanoelectronics curriculum materials and a statewide outreach to highlight the educational need and importance of our industry to the emerging technology economy."

"The most exciting aspect of the program is a unique internship opportunity that will provide students field experience in nanofabrication infrastructure and R&D operations through hands-on work in the ATDF," Goodall said. "The result of this program will be a 'gold standard' for preparing future generations for a career in nanoelectronics."

Nanotechnology, which develops revolutionary products by engineering materials at the molecular level, is expected to create more than two million jobs and generate more than $3 trillion in worldwide product revenues by 2015, according to the National Science Foundation. A significant nanotech segment is nanoelectronics, which the semiconductor industry has pioneered for nearly a decade.

"Austin Community College is the primary workforce trainer in Central Texas and is honored to take the lead in nanoelectronics education," Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC president, said in acknowledging the program's value. "This generous grant will provide SEMATECH and ACC with the necessary resources to create a statewide center of competence in nanoelectronics education."

Kevin Lyman, senior vice president of Global Human Resources for AMD, a SEMATECH member, said: "Skilled nanotechnology professionals are vital to the continued growth in the industry. This initiative creates a highly desirable talent pool in a market that seeks these very skills."

Under the program, SEMATECH and ACC, in partnership with TSTC-Waco and The University of Texas at Austin, will identify promising students and host them as interns in hands-on roles at ATDF, SEMATECH's advanced technology R&D center.

"We're grateful for this opportunity to put some of the brightest students from across Texas together with our best people to train the next generation of advanced engineers," said Dave Anderson, ATDF director. "The interns and our employees will benefit from their mutual interactions in ATDF's real-world manufacturing R&D environment."

Under the program, student internships will include:

80 two-year technical students for 15 weeks
50 undergraduates for six months
30 graduate students for one year

The initiative's first students are expected to arrive at ATDF on May 30 to begin their internships. The program also will reach out to 2,500 staff and faculty members from Texas educational institutions, as well as statewide business leaders, through onsite seminars and workshops in nanoelectronics.

Taking an active lead in coordinating workforce development programs for the semiconductor industry is a familiar role for SEMATECH. In the 1990s, former SEMATECH Chief Administrative Officer Frank Squires was instrumental in the development of a standardized Semiconductor Manufacturing Technician curriculum at the community college level, which is still operating at dozens of community colleges across the U.S.

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About Austin Community College:
Austin Community College is a public, two-year college offering associate degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas at six Central Texas campuses. Serving as the regional leader in workforce training, university transfer and adult access programs, ACC opens its doors each year to more than 65,000 credit and continuing education students who benefit from the College's great faculty and staff. ACC is the eighth largest community college in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

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About SEMATECH:
SEMATECH is the world's catalyst for accelerating the commercialization of technology innovations into manufacturing solutions. By setting global direction, creating opportunities for flexible collaboration, and conducting strategic R&D, SEMATECH delivers significant leverage to our semiconductor and emerging technology partners. In short, we are accelerating the next technology revolution.

SEMATECH, the SEMATECH logo, AMRC, Advanced Materials Research Center, ATDF, the ATDF logo, Advanced Technology Development Facility, ISMI and International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative are servicemarks of SEMATECH, Inc.

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Contact:
Veronica Obregon
512-223-7596
vobregon@austincc.edu

Dan McGowan
512-356-3440
dan.mcgowan@sematech.org

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