Grant-funding program looks to grow NH microelectronics industry

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. - The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition Hub earlier this month announced the launch of its first Powering Regional Opportunities for Prototyping Microelectronics (PROPEL) initiative, a series of grant funding programs that will provide resources and services to address the needs of startups and small businesses in the microelectronics industry.
The first grant program, known as the NEMC Hub PROPEL Manufacturing Program, will allocate up to $1 million in grant funding for the manufacture of cutting-edge microelectronics proof-of-concepts, prototypes, and device samples, including mill.
"Massachusetts has always been a leader in advanced manufacturing, technology, and innovation, and we are excited about this opportunity to build on that legacy through this program," said Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao, board chair of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech). "Through the leadership of MassTech and the NEMC Hub, this program will help accelerate technology transition from laboratory to fabrication and grow a pipeline of semiconductor talent throughout the Northeast."
Currently, nine organizations in New Hampshire are part of the coalition. This includes the State of New Hampshire, Community College of Southern New Hampshire, New Hampshire MEP and University of New Hampshire among others.
The NEMC Hub is a division of MassTech and was established with federal CHIPS and Science Act funding under the Microelectronics Commons program and executed through the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) and the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL).
"Commercializing promising semiconductor technologies requires significant time and capital investment, and we're excited to offer a pathway to reduce the cost of lab-to-fab development," said Mark Halfman, director, NEMC Hub. "This program demonstrates our commitment to leveraging federal CHIPS and Science Act funding to further the commercialization of microelectronics in our region."

Bridging the Gap Between Microelectronics Innovation and Production

The PROPEL Manufacturing Program will provide grant awards to NEMC Hub members, particularly startups and small companies, to offset costs associated with hardware lab-to-fab development. By reducing the capital needed to advance novel microelectronics technologies, this program aims to advance their progress from early concepts to validated devices.

Eligibility and Benefits

The program offers NEMC Hub member companies grants to subsidize the cost of using advanced lab and fab resources within the Hub network, including:
· Grants of up to $100,000 for startups and small companies with 50 or fewer employees (requires a 25% awardee cost share).
· Grants of up to $100,000 for startups and small companies with 51-100 employees (requires a 50% awardee cost share).
· Access to a network of leading laboratory and prototyping fabrication facilities within the NEMC Hub ecosystem.

Program Details and Resources

The NEMC Hub encourages its members to explore the program benefits and application process by registering for an informational webinar on Thursday, June 13, 2024. The Hub invites non-member companies interested in unlocking the program's advantages to learn more about NEMC Hub membership.

For additional information about the PROPEL Manufacturing Program, including eligibility criteria, application guidelines, membership, and timelines, please visit the NEMC Hub website.

About the NEMC Hub

The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub is a network of 170+ organizations including commercial and defense companies, leading academic institutions, federally funded R&D centers (FFRDCs), and startups concentrated in eight Northeast states. Established in 2023, the Hub is one of eight regional Microelectronics Commons Hubs working to expand the nation's global leadership in microelectronics and accelerate domestic semiconductor prototyping. The NEMC Hub is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and was established with federal CHIPS and Science Act funding under the Microelectronics Commons program and executed through the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) and the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). The Hub fosters a vibrant, connected microelectronics ecosystem to provide sustainable lab-to-fab enablement, boost education and workforce development, and spur new jobs. Learn more at http://www.nemicroelectronics.org/.