The Microsystems Technology Laboratories at MIT and GlobalFoundries have announced a new research agreement to advance the performance and efficiency of critical semiconductor technologies, with potential applications across various industries.
The Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL) at MIT and GlobalFoundries (GF), a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors, have announced a new research agreement to advance the performance and efficiency of critical semiconductor technologies. This collaboration will be led by MTL and GF’s research and development team, GF Labs.
The initial focus of this research initiative will leverage GF’s differentiated silicon photonics technology, which integrates radio frequency silicon-on-insulator (RF SOI), CMOS, and optical features on a single chip. This innovation is expected to deliver power efficiencies for data centers. Additionally, GF’s 22FDX platform will be utilized to achieve ultra-low power consumption for intelligent devices at the edge.
‘This collaboration between MIT MTL and GF exemplifies the power of academia-industry cooperation in tackling the most pressing challenges in semiconductor research,’ says ‘Tomás Palacios, MTL director.’ ‘By combining our world-renowned capabilities with GF’s leading semiconductor platforms, we are poised to drive significant research advancements in GF’s essential chip technologies for AI.’
The development of specialized AI chips has gained significant momentum in recent years, driven by the need for faster and more efficient processing of complex artificial intelligence workloads.
These purpose-built chips are designed to handle specific AI tasks, such as machine learning and deep learning inference, with improved performance and reduced power consumption.
According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global AI chip market is projected to grow from $5.3 billion in 2020 to $147.7 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 54.4%.
Key players like NVIDIA, Google, and Amazon are already investing heavily in AI chip development, with many more expected to follow suit.
Gregg Bartlett, chief technology officer at GF, emphasizes the importance of this partnership: ‘This collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation and highlights our dedication to developing the next generation of talent in the semiconductor industry. Together, we will research transformative solutions that address the industry’s most pressing challenges.’
Anantha P. Chandrakasan, dean of MIT’s School of Engineering, notes: ‘Integrated circuit technologies are the core driving a broad spectrum of applications ranging from mobile computing and communication devices to automotive, energy, and cloud computing.’ This collaboration will enable MIT’s exceptional research community to leverage GF’s industry domain experts and advanced process technologies to drive exciting innovations in microelectronics across domains.
Microelectronics has experienced significant advancements in recent years, driven by the integration of nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.
The development of smaller, faster, and more efficient microprocessors has enabled the creation of wearable devices, implantable sensors, and advanced medical equipment.
According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global microelectronics market is projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 8.4%.
The miniaturization of electronics has also led to breakthroughs in fields like robotics, aerospace, and renewable energy.
The new research agreement was formalized at a signing ceremony on campus at MIT. It builds upon GF’s successful past and ongoing engagements with the university, including its participation in MTL‘s Microsystems Industrial Group and the University Partnership Program focused on joint semiconductor research and prototyping. Additionally, GF and MIT collaborate on several workforce development initiatives, including through the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition, a U.S. Department of Defense Microelectronics Commons Hub.
This collaboration between MIT and GlobalFoundries is set to drive significant advancements in essential chip technologies for AI, with potential applications across various industries. By combining academic excellence with industry expertise, this partnership has the potential to transform microelectronics and tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the semiconductor industry today.
Artificial intelligence (AI) chip technology has transformed the computing industry by enabling faster and more efficient processing of complex data.
These specialized chips are designed to handle machine learning tasks, natural language processing, and computer vision.
With AI chip technology, devices can learn from experience, adapt to new situations, and make decisions autonomously.
The market for AI chips is expected to reach $67.4 billion by 2025, driven by applications in healthcare, finance, and autonomous vehicles.
