US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer participated in the launch of a groundbreaking partnership in Syracuse on Monday, which will unite colleges, universities, and community partners to invest in workforce development for the semiconductor industry.
The National Science Foundation and Micron, who announced a $100 billion investment last October to construct a vast semiconductor facility in Clay, north of Syracuse, identified the need to train workers for the 9,000 jobs the plant is anticipated to create.
Over 20 universities and colleges, including the entire SUNY and CUNY systems, Syracuse, Cornell, Clarkson, and New York Universities, RPI, RIT, Bernard College, and prestigious institutions like Harvard University and MIT, will join forces to help rebuild New York state’s manufacturing sector.
The Northeast University Semiconductor Network, a collaboration between Schumer, Micron, and the National Science Foundation, is a pioneering initiative designed to educate and train the semiconductor industry’s future workforce.
The partnership involves more than 20 universities and is part of a joint $10 million investment in workforce development by Micron and the NSF.
Rochester Institute of Technology President David Munson highlighted the direct impact of the move on his institution’s ability to prepare students for the industry. He noted that increased funding and momentum in the field would enable the university to expand its offerings, such as opening a new clean room and providing new educational materials.
Clarkson University President Marc Christensen explained that Micron’s decision to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the Northeast and the US necessitates a reinvestment in programs that have been overlooked for years. He emphasized the importance of partnering with institutions that focus on different areas to support Micron’s growing ecosystem, which will create numerous jobs and have a significant economic impact.
Schumer stressed that the impact begins with education and uniting the minds powering the universities, community colleges, and other local partners to educate the next generation of workers in New York state and the Northeast.
In addition to Micron’s investments, Schumer stated that funds from the CHIPS and Science Act are also expected to contribute to the partnership. NSF Director Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan is responsible for allocating those funds and met with leaders during the event.
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