SUNY-NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute to advance chip research

ALBANY, N.Y. — It’s an effort that seeks to bolster future semiconductor research and workforce development. The new SUNY-NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute (TII) will support New York State’s leadership in “next generation semiconductor innovation by leveraging the world-class infrastructure at NY Creates’ Albany NanoTech Complex so leading faculty researchers across SUNY’s four university centers can connect directly with experts from the industry consortia partners on site,” per the SUNY announcement. SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr. announced the launch of TII on Oct. 30. “The SUNY - NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute will bring the best in higher education and industry together to help inspire the next generation of researchers and professionals,” King contended. “The Institute will benefit industry leaders who make New York their home as well as our extraordinary faculty who are leading groundbreaking research and preparing the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs.” NY Creates describes itself as a “world-leading [research and development (R&D)], innovation hub and commercialization facilitator in advanced digital, analog and power technologies,” per its website. It is the owner and operator of the nation’s “largest and most advanced” nonprofit semiconductor R&D facility — the Albany NanoTech Complex, the website says. TII, which was included in the 2025 State of the University Policy Agenda, will work to establish a TII SUNY Corridor, which includes SUNY’s university centers and aligns with New York State’s growing semiconductor corridor. It also seeks to create a TII postdoctoral fellowship program and establish sustainable technology offerings. The goal is to offer access to semiconductor-wafer services and access to prototyping facilities at NY Creates, as well as opportunities for students to experiment and learn. Startup businesses will also get the chance to establish proof-of-concept initiatives in microelectronics design infrastructure in New York. “Binghamton University is excited to partner with the SUNY-NY Creates Technology Innovation Institute to advance and enhance the work we are doing in semiconductors. I am proud of the groundbreaking work in this area being done by the faculty in the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science,” Harvey Stenger, former president of Binghamton University, said. “Providing opportunities for them to team up with other SUNY faculty and industry partners is essential for New York to cement its position as the global leader in semiconductor technology and for SUNY to open doors for students and graduates in this emerging field.” As the SUNY-NY Creates TII ramps up in the first two years, SUNY and NY Creates will contribute nearly $4 million to initially support faculty-industry research projects through initial seed grants, which are expected to be awarded during the spring 2026 semester. “As we initiate a pathway for The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) strategic partnership, I am grateful for the Governor’s and Chancellor’s support of this effort, as we seek to strengthen academic-industry collaboration and drive innovation in semiconductor [research and development] and workforce development. The initiative builds on NY Creates’ partnership with SUNY, connecting world-class SUNY researchers with our global industry consortia partners,” Dave Anderson, president of NY Creates, said. “Additionally, it further opens the doors for students to gain access to the cutting-edge opportunities. We can work together to tackle industry-relevant challenges in semiconductor manufacturing and related technologies and facilitate a pipeline of skilled talent combined with research opportunities.”