RPI To Host NORDTECH Workforce Development Summit
RPI To Host NORDTECH Workforce Development Summit
Cultivating future chips and semiconductor workers to fill nationwide shortage
TROY, N.Y. — On July 18, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and NORDTECH will host a day long Workforce Development Summit on the RPI campus that will bring together government, industry, non-profits, and academic partners to address education and workforce development in chips and semiconductors critical to the prosperity and security of the nation.
The event will feature a keynote speech on Today's Workforce Development Realities and Strategies by Michelle Williams-Vaden, Deputy & Sr. Director, Strategy & Partnerships, SEMI Foundation; a panel discussion moderated by RPI President Marty Schmidt ’81, Ph.D. on Propelling the U.S. Workforce; exciting and informative presentations; breakout sessions on themes of Exposure, Education, and Experience; and a poster session featuring Emerging Technologies in Microelectronics, Educational Pathways and Curriculum Development, and Innovation in Teaching Methods.
The Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH) is a regional coalition of public and private sector experts in and around New York State, established as one of the eight hubs by Department of Defense (DoD) Microelectronics Commons program. NORDTECH’s five founding members include NY CREATES, University at Albany, Cornell University, RPI, and IBM. In addition to the founding members, NORDTECH consists of members from academia, government organizations, and industry, including the defense industrial base and small/medium enterprises. NORDTECH brings distributed expertise and capabilities of the Northeast to create onshore scalability across the research, prototyping, and commercial transition of leading-edge microelectronics in support of Department of Defense (DoD) Microelectronics Commons program goals.
“When government, industry, and academia work together, goals are met and economies flourish,” said Schmidt. “Together, RPI and our fellow NORDTECH members will grow the semiconductor workforce in the Capital Region and beyond by inspiring students, engaging them, and immersing them in this exciting field.”
Dave Anderson, President of NY CREATES, said, “NY CREATES is proud to play a key role in NORDTECH with our partners to grow the Microelectronics Commons network across the country. This RPI/NORDTECH-hosted engagement is a positive step forward for finding efficient and effective ways to support critical semiconductor-focused workforce development efforts in New York State and beyond. I was proud to participate in Thursday’s panel discussion and share NY CREATES’ efforts and the ways in which we can collaboratively reach students and provide up-skilling opportunities to current workers.”
It is estimated that tens of thousands of jobs in the chips and semiconductor fields will go unfilled in 2030 because of the labor shortage. This comes at a time when the United States is hoping to produce more chips than ever.
“To address the workforce needs of the chips and semiconductor sector, we must reach diverse students in engaging ways and create accessible pathways that lead to fulfilling careers,” said Shekhar Garde, Ph.D., dean of RPI’s School of Engineering. “With NORDTECH, we are uniting partners from all areas of the microelectronics sector to do just that. We look forward to engaging discussions with representatives from industry, academia, and government attending the Workforce Development Summit.”
NORDTECH members and participants include large companies spanning the defense industrial base, industry across the semiconductor manufacturing pipeline with key core facility capabilities, universities and small companies with technical project expertise and prototyping facilities, and universities and community colleges as vital participants in developing the next generation of semiconductor-enabled careers.
The event will be conducted in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies from 9AM to 5PM. It is free and open to all participants. Registration is available online at https://chips.rpi.edu/nordtech-wfd-summit.
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About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:
Founded in 1824 for the application of science to the common purposes of life, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the first technological research university in the United States. Today, it is recognized as a premier university, noted for its robust and holistic learning community that connects creativity with science and technology. RPI is dedicated to inventing for the future, from shaping the scientists, engineers, technologists, architects, and entrepreneurs who will define what’s next for humanity, to research that bridges disciplines to solve the world's toughest problems. Learn more at rpi.edu.
About the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH)
NORDTECH is a regional coalition of public and private sector experts in the Microelectronics Commons region in and around New York State, established in September 2023 as part of the first major award from the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act. NORDTECH’s five founding members who comprise the leadership team and governance committee of the hub include: the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY CREATES), the University at Albany College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE), Cornell University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and IBM. NORDTECH’s board is advised by diverse participating member organizations, including small and medium semiconductor manufacturing companies, universities and community colleges, and major corporations that are service providers and leaders in semiconductor device design, fabrication and production. Learn more at nordtechub.org.
Contact:
Katie Malatino
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Steve Ference
518-424-6029
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