GlobalFoundries, a manufacturer of essential semiconductors, has been awarded $9.5 million in federal funding from the U.S. government to continue the production of essential gallium nitride, or GaN, on silicon semiconductors at its Essex Junction, Vermont facility.
The company said Wednesday the additional funding, awarded by the Department of Defense’s Trusted Access Program Office, brings it closer to attaining large-scale production of GaN chips.
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Gallium Nitride, or GaN, Chips
These semiconductors can withstand high voltages and temperatures. They are vital to enhancing performance and energy efficiency in different radio frequency and high-power control applications. This includes automobiles, datacenter, Internet of Things, aerospace and defense.
GlobalFoundries Award
With the latest investment, GF has now received over $80 million in funds since 2020. GF will utilize the latest award to accelerate the development of its 200mm GaN chips, enabling the company to boost its Gan IP portfolio, reliability testing and services to customers. The federal investment will also help the company continue manufacturing new tools, equipment and prototyping capabilities.
Nicholas Sergeant, vice president of IoT and aerospace and defense at GF, stated, “Realizing full-scale GaN chip manufacturing will be a catalyst for innovation, for both our commercial and government partners and will add resilience and strengthen the semiconductor supply chain.”
Nicholas Martin, director of defense microelectronics activity, added, “This strategic investment in critical technologies strengthens our domestic ecosystem and national security and ensures these assets are readily available and secure for DoD utilization. In concert with key partners, this approach fortifies defense systems, empowering resilience and responsiveness.”