Ohio State, Columbus State to partner with other Midwestern schools for microchip research

Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College will partner with 10 other Midwestern colleges and universities to form a network focused on microchip research and programming.

The Midwest Regional Network to Address National Needs in Semiconductor and Microelectronic will include 12 schools from Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. The group formed following a two-day workshop in April hosted by Ohio State to discuss the arrival of Intel.

In December, Intel announced its intentions to build two chip factories in Licking County to help meet the nation's growing need for domestic semiconductors and microelectronics.

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The network will work in collaboration to develop solutions in higher education to "support the onshoring of the advanced semiconductor and microelectronics industry and address the industries’ research and workforce needs," officials said in a media release.

“Global disruptions that sparked significant shortages underscored the need for substantial investment and growth in the domestic semiconductor industry so the U.S. can remain competitive,” Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson said.

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Johnson said this "powerhouse network" will promote scientific research and economic development to "make our Silicon Heartland vision a reality.”

Six other Ohio universities, colleges included in microchip network

Partnering schools include: Case Western Reserve University, Lorain County Community College, Michigan State University, Purdue University, Sinclair Community College, University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame and Wright State University.

Institutions will "leverage existing research, curricular and experiential learning assets, capabilities and expertise within the region and grow the collective capacity to support the domestic growth of robust semiconductor and microelectronics innovation and supply chain ecosystems," the news release said.

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While these schools are the network's founding members, it is intended to be open and grow beyond these initial institutions. Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska, Ohio State’s vice president for the Office of Knowledge Enterprise, will lead a steering committee with representatives from all 12 schools.

Grace Wang, Ohio State’s executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge, said the network recognizes there is a global competition for talent to remain a leader in research and development.

"Only through collaboration can we truly realize the promise this opportunity affords us," Wang said.

What will the Midwest microchip network do?

Initial activities for the network include:

• Developing a common, secure, information-sharing platform to make it easier to identify expertise, equipment, facilities and curricular programs of interest to facilitate joint programming, research, and/or outreach initiatives across the network.

• Encouraging regional collaborations and promote workshops around opportunities to pursue funding that will grow regional capacity to support identified needs across the semiconductor and microelectronics ecosystems.

• Developing pilot mechanisms to connect existing research, facilities and curricular/training assets across the region to optimize their use to address regional needs and opportunities.

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Johnson and Columbus State President David T. Harrison will join some of their peers across higher education Tuesday at the White House for a signing ceremony of the CHIPS and Science Act. 

Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter at the Columbus Dispatch. You can reach her at shendrix@dispatch.com. You can follow her on Twitter at @sheridan120. Sign up for her Mobile Newsroom newsletter here and her education newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State, Columbus State in Midwest microchip research network