University of Arizona, government and industry leaders attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 17 to celebrate the opening of the expanded Nanofabrication Core Facility, part of the Office of Research and Partnerships' Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing.

The Arizona Commerce Authority awarded $35.5 million in funding in 2023 to expand the clean room from 2,800 to 6,800 square feet, equip it with ultramodern tools, and support a statewide workforce development program.

Located in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building, the clean room prepares students for the state's booming semiconductor industry. It also supports faculty research and industry collaboration on chip fabrication, optoelectronic and photonic devices and quantum technology systems.

The clean room's air is 10,000 times cleaner than outside air, which is essential for exacting protocols that ensure the purity, precision and reliability of chips. 

More: https://news.arizona.edu/news/u-opens-newly-expanded-semiconductor-lab