The programme will focus on developing semiconductor process integration coursework aligned with advanced logic technologies.
Semiconductor equipment maker Lam Research has partnered with the New York centre for research, economic advancement, technology, engineering and science (NY CREATES) to train approximately 3500 university students in semiconductor process integration over the next five years.
Under the collaboration, students from colleges and universities across NY CREATES’ partner network in the US Northeast will gain hands-on experience using Lam Research’s SEMulator3D virtual fabrication software. The initiative aims to address the growing shortage of engineers with practical semiconductor manufacturing skills as chip technologies become increasingly complex.
SEMulator3D uses physics-based simulation to replicate semiconductor fabrication processes such as etching, deposition and lithography. Students will be able to build virtual fabrication flows, evaluate the interaction between different process steps and analyse manufacturing decisions without requiring access to physical wafers or cleanroom facilities.
The programme will focus on developing semiconductor process integration coursework aligned with advanced logic technologies and modern fabrication processes. It will also expand virtual semiconductor manufacturing education across NY CREATES’ workforce development network and support regional initiatives, including the National Network for Microelectronics Education Northeast.
David Fried, chief artificial intelligence (AI) officer and corporate vice president, Semiverse Solutions at Lam Research, said preparing the next generation of semiconductor engineers requires practical experience beyond classroom-based learning. The programme is expected to help students understand the process decisions involved in manufacturing advanced chips before they enter a fabrication facility.
Separately, Lam Research has announced plans to invest more than US$3 billion over the next five years to expand its global research and development (R&D) laboratory network. The investment is expected to increase the company’s experimental capacity by more than 50 per cent across specialised facilities in the US, Asia and Europe.
Its R&D network currently supports more than one million experiments annually. The expanded network will bring together laboratories focused on materials, chemistries, mechatronics, process development and customer qualification, enabling teams across locations to collaborate on semiconductor technology development.
The company expects the investment to shorten development cycles and accelerate the transition of new technologies from early-stage research to semiconductor manufacturing. Lam said its integrated R&D approach has already helped reduce process development timelines by up to 2.5 times in recent customer engagements.
