University of Arkansas Semiconductor Facility…
U of A Dedicates First-of-Kind Semiconductor Fabrication Facility
National, state, university and industry leaders gathered for the dedication of the University of Arkansas’ Multi-User Silicon Carbide Facility (MUSiC), the only openly accessible fabrication facility of its kind in the U.S. The grand opening marks a major milestone in Arkansas’ emergence as a center of excellence in semiconductor and power electronics technology.
Silicon carbide (SiC) is a critical strategic material for next-generation energy, transportation, data centers and aerospace systems. MUSiC will provide domestic opportunities for prototyping, proof-of-principle demonstrations and device design incorporating SiC, and its facilities and services will be available to external researchers and industry.
“MUSiC is a powerful example of our land-grant mission in action,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “Our responsibility has always been to turn knowledge into progress, and MUSiC does exactly that. This facility will give students hands-on experiences that prepare them for success in a high-tech workforce while helping our researchers push the boundaries of what’s possible in materials science and semiconductor technology. In doing so, it will strengthen Arkansas’ economy, improve lives across the nation and help safeguard America’s long-term security and prosperity.”
Robinson was joined by leaders including U.S. Rep. Steve Womack and Arkansas State Attorney General Tim Griffin, as well as Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering, and Alan Mantooth, UA Power Group’s founding director and Distinguished Professor of Engineering.
“The technology that will emerge from the MUSiC fab is foundational to our economic strength and national security,” Womack said. “The University of Arkansas will serve as ground zero for this important work, developing scalable technologies that will bolster our ability to compete in the global marketplace. I have been a proud supporter of this fab from day one because I understand how it will help us address the challenges that stifle domestic innovation while also attracting top talent to our state. I look forward to seeing the real-world impact MUSiC will make, not only here in Arkansas but across the nation and the world.”
“Arkansas is staking its claim as America’s next center of excellence for semiconductor manufacturing,” Griffin said. “With MUSiC and the University of Arkansas leading the charge, our state is building the foundation for a new generation of innovation, chip production and opportunity. This investment brings with it the promise of a brighter future, one in which our children will grow up knowing they have a chance to succeed in this rapidly growing industry. Together, we can transform Arkansas into a national powerhouse for semiconductor manufacturing and good-paying jobs.”
Funded in part by the National Science Foundation’s Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure Program, MUSiC provides a unique open-access, multi-project wafer model enabling collaborative prototyping and research across academia, government and industry.
The facility features a state-of-the-art eight-bay cleanroom, expandable to 10 bays in Phase 2, within a 22,000-square-foot building—one of the most advanced SiC research and prototyping environments in the nation. It complements the UA Power Group’s vertically integrated research ecosystem — known for advancing technologies “from materials to systems.”
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