Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors

About CLAWS

The regional hub, “Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors,” or CLAWS, led by North Carolina State University, includes one university partner, N.C. A&T State University, as well as six industry partners: Wolfspeed, Coherent Corp., General Electric, Bluglass, Adroit Materials and Kyma Technologies, Inc.

The funding is part of $238 million invested through the “Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act” for the establishment of eight Microelectronics Commons regional innovation hubs spread across the United States.

Wide bandgap semiconductors offer higher voltage and temperature capacity than traditional silicon chips. They are used in power electronics, but also in RF and wireless devices for communications and radars, as well as photonic devices for sensing, communications, artificial intelligence, and future quantum technology applications. The hub will also explore next-generation ultra-wide bandgap materials with even greater voltage and temperature capabilities, including diamond and gallium oxide electronics.