(Submitted)
Lorain County Community College will partner with colleges and universities in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana to form the Midwest Regional Network to address national needs in semiconductors and microelectronics.
The network will jointly develop innovative solutions in higher education to best support the empowerment of the advanced semiconductor and microelectronics industry and address the industries' research and workforce needs.
The network was created in part because of Intel Corporation's recent decision to build its most advanced chip manufacturing business in Ohio and address broader, national efforts to advance U.S. leadership in semiconductors and microelectronics.
“This is about more than one company coming to Ohio. this is an industry that's coming together in the Midwest with the potential to create a Silicon Heartland right here,” said Lorain County Community College President Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D. “Through a decade of preparation, LCCC has become a comprehensive community college nationally recognized for innovative workforce programs specializing in semiconductors, microelectromechanical systems and microelectronic manufacturing.
“And the collaborative approach to this network, where each institution brings its own specialized strength to this global industry, will ensure that we all take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Joining LCCC in the new network are: Case Western Reserve University, Columbus State Community College, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Purdue University, Sinclair Community College, University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame and University Wright State.
The president of each institution recently signed a memorandum of understanding to create this network, which is intended to be open and expected to expand beyond these initial institutions.
Partner institutions will leverage existing research, teaching and experiential assets in the region to fuel the domestic development of strong semiconductor and microelectronics and supply chain innovation ecosystems
“In this era of rapid innovation and change, companies need talent that is not only well-educated but also experienced,” Ballinger said. “Lorain County Community College has emerged as a leader in the development and integration of hands-on learning and acquisition internship programs in partnership with regional companies.
“And as the supply chain expands as the semiconductor industry takes root in Ohio, our partnerships with industry will grow and our students in the program, who already have a 100 percent job placement rate upon graduation, will reap the benefits.” .
LCCC also provides the academic network with access to 100,000 square feet of education and training center, including 100, 1,000 and 10,000 cleanroom classrooms, as well as established curriculum through the Short-Term Training Certificate, One-Year Certificate, Associate Degree and Applied degree programs in micro-electromechanical systems and intelligent industrial automation.
Initial activities for the network include:
• Develop a common, secure information sharing platform to facilitate the identification of expertise, equipment, facilities and curricula of interest to facilitate joint programming, research and outreach initiatives across the network.
• Encourage regional collaborations and promote workshops around opportunities to pursue funding that will increase regional capacity to support identified needs in the semiconductor and microelectronics ecosystems.
• Develop pilot mechanisms to link existing research, facilities and curriculum/training materials across the region to optimize their use to address regional needs and opportunities.
“By connecting our efforts across the Midwest and working together to meet the workforce and innovation demands that will surely come from advances in the semiconductor industry, we can enhance the impact on local communities,” Ballinger said.
