NORDTECH Connects Across the Ecosystem at the Microelectronics Commons Annual Meeting

NORDTECH Team at the 2026 Microelectronics Commons Annual Meeting

Members of the NORDTECH team were proud to attend the 2026 Microelectronics Commons Annual Meeting, held from February 18–20 in Washington, D.C. NORDTECH leaders and team members connected with partners across government, industry, and academia to help shape the future of America’s microelectronics ecosystem, gaining insights into national priorities and engaging with key stakeholders.

NORDTECH facilitates microelectronics fabrication and prototyping using a regional network of cleanrooms and manufacturing-relevant facilities. Through lab-to-fab prototyping projects and relevant workforce development initiatives, NORDTECH is supporting Department of War (DOW) Microelectronics Commons program goals and U.S. leadership in advanced microelectronics, and is led by NY Creates with Cornell University, IBM, RPI, and the University at Albany, the founding five members of the hub. Collectively, our advances in chip design, intellectual property, and cutting-edge tooling make NORDTECH a strategic springboard for onshoring and scaling secure microelectronics.

NORDTECH’s Ron Olson, Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility Director of Operations, Showcasing AR/VR Technology to Expand Semiconductor Fab Access

Kicking off the week, a NORDTECH Networking Reception, sponsored by IBM, allowed attendees to connect in person with partners and stakeholders across the Microelectronics Commons, showcasing how NORDTECH is accelerating U.S. microelectronics innovation while strengthening pathways from lab-to-fab and beyond.

During the first day of the conference, the NORDTECH team was proud to present our Hub Overview, highlighting a year of growth, collaboration, and impact across the expanding ecosystem. Partnership Director Michael Greene shared how our Hub is bringing its mission and model to life, as we are growing to over 150 members, offering hub-funded projects, and connecting members with facilities to drive innovation.

NORDTECH received plenty of attention during the well-attended Hub Expo, allowing everyone to connect with our team and learn more about how we can collaborate to strengthen the U.S. microelectronics ecosystem.

NORDTECH also had a prominent role in the conference by providing a number of presentations throughout the engagement.

NY Creates VP of Education and Workforce Development Dr. Robert Geer presented at the Workforce Development Sessions. He shared the importance of creating talent pipelines, training programs, and additional ways to prepare the next generation of microelectronics-focused talent. He underscored hub-wide WFD offerings, including access to North America’s largest most advanced 300mm semiconductor R&D facility, NY Creates’ Albany NanoTech Complex, where programs such as the Vet S.T.E.P. program allow veterans and those transitioning to civilian life to connect with the skills they need to gain high-tech careers.

During the Commercial Leap Ahead Technical Briefings, Dr. DJ Jena from the NITRIDER NORDTECH Project Team shared valuable insights on emerging technologies and strategies to accelerate domestic semiconductor capabilities. Their focus: developing dual-use technology platforms that serve both commercial and defense customers, with broad baseline modules applicable to high-powered switches.

Dr. Satyavolu Papa Rao (Pops), Senior Director of Emerging Technologies & Research at NY Creates, and Valla Fatemi, Assistant Professor at Cornell University

Quantum Technical Briefings provided a deep dive into the latest advancements shaping future quantum technologies. Presentations included David Hucul from the AFRL on Heterogeneous Quantum Networks (HQN); Cornell’s Valla Fatemi and NY Creates’ Dr. Satyavolu Papa Rao (Pops) on Superconducting Qubits with Scalable Fabrication (SQFab), who shared that “we are doing something that is not being done anywhere else in the world”; and Lewis Carpenter who shared information from the AIM Photonics manufacturing innovation institute on Quantum Ultra-Broadband Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (QUPICS).

Each discussion highlighted the impact of NORDTECH-funded programs, which are accelerating domestic semiconductor and quantum technology capabilities through partnerships and leveraging state-of-the-art facilities such as Creates’ Albany NanoTech Complex and Cornell’s NanoScale Science and Technology Facility and Center for Materials Research. 

Steve Ference, Director of Communications at NY Creates, and Alin Antohe, NY Creates Technical Coordinator at NORDTECH

Our NORDTECH team loved connecting with innovators at the Annual Meeting and are grateful for everyone who stopped by our booth, shared ideas, and sparked conversations that could turn into the next big partnership, spurring lab-to-field innovation to drive U.S. high-tech strength.