NORDTECH Workforce Development Summit Brings Leaders Together to Strengthen the Semiconductor Talent Pipeline
NORDTECH 2026 Workforce Development Summit Leaders & Speakers
The Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH) 2026 Workforce Development Summit brought together leaders, educators, and students from industry, academia, government, and research organizations to explore workforce development strategies for strengthening the domestic talent pipeline supporting microelectronics, semiconductors, defense, and other emerging technologies.
Hosted by Cornell University on Sept. 22 at The Statler Hotel in Ithaca, New York, the full-day summit featured keynote presentations, panel discussions, student perspectives, networking opportunities, technology demonstrations, poster sessions, and facility tours. Throughout the event, participants shared ideas and explored how workforce development efforts can better connect education and training with the developing needs of the semiconductor and advanced technology industries. Dr. Robert Geer, Vice President of Education and Workforce Development at New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Engineering, and Science (NY Creates), welcomed attendees and helped set the stage for discussions focused on collaboration, innovation, and workforce development.
Dr. Debbie Black-Conn, Microelectronics Commons Workforce Development Lead at the U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, provided opening remarks highlighting the importance of developing a skilled workforce capable of supporting national priorities.
The morning keynote, delivered by Louie Lopez, Director of Department of War STEM, focused on “Building the Defense STEM Workforce Together” and emphasized the partnerships and pathways needed to prepare the next generation of STEM professionals.
The morning program also included a NORDTECH workforce development update and a panel discussion, “Driving Semiconductor Workforce Engagement via Investment: Nationally, Regionally, and Locally.” Leaders from across the semiconductor ecosystem discussed workforce investments, regional initiatives, and actionable approaches to expanding opportunities and strengthening talent funnels.
The afternoon shifted toward hands-on learning, emerging technologies, and the evolving skills needed across the microelectronics ecosystem. The chip design lightning talks highlighted efforts to expand hands-on semiconductor education and student engagement. Attendees also participated in networking and poster sessions, explored emerging technologies through interactive demonstrations and AR/VR experiences, and had the opportunity to tour the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF).
The afternoon concluded with a panel discussion on “Aligning Workforce Development with Emerging Technology R&D Needs.” Leaders from academia, government research, and industry examined how workforce programs can evolve alongside rapidly advancing technologies and changing talent requirements. Across the day's discussions, panelists emphasized the importance of partnerships, experiential learning, and creating pathways that connect students with real-world opportunities.
Attendees also heard insights on internships and workforce pathways from Wendy Carpenter, Senior Director of Experiential Learning at the Griffiss Institute, while student perspectives demonstrated the direct impact that workforce development programs and experiential learning opportunities can have on future careers.
By bringing industry and academic leaders together, the summit provided a collaborative forum to share successful approaches, identify emerging workforce needs, strengthen partnerships, and explore new ways to prepare students for opportunities across the semiconductor ecosystem. Hub leaders thanked the speakers, panelists, students, educators, researchers, industry leaders, government partners, and Cornell University for contributing their expertise and perspectives to the NORDTECH 2026 Workforce Development Summit. The collaboration and ideas shared throughout the event provide a strong foundation for continued partnership and progress in the months ahead to advance the in-demand workforce of tomorrow.
NORDTECH is led by the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY Creates) in partnership with the University at Albany College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE), Cornell University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and IBM, who collectively make up the hub’s leadership team and governance committee.
