NORDTECH Workforce Development Summit
Hosted by Cornell University in Ithaca, New York
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
NORDTECH’s 2026 Workforce Development Summit will focus on advancing high-impact strategies to strengthen the domestic talent pipeline focused on microelectronics and related emerging innovation-centered technologies related to chips and semiconductors in the U.S.
NORDTECH anticipates an engaging day centered on interactive discussion formats that bring together industry, academic, and government partners. The day will feature keynote speeches, a panel discussion among leaders, student testimonials, and site tours. Participants will contribute to aligning workforce development efforts with broader strategic economic priorities—ensuring the connection of talent and skills to the opportunities around driving sustained value creation, innovation, and competitiveness across microelectronics communities and industries.
Registration will close on Thursday, September 10th.
Agenda
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2026
05:30 PM Networking Happy Hour from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Ale House, Ithaca, NY
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
09:00 AM Registration and Breakfast with Poster Sessions (available all day)
10:00 AM Welcome: Dr. Robert Geer, VP for Education & Workforce Development, NY Creates
10:05 AM Opening Remarks: Dr. Debbie Black-Conn, Microelectronics Commons Workforce Development Lead, DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory
10:15 AM Keynote Address: Building the Defense STEM Workforce Together, Louie Lopez, Director, Department of War (DOW) STEM
11:00 AM NORDTECH Workforce Development Update
11:15 AM Panel Discussion: Driving Semiconductor Workforce Engagement via Investment - Nationally, Regionally, Locally,
Moderated by Michael Colello, Director of Semiconductor Workforce Innovation & Future Talent (SWIFT) Gateway, University at Albany, CNSE
Jennier Waters, Vice President of Business Development, GO-SEMI, Empire State Development
Kevin Bronner, Principal, Park Strategies
Tim Thomas, Chief Academic Officer, Griffiss Institute
Matt Grattan, Sr., Director of Workforce Innovation, Center for Economic Growth
12:30 PM Lunch with optional Cornell NanoScale Facility (CNF) Tour
01:30 PM Chip Design Lightning Talks with poster session; optional CNF Tour and AR/VR Demo
Cornell Student-Led Chips Design, by Christopher Batten, Professor, Computer Systems Laboratory, Cornell University
Expanding Experiential Learning in Undergraduate Chip Design through the Shared Silicon Framework, by Jonathan Muckell, Professor of Practice, University at Albany, CNSE
Cornell AR/VR Demonstrations, by Tom Pennell, Process Integration Specialist and Workforce Development Program Manager, Cornell NanoScale Facility (CNF)
03:00 PM Panel Discussion: Aligning Workforce Development with Emerging Technology R&D Needs
Moderated by Cheryl Kennedy, Program Director, NORDTECH, NY Creates
David Hucul, Trapped Ion Group Lead, Airforce Research Laboratory
Nathaniel Cady, Associate Dean for Research, Distinguished Professor, University at Albany, CNSE
Ron Olson, Director of Operations, Cornell NanoScale Facility (CNF), Cornell University
04:15 PM Summer Internship Program Opportunity, Wendy Carpenter, Senior Director of Experimental Learning, Griffiss Institute
04:45 PM NORDTECH Impact: Student Experience
05:15 PM Concluding Remarks: Dr. Robert Geer, VP for Education & Workforce Development, NY Creates
This is a tentative schedule and is subject to change. Additional details will be shared as they become available.
Travel and Lodging
VENUE’S MAIN ADDRESS
The Statler Hotel at Cornell University
130 Statler Drive
Ithaca, NY 14853
ACCOMMODATIONS
Overnight accommodations are available at a variety of local hotels to include:
The Statler Hotel located at 130 Statler Drive, Ithaca, New York 14853
(607) 254-2500
Click here to book directly via the Statler Hotel; No room discounted room block available.The Canopy by Hilton located 324 East State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 277-0230
Click here to book the room block via Canopy by Hilton Guestroom Reservation Link; Discounted room rate has ended.
PARKING INFORMATION
Guests Staying at The Statler Hotel
Valet parking is available at The Statler Hotel for $30 per day.
Campus Parking Options
For attendees who are not staying at The Statler Hotel, or who prefer a lower-cost option, parking is available in designated campus lots through the ParkMobile app.
One convenient nearby option is the Crescent Lot, which offers parking for $10 per day between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Staying Longer in Ithaca?
Parking in campus ParkMobile lots is free:
Before 7:30 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
All day Saturday and Sunday
Poster Session Information
We are inviting posters in three major topical areas (but not limited to):
Emerging Technologies in Microelectronics for Department of War (DOW) Applications
(Quantum, Heterogeneous Integration, RadHard, Materials and Processing, Computational Microelectronics, Technologies for Future Artificial Intelligence)Educational Pathways and Curriculum Development for Microelectronics Workforce Development
(STEM Integration, Interdisciplinary Programs, Online Learning)Innovation in Teaching Methods for Microelectronics and Semiconductor Education
(Pre-graduate Experiential Chips Design, Virtual Labs, Simulation Tools, Gamification)
We are seeking posters from NORDTECH workforce development project performers, though all attendees are invited to contribute a poster. If you are planning to present a poster, please indicate your interest in the registration form. You will be asked to provide a title and presenting author information. Poster presenters should plan to offer a one-minute overview during lunch to support interested parties in connecting with your work.
POSTER DISPLAY INSTRUCTIONS
Posters should be printed and brought by each author to the summit. The maximum size of finished posters must not exceed 24-inch x 36-inch (61cm × 91cm) to fit within the usable area of the poster board, use landscape orientation. Easels, boards, and binder clips / pushpins will be available on site. A poster number ID will be mounted on the display area of each poster board. Please attach this ID visibly to the top of your poster.
Posters should be mounted between 8:00 a.m.— 9:00 a.m. on the symposium day and should be removed after 5:30 p.m. Authors are requested to stand next to their posters for discussion and to answer questions throughout the day as they are able.
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