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Auburn, AL
Auburn University as part of its seminal research on semiconductor packaging has recently established a new state of the art Auburn University Electronics Packaging Research Institute (EPRI). This establishment marks a significant shift from the semiconductor packaging research conducted through Auburn’s Center of Advanced Vehicle and Extreme Environment Electronics, or CAVE3, since 1999 focusing primarily on automotive electronics.
Pradeep Lall, John and Anne MacFarlane Endowed Distinguished Professor and Alumni Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will be leading the EPRI as director.
“Our need for domestic capability in manufacturing, research and development for semiconductor packaging has really entered the national conversation recently with the recent establishment of the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) under the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors — or CHIPS — Act,” Lall said.
In June 2021, the White House identified semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging on top of the list of four key product areas of vulnerability. As the U.S. global share of semiconductor production has dropped from 37 percent in 1990 to only 12 percent today.
“In this current environment, we’re realizing the criticality of electronics in general and semiconductor packaging in particular for securing the supply chain and enabling advanced system functionality both in the U.S. and Europe,” Lall said.
Led by Lall, Auburn’s work along this strategic thinking has grown exponentially over the past decade.
“Growing CAVE3 into the Auburn University Electronics Packaging Research Institute was the logical next step for our activities in this important area of research,” said Dean of Engineering Mario Eden.
In accordance with its expanded scope, EPRI will partner with several campus offices and colleges, including the Auburn University Research and Technology Park (ARTP) for technology commercialization, and with small and medium-sized companies across the state and nation for education pertaining to workforce development.
