Semiconductor State

The University of Florida is mobilizing a wide array of computer and information scientists and engineers to help Florida grow as a global leader in semiconductors and speciality electronics.

From Gainesville to Jacksonville to Orlando, UF researchers are partnering with colleagues at other universities and with industry to conduct high-impact R&D programs, expand the talent pipeline and coordinate the state’s semiconductor ecosystem. The research is backed by millions of dollars in funding from the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies, the State of Florida, and private industry.

For example, the state committed $80 million to the creation of the Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI).

The semiconductor institute will be an anchor of UF’s planned campus in downtown Jacksonville, says David Norton, UF’s’ vice president for research.

“The creation of an FSI footprint in Jacksonville will serve as a significant catalyst for future economic growth in Florida’s R&D sector, something that is vital to ensuring prosperity for Florida’s future,” Norton says. “FSI will merge UF’s innovation and academic prowess with the city’s large talent pool.”

The Jacksonville space will be anchored by a $45 million Advanced Technology Center, co-locating UF research and development with industry-leading semiconductor companies. FSI aims to catalyze more than 10,000 new high-wage jobs in Florida, create public-private partnerships and accelerate lab-to-fab tech transitions.