S. Putna
Semiconductor Institute at Texas A&M,
United States
Keywords: In-Space Manufacturing
Summary:
Dr. E. Steve Putna, a pioneering figure in the semiconductor industry. His career spans over 25 years, primarily at Intel Corporation, where he honed his semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain management expertise. The Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute aims to propel the growth and competitiveness of the semiconductor industry by focusing on advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology and promoting workforce development. It will serve as a multidisciplinary research organization and a collaborative hub for academic researchers, industry leaders, and government partners to tackle complex semiconductor manufacturing challenges. Under Dr. Putna's strategic vision, the Institute will focus on conducting cutting-edge research, collaborating with industry partners, securing federal and state funding, and offering education and training programs to cultivate the next generation of the semiconductor workforce. Additionally, it will establish a secure semiconductor fabrication capability to support national defense needs and address the critical requirement for U.S. leadership and security in semiconductor manufacturing. Dr. Putna is leading the NSF "CHIP In Space” Initiative, an Alliance for Pioneering Space-Based Semiconductor Manufacturing to Advance Science and Establish US Preeminence in Semiconductors. The vision is to leverage microgravity environments in space to overcome fabrication challenges and achieve breakthroughs in semiconductor quality and performance, ultimately advancing both space and terrestrial applications in electronics manufacturing. The mission is to establish a multidisciplinary alliance of experts from academia, national laboratories, NASA, and industry, focusing on semiconductor manufacturing in space. The mission includes conducting workshops, seeding projects, forming partnerships, and conducting market analyses to explore and develop sustainable semiconductor manufacturing processes.