Semiconductor chip. (Credit: Vermont Tech Hub)
New test and characterization facility will open to tech businesses and innovators in early 2026
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Gallium Nitride (V-GaN) Tech Hub has secured $3.4 million of funding from the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) for a cutting-edge microelectronics testing laboratory to bolster innovation and economic development in the Green Mountain State and the Northeast.
“We are grateful to NEMC for supporting this key pillar of the Vermont Tech Hub,” said Douglas Merrill, the University of Vermont’s Regional Innovation Officer. “This will be the first publicly accessible lab in the nation that offers comprehensive testing and technical advice for high-power and high-frequency GaN and wide bandgap devices.”
The V-GaN Test and Characterization Lab will provide NEMC and V-GaN member businesses and researchers with advanced testing services for high power and high frequency devices, such as semiconductor chips used in motor controllers, power inverters, voltage regulators, battery chargers, and amplifiers and switches for 5G/6G devices and radar applications.
The South Burlington facility, expected to open in January 2026, will be operated by the University of Vermont (UVM) and housed within the OnLogic headquarters building in Technology Park. The NEMC funding will support the infrastructure build out and operating expenses for the facility. UVM will provide management and back-office support to the lab.
"Our investment in this lab isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s about enabling scientists and engineers to turn bold ideas into game-changing technologies," said NEMC Director Mark Halfman. "This facility represents our commitment to bridging the gap between groundbreaking research and real-world impact."
Vermont’s Tech Hub consortium—led by UVM and including GlobalFoundries and the State of Vermont—has attracted over $3.9 million and 60 members and partners.
The Vermont Tech Hub, founded in part through ideation at an early NEMC meeting, seeks to create a comprehensive technology ecosystem to drive semiconductor design and manufacturing of high-power and high-frequency gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors. Pairing GlobalFoundries' semiconductor leadership with UVM’s world-class research, the Tech Hub will fuel business growth and workforce development to enhance the region's and state's economic and social vitality.
“In a re-energized commitment to the 21st century land-grant mission, UVM is building a dynamic commercialization ecosystem that translates cutting-edge research into real-world solutions and cultivates a thriving innovation economy,” said Kirk Dombrowski, UVM Vice President for Research and Economic Development. “This bold vision positions Vermont as a national example for how rural regions can lead in the next wave of technological transformation.”
The Tech Hub aims to train over 500 new employees in the semiconductor workspace and engage over 6,000 K-12 students across Vermont in STEM participation in the next five years.
About the V-GaN Tech Hub
The V-GaN Tech Hub is a federally designated EDA Tech Hub focused on providing the resources to ensure that Vermont becomes a leader in the development, production, and application of Gallium Nitride semiconductor devices. The Tech Hub was founded by the University of Vermont, GlobalFoundries, and the State of Vermont in 2023. The Tech Hub has over 60 member and partner organizations committed to this mission. It is primarily funded by the US Economic Development Agency’s Tech Hub program. Learn more at https://vgan.tech.
About the NEMC Hub
The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub is a network of 250+ organizations including commercial and defense companies, leading academic institutions, federally funded R&D centers (FFRDCs) and startups concentrated in eight Northeast states. Established in 2023, the Hub is one of eight regional Microelectronics Commons Hubs working to expand the nation’s global leadership in microelectronics and accelerate domestic semiconductor prototyping. The NEMC Hub is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and was established under the Microelectronics Commons program and executed through the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) and the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). The Hub fosters a vibrant, connected microelectronics ecosystem to provide sustainable lab-to-fab enablement, boost education, workforce development and spur new jobs. Learn more at https://nemicroelectronics.org/.
About UVM: For People and Planet
Founded in 1791, UVM is the leading public university where discovery, creativity, community, and action coalesce to secure a thriving future for people and planet. Recognized among the nation’s top R1 research institutions, Vermont’s land-grant university attracts $260 million annually for groundbreaking research and enrolls approximately 14,000 students from 50 states and 75 countries. At UVM, students, faculty, and staff work together in pursuit of a healthier, greener future.
Learn more at uvm.edu.
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