Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley are teaming up to lead the California-Pacific-Northwest AI Hardware Microelectronics Commons Hub, also known as the Northwest AI Hub. This hub is one of eight regional innovation hubs that have been awarded $238 million by the US Department of Defense as part of the CHIPS and Science Act.
The Northwest AI Hub will receive $15.3 million in funding this year and includes more than 40 members from academia, government laboratories, and industry. The leadership of the hub consists of professors from Stanford and UC Berkeley who specialize in electrical engineering and computer science.
According to H.-S. Philip Wong, professor of electrical engineering at Stanford University, Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are known for their advancements in AI hardware research and development. The hub partners cover all aspects of the semiconductor value chain, including materials, devices, exploratory data analysis, chip design, packaging, and system prototyping and testing.
UC Berkeley’s Dean of the College of Engineering, Tsu-Jae King Liu, highlights the importance of the Microelectronics Commons network in accelerating the transition of semiconductor technologies from the lab to the industry. She believes that the Berkeley NanoLab will play a significant role in prototyping AI hardware systems and fostering workforce development.
Other partner institutions of the Northwest AI Hub include Oregon State University, the University of California, Davis, the University of Hawaii, the University of Washington, and Western Digital Corporation.
With this funding and collaboration, the Northwest AI Hub aims to advance AI hardware technologies and develop STEM talent in the region. The US Department of Defense sees microelectronics as a critical area for national security and economic prosperity, and these regional innovation hubs will play a vital role in driving innovation and technological advancements.
Are you excited about the developments in AI hardware? What do you think this means for the future of technology? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
IntelliPrompt curated this article: Read the full story at the original source by clicking here