Samsung Austin Semiconductor Pledges $1M to UIUC's Grainger College of Engineering to Support U.S. Semiconductor Ecosystem

Samsung Austin Semiconductor has announced a $1 million annual investment in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as part of its 5-star workforce development plan. The initiative aims to enrich the semiconductor ecosystem in the United States by fostering a talent pipeline of engineering students interested in the semiconductor industry. The contribution will support the establishment of a multi-year partnership for UIUC’s semiconductor minor program, set to launch in the fall of 2024. The 'Samsung Semiconductor Technology Program' will span the academic years from 2023 through 2027, providing 50 scholars with scholarship opportunities, mentoring, academic support, and participation in an innovative curriculum designed to advance the semiconductor ecosystem. The first cohort of students, hailing from electrical and computer engineering, materials science, and physics, have been selected this spring and are expected to graduate in May 2025. To qualify, students must be in good academic standing and plan to pursue UIUC’s semiconductor minor. 'Samsung’s investment in semiconductor instruction at Illinois will enhance the already strong hands-on experiences in our program,' said Bruce Hajek, head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Illinois. 'The resources will attract more students to the semiconductor area and hone their abilities to deeply understand design and manufacturing and solve problems first.' The investment coincides with Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s development of a new $17 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in Taylor, Texas, indicating a high demand for engineers in the coming years. This move is part of Samsung’s commitment to developing a STEM-ready talent pipeline in the United States. Grainger Engineering Dean Rashid Bashir expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that the opportunity taps into a clear and present technological need for knowledgeable and innovative engineers who can influence the semiconductor space. He believes that the collaboration between Grainger Engineering graduates, faculty, and Samsung Austin Semiconductor has the potential to transform the world for the better and continue propelling the legacy of excellence forward.