Morgan State University Expands Research Capabilities with Addition of Two Newly State-Funded Research Centers

(BALTIMORE – March 22, 2023) — With the release of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s FY24 budget, Morgan State University has secured an additional $6.8 million in state funding to support the launch of two new research centers that will develop and drive innovation in the design and fabrication of semiconductors and address the challenges facing public school education. Morgan’s Center for Research and Education in Microelectronics and the National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities (NCEED) will receive $3.1 million and $3.7 million respectively in annual state appropriations, beginning July 1. The University will now operate a total of nine state-funded research centers with five having been launched over the past five years. Once fully operational, both centers will have the capacity to employ up to 25 new faculty members.

“We appreciate the State of Maryland’s continued support of Morgan State University and its mission of educating and preparing our graduates to lead the world, while leveraging the cutting-edge research being conducted on our campus to address the challenges facing our community, state, and nation,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan. “The investment made into much-needed research centers will go a long way in strengthening our state and further advancing Maryland as a destination for innovation.”

Housed within the School of Engineering’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Center for Research and Education in Microelectronics will use its funding to support education and research centered on the design and fabrication of microchips. In addition, the center will focus on training and workforce development in semiconductor manufacturing, preparing students to become the industry’s next generation of professionals. The microchips, also referred to as integrated circuits (ICs), are an essential component of everyday life and can be commonly found in electronic devices, smartphones, radios, TVs, computers, video games, military equipment, and advanced medical diagnostic equipment.

The center will augment its equipment base with a new state-of-the-art “clean room” and tools designed to assist with research initiatives that focus on the design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing of semiconductors. Chip manufacturing is a complex process that require sterile environments meeting ISO 14644-1 Class 4-6 specifications. To accommodate this complex fabrication process, Morgan is renovating approximately 3,600-square-feet of laboratory space.