OREGON DELEGATION ANNOUNCES $45 MILLION AWARD TO OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY-LED REGIONAL TECH HUB FOR MICROFLUIDICS
For Immediate Release: January 14, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), along with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley,Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05) announced $45 million in funding to Oregon State University for the Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub (CorMic). These funds will be used to develop microfluidics technologies and help businesses commercialize their discoveries.
"Creating rural jobs in the semiconductor industry has been part of the promise of public and private sector partners working on CorMic,” Rep. Hoyle said. “This funding supports the world-class, cutting-edge research at Oregon State University and its partners, like the University of Oregon. This award builds on Oregon’s microchip innovation and development and gives our upcoming generation an opportunity to find good tech jobs right here at home. I’d like to thank the entire Oregon delegation and Secretary Raimondo for helping make this a reality.”
“This federal investment in the world-class research led by OSU will generate huge benefits for jobs statewide and for the innovation that keeps powering the Silicon Forest and Oregon’s semiconductor industry to be the heartbeat of domestic chips production,” Sen. Wyden said. “Today’s wonderful news for Corvallis and the entire region didn’t happen by osmosis – it’s the product of great teamwork that reflects the very best of the Oregon Way pulling together on solutions that make our state an even better place to live and work.”
“Another huge win for Oregon’s storied semiconductor industry is in the books!” Sen. Merkley said.?“This major funding boost further cements our state’s leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, all while creating good-paying local jobs in?the?process. The Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub will leverage Oregon State University and their partners to be at the forefront of tomorrow’s technologies for everything from semiconductor chip cooling to lifesaving medical breakthroughs.”
“We crafted the CHIPS and Science Act to bolster our domestic semiconductor industry, spur research and innovation, and create good-paying jobs,” said Rep. Bonamici. “These investments in the expansion of HP’s facility in Corvallis and the Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub led by Oregon State University show how this legislation is delivering for Oregonians. Our state is a leader in semiconductor innovation, and I look forward to seeing how these initiatives and investments shape future growth in the sector.”
"The CorMic Tech Hub is an outstanding example of regional cooperation that will further solidify the Pacific Northwest's role as a leader in the innovation economy of the future. This partnership between academia, community, and industry partners will build Oregon’s capacity to commercialize and manufacture new technologies – creating a diverse and accessible workforce pipeline that benefits workers and industry alike,” said Congresswoman Andrea Salinas. “I was proud to be a vocal advocate for this funding along with my Oregon colleagues, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to CorMicand every Oregonian who helped make this a reality. I can’t wait to see these funds unlock new economic frontiers for our state and our nation."
"With today's investment, Oregon will lead the nation in the technological advances required for a 21st economy," said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter. "Semi-conductors will power the future. And our region will power their production."
"When I served in the Oregon State Legislature, I consistently fought to direct investments towards Oregon's chip manufacturing industry to create jobs, bolster our economy, and strengthen our national security," said Rep. Bynum. "Today's funding announcement will help establish our state as a global leader in chip manufacturing and, in turn, provide more good opportunities to our kids."
“CorMic showcases the deep expertise in microfluidics in our region, a technology of great importance in semiconductors, biotech, and chemical manufacturing, and also the strength of partnerships in the Willamette Valley,” said Tom Weller, the Michael and Judith Gaulke Chair in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Oregon State who is leading the CorMic effort.“Government, higher education, the private sector, venture development, and community-based organizations all work as one unit in CorMic. The most exciting outcome of this award may be what it means for our innovators in the region, who will gain new access to state-of-the-art facilities and experienced know-how to grow and scale new technologies and companies.”
Microfluidics is an emerging industry dedicated to semiconductor cooling to help reduce the temperature, improve the performance of integrated circuits, and make them safer. It also has significant biotechnology applications to drastically change how we diagnose, treat, and develop cures for illnesses.
The Department of Commerce’s choice to award these funds to CorMic recognizes its unique position at the center of research, public, and private investments. HP, Intel, NVIDIA, and Thermo Fisher Scientific have all joined CorMic. These industry partners, along with Oregon's leading research universities - Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, and the Oregon Health and Science University - and community colleges across the state, will collaborate to build a robust technology ecosystem in our region, from workforce training to research and development and commercialization. Oregon's Silicon Forest has long been a national leader in semiconductor design and manufacturing, and this award will support our state's leadership on the next generation of these technologies.
CorMic has also partnered with the City of Corvallis to ensure housing supply keeps pace with job creation, including allowing middle-income housing in low-density zones.
The Department of Commerce estimates that CorMiccould create up to 12,000 jobs by 2033.
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