Binghamton University is part of a major, multimillion dollar project to improve the supply chain and manufacturing of electronics in the United States.

Led by researcher Bahgat Sammakia, Binghamton is a partner in helping launch Manufacturing Institute USA. It is a federally funded, $285 million endeavor aimed at helping with the development and production of silicon and electronic chips.

"So our work is really not the silicon manufacturing itself, but everything else," said Sammakia, who serves as the Vice President of Research at Binghamton University. "Bringing things together and making sure that they function correctly and making sure that they are reliable and available and have the outcome that is desired."

Sammakia says one of the major goals is to lessen the dependence on foreign nations when it comes to manufacturing electronics.

"It is really critically important for us to be in charge and in control of our own supply line so that we don't hit a point at which we're waiting for some other country to give us devices," said Sammakia.

The electronic devices in question range from large-scale data servers to everyday items like cell phones, cars, and televisions.

"Binghamton has had a long history in electronics packaging," said Sammakia. "By packaging, we mean, getting all the components of the chips, the printed circuit boards, the connectors, everything else, and assembling them together to produce a system."

The hope is that Binghamton's efforts will be just the start of launching manufacturing growth in the United States.

"We're funded for the next five years, but hopefully that's not the end," said Sammakia. "So hopefully this would be the beginning of bringing back all the entire chain for making electronic devices in the United States."

To learn more about Binghamton's role in the Manufacturing USA Institute, click here: https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5278/binghamton-university-collaborates-with-industry-academic-partners-on-new-285m-manufacturing-usa-institute