JVIC opens second funding round for semiconductor industry initiative

The Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center at Missouri State University is opening a second funding round as part of an initiative to shore up the semiconductor industry.

The call for projects has a funding source of $5.4 million from the Missouri Department of Economic Development as appropriated by the Missouri General Assembly, according to a news release. JVIC in 2022 was approved by NextFlex, a member of Manufacturing USA Innovation Institutes, as the Missouri node of a program designed to increase the volume, pace and coordination of the development of flexible hybrid electronics and other semiconductor technologies, officials say.

Applications for the second funding round are available at JVIC's website.

“We’re thrilled to be able to conduct the second call for projects and look forward to partnering with the private sector to deliver grant funding that will continue to focus on advanced technology development that will grow the semiconductor industry,” said Allen Kunkel, associate vice president for economic development and director of JVIC at MSU, in the release. “The node at JVIC addresses national security concerns and supply chain issues by advancing technology innovation and manufacturing in the semiconductor industry."

In the first round of funding announced last year, Brewer Science Inc., GVD Corp., MEMC LLC, SI2 Technologies and Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co. were selected for a combined $5.2 million, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.