SkyWater Technology (Minnesota)

On December 6, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce and SkyWater Technology Foundry have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $16 million in proposed direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act.

• The proposed investment would support the modernization of SkyWater Technology's existing facility in Bloomington, Minnesota. This would improve the quality of production and wafer services by replacing equipment, upgrading the facility’s cleanroom and space and IT systems, and increasing the production capacity of 90nm and 130nm wafers by approximately 30%. 
• SkyWater's facility offers its customers in the aerospace and defense, automotive, biomedical and industrial markets the ability to prototype and scale to volume production differentiated technology.
• The CHIPS proposed funding would leverage SkyWater as a Department of Defense (DoD) Trusted Foundry, enabling it to improve productivity, enhance operational sustainability to support DoD missions, and grow its commercial business.
• This proposed CHIPS Investment is expected to create approximately 70 jobs and allow SkyWater to continue its community workforce development efforts; 
  • Ongoing partnerships with Hennepin Technical College, Greater Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities 
  • Working with the Minnesota CHIPS coalition
• In addition, the State of Minnesota’s Forward Fund would provide $19 million in dedicated funding to support this proposed project.