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Virginia's Electronics Industry: Generating Productivity in a Competitive World
Virginia is a leading electronics manufacturing center. Nearly 11,000 technology firms employ more than 265,000 Virginians. Our business-friendly climate offers streamlined environmental processes. Coupled with ready-to-go sites; a well-educated, high-tech and productive workforce; and a superior educational system, Virginia provides the combination of assets necessary for success. Just ask electronics manufacturers like ABB, Kollmorgen, Pyott-Boone, Canon and ITT Night Vision—all have expanded or relocated operations in Virginia. Along with a pro-business climate, electronics manufacturers look for a location with plentiful, reliable utilities at competitive rates and a measured approach to electric deregulation. With at least 44,000 megawatts of proposed in-service added energy generation in 12 surrounding states, Virginia is such a location! In fact, neither Micron Technologies nor Qimonda, formerly Infineon Technologies, has experienced a single power outage at their Virginia semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Electronics manufacturers are supported by the Commonwealth’s community college system, which has formed an alliance of industry consortia to promote local training opportunities. These consortia include the Center for High Performance Manufacturing, the Virginia Nanotechnology Initiative (VNI), SEMATECH and SEMI/SEMATECH. These alliances, along with Virginia’s clear business advantages, provide an unrivaled, cooperative environment for your business. Microelectronics in Virginia With two major fabrication plants and more than 70 local semiconductor suppliers and vendors, Virginia’s microelectronics industry is robust. Major manufacturers and suppliers in the Commonwealth include Micron Technology, Qimonda, Applied Materials, LEICA Microsystems and ITT Microelectronics. These successful companies, and others, benefit from a community college system that supports the industry. Four community colleges in Virginia, J. Sargeant Reynolds, John Tyler, New River and Northern Virginia, offer the technical curriculumon semiconductor manufacturing recommended by SEMATECH.
Virginia Nanotechnology Highlights
Virginia has active nanotechnology research programs at colleges, universities, businesses, and federal laboratories across the Commonwealth. Intellectual property developed at Virginia’s universities has led to the formation of many small companies. Strong collaboration exists among our academic institutions, industry (small and large), and government laboratories— working together to accelerate nanotechnology in Virginia. Areas of strength include nanobiotechnology, functional nanomaterials, carbonaceous nanomaterials, and emerging technologies such as fuel cells and functional coatings. Nanotechnology is being applied to biotechnology and medicine with investigations into sensing, probing and imaging, diagnostics, drug delivery and treatment, and tissue regeneration. NanoMatrix, Richmond, has a proprietary process for producing biosorbable three-dimensional structures using natural material scaffolds for tissue regeneration. Applications include vascular prosthesis, muscle grafts, and tissue scaffolds for bone repair and cartilage implants. Collaborative research has also resulted in advanced lab-on-a-chip functionality for diagnostics and novel imaging methods utilized for studying and treating cancer cells. Active research programs investigating the properties, applications, and production methodologies of carbonaceous nanomaterials are underway at Virginia Tech, William & Mary, James Madison, and the University of Virginia. Applications that exploit the unique mechanical, electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of these materials abound. These applications include mechanical reinforcement, multifunctional coatings, electrical components, and hydrogen storage, as well as medical imaging and drug delivery. Production methods using the Free Electron Laser at Jefferson Laboratory are being explored. Luna nanoWorks, Danville, is producing carbonaceous nanomaterials including TrimetaspheresTM with the primary application as MRI contrast agents. Multifunctional self-assembled monolayers and fuel cells are examples of emerging technologies enabled by nanotechnology. NanoSonic, Blacksburg, employs electrostatic self-assembly to produce materials from ultrathin films to freestanding thick films or multifunctional bulk materials such as Metal RubberTM, a self-assembled, freestanding, highly electrically conductive elastomeric nanocomposite. Applications for these materials include coatings for fiberoptics, flexible interconnects, electromagnetic shielding, and sensors. Local-Level Education Henrico County Public Schools’ High Tech Academy allows high school
juniors and seniors to earn up to 30 credits from Virginia Commonwealth University’s
Engineering School while learning about high-tech manufacturing. Housed at Highland
Springs High School, the program includes orientation and tours of VCU’s
Engineering School and Qimonda Technologies, plus a two-week internship at Qimonda
after junior year. Students also participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition
with Qimonda as their sponsor. Most graduates of the program’s first two
classes are now studying engineering at the college level. Henrico County further
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