Crane will be centerpoint for high tech development

Sep. 25—CRANE — More than $200 million from the CHIPS and Science Act is headed to Indiana with much of the emphasis of the money centered on Crane and southern Indiana.

"Today's announcement is the first major CHIPS and Science Act funding decision for our country, and the selection of the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub shows that Hoosiers are leading the way," said U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana, who authored the Chips Act. "As we collectively work to grow the nation's microelectronics base, Indiana will play a key role in the development of these critical national security technologies and capabilities. More broadly, this announcement shows how the CHIPS and Science Act will connect more of America, including the industrial Midwest, to the innovation economy. This is an exciting day for all who partnered on this effort across Indiana."

The Microelectronics Commons Hub consists of state and local governments, academia and small business from Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. Naval Systems Warfare Center, Crane Division will administer the program.

""Naval Support Activity Crane appreciates the State of Indiana's continued efforts in securing federal funding for future growth in the region," said Cmdr. L.G. Martinez, Installation Commanding Officer, NSA Crane. "We look forward to seeing our partner communities outside the installation benefit from the increased job opportunities which will stem from the construction and operation of the new manufacturing facility."

The exact details and impact of the Silicone Crossroads project on the area is still being worked out, but officials say it will have a lasting effect on the area.

"This will focus on how to connect designers, researchers to prototype capabilities and that eases the pathway to commercialization and use," said Matt Craig, Director of Crane Community Support, Radius Indiana. "The other thing the plan will attack is overall workforce development. It will impact an education perspective, job training perspective and bringing more talent into these hub areas."

Currently, no one can say if the Silicon Crossroads will result in more lab-to-fabrication facilities like the one currently set for construction at WestGate, but with the funding Crane will have a greater access to developing technologies for use by the Defense Department.

"What this will lead to at Crane is new products that are U.S. developed and produced and that translates into more products the DOD would consider trustworthy. That will mean a bigger microelectronics manufacturing capability inside the United States," said Craig. "It should also provide more variety of products they can use, because there will be more design ideas making it to commercialization."

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb was excited to see the Indiana project as the first to receive the funding.

"Congratulations to Silicon Crossroads led by the Indiana-based Applied Research Institute (ARI) for submitting a winning proposal to the Department of Defense's Microelectronics Commons, the very first federal funding to be awarded under the CHIPS+Science legislation, championed by Sen. Todd Young," said Holcomb. "The Naval Surface Warfare Center located at Crane, Indiana, plays a significant role in the DoD's microelectronics strategy to build American dominance in microelectronics production and development, and will manage the $238 million program."

Officials believe the funding announcement is a validation for micro processing possibilities in Indiana and in particular the area around Crane.

"There are several potential projects out there, but we cannot talk about them yet. Depending upon this and other Chips and Science Acts awards, we could see more," said Craig. "I think it is a great thing for the state. Indiana is being recognized for microelectronics. It is great for us down here around Crane, as the state recognizes the importance of Crane in respect to the microelectronics strategy for the department of defense and the nation."