The Government of Nova Scotia announced a $1.4-million investment Tuesday (Jan. 21) to establish a microelectronics research hub at 麻豆传媒. The hub is designed to develop industry partnerships and a provincial sector focused on supplying the semi- and superconductors essential to powering modern technology.
The Honorable Colton LeBlanc, minister of Growth and Development, shared details of his government鈥檚 Community Economic Development Fund investment during an event at Sexton Campus, where the new is based.
Semi- and superconductors are the brain cells of modern technology, silently orchestrating the intricate symphony of our digital world 鈥� from the smartphones that extend our minds to the MRI machines that allow us to peer inside them. With soaring demand for these microelectronics to support innovations in artificial intelligence and other technologies, and geopolitical events creating a push toward domestic production, Nova Scotia is primed to grow its stake in this booming sector.
Bridging research and industry
Designed to help capitalize on the opportunity, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 MINDI Hub creates a bridge between research and industry. By bringing together expertise and advanced equipment at the university and prioritizing industry partnerships, the new hub will ensure academic discoveries move beyond concepts to create real-world impact.
Chip boards in the MINDI Hub are used to test new semiconductors configurations.
鈥淲ith the Government of Nova Scotia鈥檚 investment in the MINDI Hub, the province is carving out a strong foothold in Canada鈥檚 microelectronics landscape,鈥� says Dr. Jennifer Bain, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 interim vice president, research and innovation. 鈥淏y fusing our strengths in electrical engineering with 麻豆传媒鈥檚 broader expertise鈥攁nd making industry engagement a core element鈥攖his initiative is poised to ignite a tech sector rooted in Nova Scotia鈥檚 unique capabilities.鈥�
Initially, MINDI Hub researchers will focus on semi- and superconductor development to advance ocean, health, and communication applications, including Internet of Things technologies. In collaboration with partners, like Canadian not-for-profit and Arizona-based which have already signed on to projects, 麻豆传媒 researchers will pursue opportunities to generate and patent new applications and accelerate commercial development.
Lead researcher Dr. Jean-Fran莽ois Bousquet.
鈥淭hrough MINDI, we will be able to provide access to cutting-edge semiconductor design, testing, and IP development facilities,鈥� says Dr. Jean-Fran莽ois Bousquet, the professor of electrical and computer engineering who leads the project. 鈥淭his initiative will create conditions to attract and build deep tech businesses rooted in Nova Scotia, while training a highly skilled workforce to sustain and grow the sector into the future.鈥�
Positioned for opportunity
In the near term, the MINDI Hub positions Nova Scotia to capitalize on a research and development program managed by partner CMC Microsystems. with $120 million in federal funding, CMC鈥檚 FABrIC () program supports researchers and startups developing made-in-Canada semiconductor-based products and manufacturing processes.
In tandem with the MINDI Hub, CMC is establishing an office in Halifax to provide academics and companies with direct access to funding and services, including affordable software and fabrication. Through FABrIC, startups can receive up to 50 per cent of their project costs, while academic researchers are eligible for full funding to develop commercially viable applications.
Shown right: Gordon Harling, president and CEO of CMC Microsystems.
鈥淲e have had a limited number of expressions of interest from the Maritimes,鈥� says Gordon Harling, president and CEO of CMC about the region鈥檚 uptake of FABrIC. 鈥淚 really want to get that number way up. This hub will be another great stimulus. If we can provide complementary services to what's available, I think it could generate a lot of new startups in the region.鈥�
Projects underway
The MINDI Hub is already engaged in a range of projects led by its three principal investigators, Dr. Bousquet and his electrical engineering colleagues Drs. Kamal El-Sankary and Zhizhang (David) Chen.
Dr. Bousquet is harnessing the power of semi- and superconductors to transform underwater drone technology. In collaboration with students, colleagues, and industry partner , he is leading a project that will enable unpiloted vessels to navigate autonomously by sensing Earth's magnetic fields and transmit signals to scientists across vast distances from below the waterline.
Ocean drones like this will gain significant new capabilities. (Ocean Tracing Network photo)
With enhanced autonomy and communication capabilities, these drones promise to illuminate the mysteries of our largely uncharted oceans, venturing into currently unreachable, ice-covered waters at the poles and delivering crucial insights into the accelerating impacts of climate change.
Dr. El-Sankary, director of the Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits Laboratory at 麻豆传媒, is collaborating with students and researchers to develop advanced system-on-chip solutions for bio-sensing, including an ultra-sensitive sense of smell. These compact devices integrate sensors and processing units into a single chip, enabling precise detection and classification of airborne molecules. Known as electronic noses, this research aims to create low-cost, ultra-compact devices that mimic the human olfactory system for applications in smartphone apps, robotics, diagnostics, and point-of-care testing.
鈥淭his investment from the Government of Nova Scotia represents a huge opportunity for technological discovery and economic development,鈥� says Dr. Bousquet. "By fusing advanced science with industry partnerships, the MINDI Hub will position Nova Scotia as an important new centre for microelectronics innovation in Canada鈥攚here groundbreaking ideas become tangible technologies that improve lives, fuel economic growth, and help shape the world to come."