FLAGSTAFF, AZ (October 19, 2026) — Northern Arizona University (NAU), officially opened its new Microelectronics Processing and Characterization Testing (MPaCT) Lab with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 17, marking a major step in the university’s efforts to support Arizona’s rapidly growing semiconductor industry. 

NAU President Dr. José Luis Cruz Rivera celebrated the opening of the lab alongside Dr. Charles Chadwell, Dean of NAU’s Steve Sanghi College of Engineering; Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA); Steve Sanghi, CEO and President of Microchip Technology; and Rich Bowen, Senior Vice President, Northern Arizona Technology Park, in addition to NAU, industry, and community leaders. 

The $8 million MPaCT Lab is supported by a total $13 million investment from the ACA to advance semiconductor training, research and equipment. The MPaCT Lab is a shared-use research and training facility designed to give students, researchers, industry partners and government agencies access to advanced tools used in the microelectronics, semiconductor, materials and biotechnology sectors. The facility includes more than 35 instruments supporting materials characterization, metrology and electrical fabrication testing. 

Arizona has emerged as a national hub for semiconductor manufacturing, with major investments from companies including TSMC and Intel. TSMC has announced $265 billion in planned investment in Arizona, including semiconductor fabrication facilities, advanced packaging facilities and a research and development center. The state’s semiconductor industry supports more than 40,000 jobs, creating growing demand for engineers, technicians and other highly skilled workers. 

The MPaCT Lab is designed to help meet that demand through experiential learning opportunities on cutting-edge equipment, while also strengthening Arizona’s research and innovation ecosystem. 

“Arizona’s semiconductor future depends on both technological innovation and the people prepared to advance it,” said Charles Chadwell, Dean of NAU’s Steve Sanghi College of Engineering. “The MPaCT Lab brings those priorities together, giving students hands-on experience with advanced tools while connecting faculty and industry partners to tackle real engineering challenges. This investment expands what we can discover, who we can prepare and how northern Arizona can contribute to the state’s growing technology economy.” 

“As Arizona continues to attract record investment and build one of the world’s most dynamic semiconductor ecosystems, NAU is playing a vital role in advancing the state’s leadership through cutting-edge research and workforce development,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “The MPaCT Lab will expand opportunities for students, accelerate industry-driven research, and support innovation across our semiconductor ecosystem. We are proud to support the MPaCT Lab and grateful to President Cruz Rivera, Dean Chadwell, Steve Sanghi, and our many partners for their leadership and collaboration to reach this milestone.” 

“Advancing semiconductor technology takes more than great ideas. It takes collaboration among industry, universities and researchers, along with the facilities and expertise to turn those ideas into solutions. NAU’s MPaCT Lab creates new opportunities for that collaboration in Arizona, helping expand access to advanced characterization and testing capabilities while supporting the talent and innovation our industry depends on,” said Steve Sanghi, Chair of the Board, CEO and President of Microchip Technology. 

 

Through the NAU Nano Initiative, the university is connecting hands-on laboratory experience, academic programs, research and industry partnerships to prepare students for careers in semiconductor manufacturing and related fields. NAU works with industry partners including Intel, TSMC, Microchip and The SEMI Foundation. 

The MPaCT Lab also serves as a resource for companies and researchers beyond NAU. Its shared-use model allows external partners to access advanced equipment and expertise that can support research, testing, prototyping and workforce development.  

The lab gives NAU’s R1 researchers and regional companies on-site access to atomic-scale imaging, materials characterization, sample preparation, and electrical testing — with the fast turnaround that is hard to get when samples leave northern Arizona. The same tools support work in semiconductors and a wider set of materials, engineering, and biomedical problems, from metals and ceramics to soft materials and biological materials. 

To learn more about the MPaCT Lab, visit the NAU Nano Initiative website. 

View MPaCT Lab ribbon cutting b-roll HERE.   

 

 Media Contacts 

Jessica Gee, Steve Sanghi College of Engineering, Northern Arizona University, jessica.gee@nau.edu

Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, alyssat@azcommerce.com

 

About Northern Arizona University 

Founded in 1899, Northern Arizona University is a community-engaged, R1 university that delivers an exceptional student-centered experience to its more than 25,000 students in Flagstaff, at 22 statewide campuses and online. Building on a 125-year history of distinctive excellence, NAU aims to be the nation’s preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond. NAU is committed to meeting talent with access and excellence through its impactful academic programs and enriching experiences, paving the way to a better future for the diverse students it serves and the communities they represent. 

About the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on X @azcommerce.