The nanoFAB has completed a large cleanroom expansion, marking a significant milestone in our 25-year history. This expansion represents a strategic investment in supporting the commercial and academic growth of semiconductor manufacturing and materials characterization at the nanoFAB. Through this expansion we are firmly establishing our role as a regional and national contributor to academic and commercial technology developments.

The nanoFAB is an open-access centre specializing in academic research and industry development in micro/nano fabrication and characterization. We provide training and access to over $100M in advanced state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure to support hundreds of academic and industrial groups across Canada.

This critical infrastructure upgrade is set to deliver substantial benefits:

Enhanced Capabilities and Capacity: The expansion directly addresses increased demand for industry hiring and growth, constrained by the lack of space for manufacturing activities. This new cleanroom space will allow for the installation of new equipment, enable hiring of new industrial employees, and create enhanced training opportunities for post-secondary students—boosting productivity, while filling capability gaps that will facilitate industry scale-up and research innovation activities in semiconductor device fabrication.

Driving Economic Diversification: The nanoFAB plays a vital role in fostering economic diversification and entrepreneurship, through providing access state-of-the-art capabilities allowing for technology development. This expansion will further support the development of high-value semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in areas such as energy, advanced electronics, sensing, and quantum systems. It aligns with our goal of strengthening innovation in Alberta and Canada by supporting a critical and growing mass of R&D activities.

Training the Next Generation of Talent: The nanoFAB is a crucial training ground for in-demand talent with hands-on experience in semiconductor manufacturing and materials characterization. This expansion will continue to support the development of highly skilled engineers, scientists, and technicians. The skills developed at the nanoFAB support a growing industry that contributes to economic diversification and the expansion of high-value manufacturing in Canada.

Strengthening Research and Innovation: The expanded cleanroom aligns with our strategic goals of attracting and retaining talent, developing open-access, sustainable infrastructure, and being able to support the growth of research, teaching, and commercialization activities within the University of Alberta. It also supports our broader goals of building a resilient local technology ecosystem that supports the scale-up of innovative hardware manufacturing capabilities.

Our cleanroom expansion, coupled with our ongoing support from industry partners and provincial and federal governments, underscores our strong commitment to being a catalyst for translating laboratory discoveries into high-value commercial outcomes, driving innovation and economic prosperity for Alberta and Canada.

For enquiries regarding this expansion, please contact nanofab@ualberta.ca.