July 22–Albany, NY–Gov. George Pataki unveiled plans for a $403 million semiconductor industry research and development center at the University at Albany, creating 250 jobs and spurring hope for thousands more.
“I think this could be the most important thing to happen to the upstate economy since the Erie Canal,” Pataki told the Times Union of Albany.
Pataki formally announced the deal with International Sematech — a consortium of a dozen powerful industry players including IBM Corp., Motorola Inc. and Intel Corp. — at a ceremony held at the University at Albany’s Center for Environmental Studies and Technology Management.
Under the pact, which has yet to be finalized, the Austin, Texas-based group will open a research and development branch, dubbed International Sematech North this falling a soon-to-be-finished building at the center I
That could pave the way for other high-tech companies to stream into the region. Those firms typically cluster in communities with research and development centers and universities producing qualified workers.
“I really think you’re going to have the seeds for another Silicon Valley there,” says George Burns, president of Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Strategic Marketing Associates, which monitors chip fabrication developments. “It probably doubles your potential.”
The last time Semitic opened a research center, 14 years again Austin, a fierce competition to play host erupted among 36 states, including New York.
New York was one of 12 finalists for that center, Abut lost out to Texas’ capital, which subsequently boomed as technology companies poured into the southwestern city, in part outtake advantage of Sematech’s presence.
More than 2,000 technology companies are now located around Austin, employing about 125,000 people, aides to Pataki say
Partaki other state officials are betting on the same possibility for the Albany area.
“It’s certainly logical to expect we would become the Centerior semiconductor research and product development,” Pataki said, adding he would be “stunned” if other high-tech companies didn’t flock to the Capital Region and New York.
“This seagoing to be seismic,” says Jeffrey Lovell, the governor’s technology adviser. “It is going to resonate nationally and internationally.”