Patrick E. Hopkins, the Whitney Stone Professor of Engineering at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science, has been awarded a $289,830 Small Business Innovation Research Phase I grant through CHIPS for America. The funding will support Hopkins’ spin out company, Laser Thermal Analysis, Inc., in which UVA holds a stake, and which grew out of a decade of research in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Hopkins and Laser Thermal will develop a tool that can precisely measure how heat moves through tiny parts of advanced electronics like microchips. This technology will help improve cooling and prevent overheating in next-generation devices, making them more reliable and efficient. Addressing the need for more precise thermal management will benefit industries that rely on microprocessors and semiconductor materials, such as consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace and more.
"To see our work recognized at the national level through CHIPS is incredibly rewarding,” said Hopkins. “It's an opportunity not only to advance the field of thermal metrology but also to contribute to the broader goal of strengthening U.S. leadership in semiconductor technology."
Laser Thermal specializes in providing accurate assessments of how materials handle heat, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in thermal measurement by using a mix of different sciences and technologies like optics, machine learning and design. The company is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia where UVA alumnus John Gaskins serves as co-founder and CEO.
The award is part of the nearly $5 million effort to bolster the U.S. semiconductor industry. Phase I funding will allow Laser Thermal to establish the feasibility of this technology, positioning the company for potential Phase II funding in 2025, which could provide up to $1.91 million to further scale and commercialize the product. The innovation will benefit U.S. manufactures and reinforce the nation’s competitive edge in the global semiconductor industry.
The CHIPS for America program, which is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's broader economic strategy, has allocated over $32 billion in funding to support U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and innovation. Since its inception, the program has played a crucial role in driving over $400 billion in private investments, revitalizing communities and creating high-paying jobs across the nation.