As part of its strategy, UNICOS will:

1. Develop Utah semiconductor workforce at all levels, from high school graduates and Associates Degree holders to Bachelors, Masters and PhDs via close coordination between academic institutions and industrial partners across the state;
2. Develop semiconductor design and fabrication stackable certificates with the goal of providing a solid foundation for both young students interested in careers in this area as well as for existing professionals looking for new career opportunities. These certificates will facilitate the transition into semiconductor-related careers to people without prior semiconductor background.
3. Coordinate research and innovation efforts in semiconductor-related disciplines across the state.

The UNICOS Hub will generate synergy for semiconductor research and education across the State of Utah, boosting orchestrated efforts for workforce development and leadership in semiconductor research.

1. Meeting industry needs

Curriculum development based on industry needs
New employee education, continuous education and career advancement opportunities for current workforce, boot camps
Hands-on education for everyone in Utah
Flexibility and accessibility: Online/remote education, MS programs, certificate programs

2. Meeting academic need

Well-aligned curricula between academic institutions (avoid waste of effort)
Facility sharing – central training facility (increase usage and subsidize fees at Utah nanofab including a class fee exemption)

3. Provide point-of-contact for industry collaboration

Research collaboration
Increased contractor operation in Utah branches
Increased industrial revenues, and job growth for the state

4. Establish a central force for large-scale research funding from DoD, DOE, and NSF

1. Utah is one of the small number of states where all of the design, prototyping, and testing of semiconductors can be performed in one place.
2. Utah has a thriving tech sector with a strong presence of semiconductor design and manufacturing companies.
3. Utah has very strong educational institutions with faculty expertise expanding across the board in all fields related to semiconductor industry.
4. The Utah Nanofab is the largest academic nanofabrication facility in the Northwest of the USA

Education timeline:

Nov-Dec:  Form the core working group consisting of each university as well as industrial and academic advisory groups

Jan-Feb:   Develop a shared curriculum and a stackable certificate

Mar-Apr:   Finalize the training plans, legal & financial plans

May-Jun:  Recruit and advertise, hold information sessions

July-Aug:  Run the 1st hands-on training courses

Fall semester 2024:  Run the lecture courses in each institution