U.S. Rep. Yakym celebrates Notre Dame expansion for innovation

On Wednesday, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and toured Notre Dame’s new Microelectronics Commons and Wideband Lab.

“It’s great to be back at Notre Dame,” Rep. Yakym said. “This new facility puts Notre Dame at the forefront of microelectronics, from 6G to advanced radar and satellite tech. With top talent and cutting-edge tools, it’s a place where ideas turn into breakthroughs, companies grow, and students get hands-on experience. It’s a big win for Notre Dame, the Midwest, and for the future.”

Background:

The University of Notre Dame is a lead institution in the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub, a federally funded initiative to accelerate U.S. microelectronics innovation. Partnering with Purdue, Michigan, and Illinois, Notre Dame contributes cutting-edge research and facilities, including its nanofabrication, imaging, and newly launched Wideband Test Facility.

The Wideband Test Facility fills a national gap in testing high-frequency electronics and antennas. It supports on-wafer transistor testing and antenna characterization up to 220 GHz, enabling advancements in 5G/6G, satellite comms, radar, and defense tech.

Open to industry and academic users, the facility supports rapid prototyping, characterization, and collaborative R&D. It strengthens the regional tech ecosystem and advances national security goals under the CHIPS and Science Act