News ReleasePenn State and onsemi Sign MOU to Boost Silicon Carbide Researchin the United States
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – May 16, 2023 – onsemi (Nasdaq: ON), a leader inintelligent power and sensing technologies, and Penn State are pleased to announce the signing of amemorandum of understanding (MOU) towards an $8 million strategic collaboration which includes theestablishment of the onsemi Silicon Carbide Crystal Center (SiC3) at Penn State’s Materials ResearchInstitute (MRI). onsemi will fund SiC3 with $800k per year over the next 10 years.
Silicon carbide (SiC) is vital for enabling efficiency in electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging and energy
infrastructure and contributes to the decarbonization of the global economy. Academic research in SiC
made great advancements in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but has since diminished in the U.S. Thisagreement will put SiC crystal research in America back on the map.
In addition to conducting SiC research at SiC3, Penn State and onsemi will raise awareness about theincreasing demand for tech jobs in the semiconductor industry. This is part of their efforts to enhance theshare of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. They also will partner on workforce development initiatives
such as internship and cooperative programs and include SiC and wide bandgap crystal studies in Penn
State’s curriculum. The relationship with Penn State is part of onsemi’s commitment to promoting STEAM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, ranging from helping K-12
students in underserved communities to university collaborations that support the development of theworkforce for today and the future.
Lora Weiss, Penn State senior vice president of research, noted that the Penn State-onsemi collaboration
is a match that makes perfect sense given each entity’s demonstrated strengths.
“onsemi is a proven innovator, delivering a comprehensive portfolio of intelligent power and sensing
technologies to enable and accelerate sustainable solutions across multiple markets,” Weiss said. “At thesame time, as per the National Science Foundation’s research expenditure rankings, Penn State isranked first in materials science and second in materials engineering. We have world-class nanofab andcharacterization facilities that support research on thin films, silicon carbide and other materials used insemiconductors and other technologies. These complementary capabilities between onsemi and Penn
State will have a strong impact on research and development, economic growth, and workforce
development.”
Penn State’s capabilities make them an ideal academic partner for onsemi to advance the state of the art
in silicon crystal growth.
“Penn State is uniquely positioned to rapidly establish a silicon carbide crystal growth research program,”said Pavel Freundlich, chief technology officer, Power Solutions Group, onsemi. “The university offers aPenn State and onsemi sign MOU to boost silicon carbide research in the United Stateswide breadth of capability based on its current materials research, wafer processing capabilities in its
nanofab facility, and a comprehensive, world-class suite of metrology instrumentation.”
The relationship developed over a period of due diligence during which it became clear that theircooperative efforts would position Penn State and onsemi as leaders in SiC research.
“Over the next decade, this collaboration will enable Penn State to become the nation’s leading resource
for semiconductor crystal science and workforce development,” said Justin Schwartz, Penn State
executive vice president and provost. “And this would not be possible without the relationship-building
efforts of Priya Baboo, senior director of corporate and industry engagement, and the technical expertiseof Joshua Robinson, professor of materials science and engineering, and their counterparts at onsemi.”
Scott Allen, vice president, University Relations, onsemi, added that “Penn State’s expansion of its
curriculum to offer specialty courses in SiC and wideband gap technology will play a key role in meeting
onsemi’s strategic workforce development goals and help to meet American semiconductor workforce
goals as outlined in the recently signed CHIPS and Science Act.”###About Penn StatePenn State is a multi-campus, land-grant, public research University that educates students from aroundthe world, and supports individuals and communities through integrated programs of teaching, research,and service. We are an R1 university, a classification given by the Carnegie Foundation for theAdvancement of Higher Education to the very best research universities in America, reaching a record$1.034 billion in research expenditures during fiscal year 2021-22. Our discovery-oriented, collaborative,and interdisciplinary research and scholarship promote human and economic development, global
understanding, and advancement in professional practice through the expansion of knowledge and its
applications in the natural and applied sciences, social and behavioral sciences, engineering, technology,arts and humanities, and myriad professions. Our instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate,
professional, continuing, and extension education, offered through both resident instruction and distancelearning. Our educational programs are enriched by the talent, knowledge, diversity, creativity, andteaching and research acumen of our faculty, students, and staff. As Pennsylvania’s land-grantuniversity, we provide unparalleled access to education and public service to support the citizens of theCommonwealth and beyond. We engage in collaborative activities with private sector, educational, andgovernmental partners worldwide to generate, integrate, apply, and disseminate knowledge that isvaluable to society.
About onsemi
onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) is driving disruptive innovations to help build a better future. With a focus on
automotive and industrial end-markets, the company is accelerating change in megatrends such as ehicle
electrification and safety, sustainable energy grids, industrial automation, and 5G and cloud infrastructure.
onsemi offers a highly differentiated and innovative product portfolio, delivering intelligent power andsensing technologies that solve the world’s most complex challenges and leads the way to creating asafer, cleaner, and smarter world. onsemi is recognized as a Fortune 500® company and included in theS&P 500® index. Learn more about onsemi at www.onsemi.com.Penn State and onsemi sign MOU to boost silicon carbide research in the United States

onsemi and the onsemi logo are trademarks of Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC. All otherbrand and product names appearing in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of theirrespective holders.

Contacts
Stefanie Cuene
Head of Public Relations
onsemi(602) 315-3778
Stefanie.Cuene@onsemi.com
Parag Agarwal
Vice President - Investor Relations & Corporate Development
onsemi(602) 244-3437
investor@onsemi.com