MSU Montana Microfabrication Facility Awarded $1.2M to Enhance Infrastructure for Integrated Photonic Prototype Development
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BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State University’s Montana Microfabrication Facility (MMF) has been awarded a $1.2 million subaward from the Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance (MPQA) to bolster the region’s capacity for advanced photonic packaging. The funding, provided through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Tech Hub, will establish a comprehensive user facility dedicated to the packaging and testing of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs).
As an MSU Core Facility, the Montana Microfabrication Facility (MMF) serves as a vital shared resource for university researchers, external academics, and commercial entities. By providing affordable access to specialized micro and nanofabrication equipment, MSU’s MMF supports a diverse range of applications, including fundamental photonics, physics, biology, microfluidics, MEMS/MOEMS, and sensor technology.
This recent funding, awarded through the Headwaters Tech Hub’s Integrated Photonics Ecosystem (IPE) project, will enable Montana State’s MMF to advance the Tech Hub’s mission of accelerating the growth of advanced manufacturing and photonics across Montana.
This project will elevate the Montana State University’s MMF into a specialized hub for integrated photonics. By providing the necessary physical space, staffing, and state-of-the-art equipment, the facility will enable the rapid prototyping and testing of next-generation scalable photonics systems.
The subaward will significantly expand capabilities with new equipment procurement and a dedicated photonics equipment engineer. Beyond infrastructure, the funding supports undergraduate roles, providing students with practical experience in equipment operation, process development, and troubleshooting. These enhancements will accelerate the rapid prototyping of advanced photonics devices, strengthening Montana’s role in the national photonics ecosystem and fostering new research collaborations.”
“This funding will play a vital role in enhancing infrastructure to support integrated photonic prototype development,” said Dr. Andrew Lingley, manager of Montana State’s MMF. “By establishing these capabilities, we are reinforcing collaboration across the Headwaters Tech Hub’s projects and ensuring that Montana is at the forefront of the national integrated photonics landscape.”
About the Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance:The Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance is a 501c(6) non-profit organization serving as the representative for Montana’s photonics, quantum, and advanced manufacturing industry. MPQA supports entrepreneurs, laboratories, and universities in commercializing and sustaining world-class organizations to drive regional economic prosperity.
About the Headwaters Tech Hub:The Headwaters Tech Hub, established in 2023, is dedicated to fostering Montana-based technology, spurring entrepreneurship, and expanding equitable access to high-quality jobs. By supporting industry development and workforce training, the Hub aims to cement the Mountain West’s status as a global leader in photonics. Led by the MPQA, the IPE project continues to build a regional ecosystem that supports advanced photonic sensors for critical global markets through targeted investments.