Cuomo says state nanotechnology funding will stay in Mohawk Valley

In the aftermath of news that the Austrian firm, ams AG, that had planned to invest in a wafer-fabrication facility at the Marcy Nanocenter has withdrawn from the project, questions have swirled about the Nanocenter’s future.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is reaffirming the state’s financial commitment to the region’s nanotechnology efforts. His office on Wednesday emailed BJNN the following statement from the governor: 

“While ams AG’s decision is disappointing, New York remains steadfast in its commitment to creating good-paying jobs, driving innovation and cementing this region’s position as a global hub of nanotechnology research and development. The state has committed more than $500 million to meet these goals, and to that end, the funds appropriated in this year’s budget for the project will remain in the Mohawk Valley,” Cuomo said. “We are in the process of attracting a new anchor tenant to the site, and will continue to invest in new projects that keep this region moving forward.”

Austrian–based ams AG had planned to bring 1,000 new jobs and invest more than $2 billion in a wafer-fabrication facility that’s planned for the Nano Utica site.

New York State says it “remains optimistic” about chip-packaging operations starting at Quad-C next year in collaboration with General Electric (GE) Global Research and its partners, as part of the New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium (NY-PEMC). Quad-C is short for computer-chip commercialization center.

GE Global Research is expected to be the anchor tenant of Quad-C at SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) in Marcy.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com