University partnerships
We are the partner of choice for universities advancing real-world semiconductor innovation. We work side–by–side with leading academic institutions to turn breakthrough research into industry-ready outcomes and prepare the next generation of talent.
A global academic ecosystem with real industry impact
University partnerships are a cornerstone of our innovation strategy, fostering collaboration with academic institutions worldwide. The program connects more than 100 universities through joint R&D, direct access to our differentiated technologies and multi-project wafer tapeouts and workforce development, translating academic innovation into manufacturable impact.
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110+
university collaborations worldwide
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140+
professors, 650 students, 108 postdocs
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1,500+
top-tier publications
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9
Best Paper awards at in 2025, including 2 at ISSCC
Our partnership approach
Our University Network partners with universities around the world to drive innovation through R&D collaboration, workforce development and talent acquisition opportunities. This allows us to gain early technical insights, diverse academic perspectives and new applications for our technologies. This two-way innovation model benefits universities, GF and the broader industry.
GF partners with professors and research teams on collaborative projects aligned to GF’s technology roadmap, with focus on:
- Circuit design exploration using GF technologies
- Materials, process and device innovation
- Advanced integration and system-level research
- Participation in publicly funded research initiatives
GF enables students and researchers through hands-on experience with fab-validated technologies, bridging academic design and industrial manufacturing. Pathways include:
- Value-added partners
- Open source PDKs for academic design work
- Multi-project wafer shuttles for prototyping and tapeout
GF builds a strong and diverse semiconductor workforce by working directly with universities to shape curriculum, expose students to production-grade technologies and create clear pathways into industry roles.
- Curriculum development and advisory boards
- Guest lectureships from GF technologists
- Internships and co-ops aligned to GF innovation priorities
- Early career pathways into engineering, manufacturing and R&D roles
High-impact research & knowledge sharing
We work with students and faculty to produce high-impact, peer-reviewed research that advances semiconductor design, manufacturing and system-level integration, reflected in publications in top-tier journals and conferences.
The RF design contest returns in 2027
Following the success of our first-ever student design contest at IMS 2026, GF and RFIC are bringing the program back. All academic partners are invited to submit a paper utilizing any GF technology to RFIC by January 2027.
Launched in partnership with RFIC, the contest gives students hands-on access to cutting-edge RF technologies and encourages exploration of GF platforms for emerging applications. Contact your UPP representative to learn more about eligibility and submission criteria.
