Draper Laboratory has secured up to $25 million in combined state and local funding to establish its Integrated Microelectronics Production & Advanced Chip Technology (IMPACT) Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Announced by Governor Maura Healey, the investment supports Massachusetts’ broader initiative to expand secure, domestic semiconductor manufacturing and strengthen the nation’s defense industrial base.
The new 75,000-square-foot IMPACT Center will be located within the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC) and will serve as a hub for advanced research and production in microelectronics. The facility will focus on semiconductor design, packaging, and manufacturing for critical U.S. defense and aerospace systems, helping ensure the security of the supply chain for mission-critical technologies.
Draper’s expansion is expected to create more than 150 highly skilled, classified jobs, bolstering the local economy while positioning Massachusetts as a leader in secure microelectronics innovation. The IMPACT Center will also collaborate with academic and industry partners to accelerate innovation and workforce development in advanced chip technology.
The IMPACT Center builds on Draper’s collaboration with UMass Lowell and the City of Lowell, reinforcing the state’s position as a hub for advanced semiconductor innovation.
KEY QUOTES:
“Massachusetts is proud of our defense leadership — we are the birthplace of the National Guard, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, and we’ve carried that legacy of innovation and service forward for generations. We are proud to support Draper’s efforts to strengthen this leadership by establishing the IMPACT Center, which will create good jobs, grow our economy, and bolster our national security.”
Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts
“The IMPACT Center will significantly expand the nation’s secure, on-shore microelectronics production capacity and deliver new capabilities to our military. We are grateful to the Commonwealth and our partners for supporting this vision.”
Jerry Wohletz, Ph.D., President and CEO, Draper Laboratory
