86th Edition

✍🏽 This Week on Landon’s Loop:

🇺🇸 New Illinois Institute for Semiconductors

📊 Chart of the Week

📆 Events Around the City

🔙 Previous Newsletter Editions

🔙 Highlights from Last Week

My conversation with Alderman Gilbert Villegas is now live, where we discussed topics ranging from data center residency to AI meetups in Chicago 👇🏽

My good friend George Khalife invited me to a private fireside chat with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at the Executive’s Club 👇🏽

🇺🇸 New Illinois Institute for Semiconductors

Illinois is once again making waves in semiconductor space. Our state just announced the SMART USA Institute (Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA).

Let’s take a look at the fine print:

What is SMART USA

• SMART USA initiative is a joint initiative between the state and University of Illinois Urbana Champaign focused on digital twin technology for semiconductor manufacturing.

• The University of Illinois will oversee the Midwest’s Digital Innovation Semiconductor Center (DISC).

• The effort is backed by $50M in state funding and supported by a 20+ member coalition, Innovate Illinois, highlighting strong collaboration across sectors.

Digital Twins in Semiconductor Design

• Digital twins enable virtual modeling of semiconductor processes, leveraging AI to optimize design and reduce costs.

• These tools will enhance production optimization, real-time adjustments, and capacity planning for semiconductor facilities.

• By improving efficiency, the institute aims to cut chip manufacturing costs by 35% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.

The Impact

• SMART USA plans to train over 100,000 workers and students in digital twin technology, enhancing regional talent pipelines.

• State commitments to high-growth sectors like quantum computing and semiconductors lay the foundation for sustained economic development.

• The project aligns with the CHIPS and Science Act, aiming to increase US manufacturing and create high-paying jobs while fostering technological leadership.

📊 Chart of the Week

Intersect Illinois released their FY24 report (covering June 2023 to June 2024), and here are the three major insights from the findings:

• 440 companies expanded or relocated to Illinois, marking a 15% increase.

• The state saw the creation of 12,900 new jobs, a 38% rise from the previous year.

• Total investments reached $12.5B, an 86% increase compared to last year.

📆 Events Around the City

There are no events this week due to the short week before the holidays.

🗞 Previous Newsletter Editions:

#85 - The Story of Livongo

#84 - How Illinois is Boosting Tourism Revenue

#83 - Chicago's Q3 VC Scene

#82 - Building Chicago’s Top AI Meetup

👋 See you next week!

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for even more Chicago startup news.