November 3, 2026
This past summer, four Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students had the opportunity to travel to Japan to study and conduct research at some of the country's leading semiconductor universities through the UPWARDS for the Future Network. Established by Micron Technology and Tokyo Electron (TEL), the network strengthens semiconductor education, workforce development, and research collaboration between the United States and Japan.
RPI students joined fellow students from other U.S. universities at Kyushu University, Nagoya University, and Tohoku University for immersive programs combining laboratory research, faculty-led instruction, industry engagement, and cultural exchange. They explored a wide range of semiconductor disciplines, from device engineering and materials science to plasma technologies, nanofabrication, integrated circuits, and advanced manufacturing.
Working alongside faculty and researchers, students visited state-of-the-art labs and toured semiconductor companies and facilities, gaining firsthand insight into how research advances move from the lab to real-world applications.
"What I did not expect was how much of the learning was collaborative,” said Jun Iguchi ‘28. “Our lab groups mixed American students with Japanese graduate-student tutors teaching in their second language, and when words ran short, we fell back on plotted data, units, and axis labels...I came to Nagoya expecting to learn how semiconductors are made. I left understanding how much care it takes to make one that works.”
The exchange is not one-directional. In August, RPI welcomed students from partner universities in Japan to campus for the two-week UPWARDS Summer Intensive Program in Microelectronics. Working directly with RPI faculty and researchers in labs and cleanroom facilities, they gained hands-on experience in computational materials discovery, optical metrology, semiconductor devices, and microfabrication.
The program also connected students with New York's rapidly growing semiconductor ecosystem. Participants toured GlobalFoundries and the NY CREATES Albany NanoTech Complex, meeting industry professionals and learning about career paths in the field. Outside the lab, they experienced campus life and explored the Capital Region.
"Programs like UPWARDS provide exactly the type of global, hands-on educational experiences that are essential for the future semiconductor workforce," said Robert Hull, vice president for research at RPI. "By bringing together students, faculty, and industry partners from the United States and Japan, we are helping create the collaborative environment needed to drive future innovation while preparing students for leadership in a rapidly evolving field."
Through its collaboration with Micron, TEL, and leading universities across two nations, RPI is helping shape a generation of innovators prepared to advance semiconductor technology.
UPWARDS programs are open to all RPI students, and applications for Summer 2027 will open this winter. This year, RPI used UPWARDS funding to cover program fees, airfare, lodging, and regional train travel to and from program sites, and provided participants with a stipend to offset meals and other living expenses. More information on the program can be found here.