Rep. Yakym Celebrates Notre Dame Expansion for Innovation

<p><strong>SOUTH BEND, IN</strong> &#8211;&nbsp; Today, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and toured Notre Dame’s new Microelectronics Commons and Wideband Lab.</p>

<p>“It’s great to be back at Notre Dame,” <strong>Rep. Yakym said. </strong>“This new facility puts Notre Dame at the forefront of microelectronics, from 6G to advanced radar and satellite tech. With top talent and cutting-edge tools, it’s a place where ideas turn into breakthroughs, companies grow, and students get hands-on experience. It’s a big win for Notre Dame, the Midwest, and for the future.”</p>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1591" height="768" src="https://d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/yakym.house.gov/uploads/2025/08/IMG_1247-1024x768.jpg" width="1024" /></figure>

<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Rep. Yakym participates in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours Notre Dame’s new Microelectronics Commons and Wideband Lab.</em> </p>

<p><strong><u>Background:</u></strong></p>

<p>The University of Notre Dame is a lead institution in the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub, a federally funded initiative to accelerate U.S. microelectronics innovation. Partnering with Purdue, Michigan, and Illinois, Notre Dame contributes cutting-edge research and facilities, including its nanofabrication, imaging, and newly launched Wideband Test Facility.</p>

<p>The Wideband Test Facility fills a national gap in testing high-frequency electronics and antennas. It supports on-wafer transistor testing and antenna characterization up to 220 GHz, enabling advancements in 5G/6G, satellite comms, radar, and defense tech.</p>

<p>Open to industry and academic users, the facility supports rapid prototyping, characterization, and collaborative R&amp;D. It strengthens the regional tech ecosystem and advances national security goals under the CHIPS and Science Act.</p>

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