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The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) announced the recipients of the 2026 University Research Awards:
Keren Bergman, the Columbia University Charles Batchelor Professor of Electrical Engineering; Scientific Director, Center for Integrated Science and Engineering; and
Tomás Palacios, the MIT Clarence J. LeBel Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, and Director of the MIT/Army Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) and the MIT Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL).
SIA and SRC present the University Research Awards annually to professors who demonstrate excellence in advancing research in semiconductor technology and design. Professors Bergman and Palacios will receive the awards at the SIA Awards Dinner on Nov. 19, 2026, in San Jose, CA.
“Semiconductor research and innovation are critical to sustaining America’s economic strength, national security, and global competitiveness,” said Michael Robbins, president and CEO of SIA, which represents the U.S. semiconductor industry. “America’s leadership in chips is built in university labs long before it reaches the factory floor. Professors Bergman and Palacios show what’s possible when world-class universities and industry work together, and why sustained federal investment in semiconductor research must remain a national priority. We’re proud to recognize Dr. Bergman and Dr. Palacios for their exceptional contributions.”
The U.S. semiconductor industry remains one of the most R&D-intensive sectors in America, spending more than $76 billion on research and development in 2025. With global competitors increasing their investments in research, continued federal support for semiconductor innovation is critical to building on the industry’s substantial R&D investments and ensuring the United States remains competitive.
“In partnership with the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and leading industry experts, we proudly announce the recipients of the 2026 SIA/SRC University Research Awards for Semiconductor Design and Technology,” said Dr. Todd Younkin, president and CEO of SRC. “The hallmark of transformative semiconductor research is its ability to connect fundamental discoveries with system-scale impact. Professors Bergman and Palacios embody this vision. Their innovations span from ‘atoms to kilometers,’ advancing the technologies that will power next-generation AI, data centers, and edge intelligence for years to come.”
Dr. Bergman will receive the 2026 SIA/SRC University Research Award for Design. She is recognized for her exceptional work in optical interconnect networks and photonic-enabled architectures that have advanced communication and computing systems. At Columbia, Dr. Bergman is the Faculty Director of the Columbia Nano Initiative and leader of the Lightwave Research Laboratory. Since 2023, Dr. Bergman has served as Director of the Center for Ubiquitous Connectivity (CUbiC), one of seven innovation Centers under SRC’s JUMP 2.0 initiative — a collaboration among DARPA, the commercial semiconductor industry, and the defense industrial base. Professor Bergman is the recipient of the 2016 IEEE Photonics Engineering Award, the 2016 Women Stars in Computer Networking and Communications, and the 2025 C.E.K. Mees Medal. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a fellow of both Optica (Optical Society of America) and IEEE.
Dr. Palacios is recognized with the 2026 SIA/SRC University Research Award for Technology. He is acknowledged for extraordinary research on wide-bandgap electronic devices and two-dimensional materials, bridging materials science, physics, and engineering to advance the next generation of micro- and nano systems. He directs MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL) and the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN). Since 2023, Dr. Palacios has been Assistant Director of the Center for Superior Energy-efficient Materials and Devices (SUPREME), a JUMP 2.0 innovation Center. Professor Palacios, a fellow of IEEE, has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, and the DARPA Young Faculty Award.
