The Lab for Education & Application Prototype (LEAP) grant program is a broad coalition of AIM Photonics, government, academia, and industry that evolved as a solution to a national shortage of photonics and electronics technicians and engineers. The other challenge that LEAP solves is that small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) do not have the tools to develop disruptive photonics products.
The LEAPs are funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' M2I2 program to support AIM Photonics, enabling (1) the fabrication of prototypes and initial proof of manufacturing and (2) the creation of new high-tech integrated photonics manufacturing jobs.
Massachusetts has invested heavily in four LEAPs across the state, including infrastructure and workforce development/training programs in the photonics space, funding a network of four facilities.
LEAP Network
LEAP at MIT (Eastern Massachusetts)
The LEAP at MIT.nano is part of the AIM Photonics Academy which houses its administrative offices at MIT. “The LEAP is becoming a hub on campus for the packaging and testing of both electronic and photonic chips,” said Anuradha Agarwal, the leader of the LEAP and a principal research scientist at the MIT Materials Research Laboratory. The LEAP facility opened with the support of $1 million from the M2I2.
- MIT LEAP: https://www.ikim.mit.edu/copy-of-leap-network
- MIT LEAP Network page: https://www.ikim.mit.edu/leap-network
Worcester Polytechnic Institute/Quinsigamond Community College (Central Massachusetts)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute's (WPI) LEAP is accessible to employers from across the Commonwealth, with an emphasis on regional employers in the photonics manufacturing sector, and engage manufacturers with product development projects and/or prototyping needs in key sectors such as biotech/life sciences. Supported by a $4 million dollar award from the Commonwealth via M2I2, the collaborative project with Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) has established a strong role in workforce training, developing curriculum with key partners that will target students at two- and four-year colleges, as well as at the K-12 level. WPI and QCC collaborated with companies in the region to inform the development of the LEAP and worked with the MA Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP) to connect with manufacturers across Massachusetts. The Central Mass LEAP is housed in WPI’s Gateway Park complex (Gateway II), adjacent to the Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center and the PracticePoint R&D and commercialization alliance focused on healthcare technology.
- WPI: https://www.wpi.edu/research/core-research-facilities/leap
- QCC: https://www.qcc.edu/worcester-leap
SEMA LEAP: Bridgewater State University & Stonehill College (Southeastern Massachusetts)
The $3.8 million M2I2 grant created a regional integrated photonics hub centered at both Bridgewater State University and Stonehill College. The project combines the complementary strengths, resources, and know-how of each institution to further technology, innovation, workforce training, and manufacturing in Massachusetts in Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs).
SEMA LEAP will train and educate photonics industry technician-level and engineering workforce to support new economic growth and development in areas such as telecommunication and data-communication, precision measurements, biomedical sensing and imaging, optic and laser development, and auto-driving.
- Stonehill LEAP facilities: https://www.stonehill.edu/offices-and-services/leap-stonehill/
- BSU Photonics programs: https://www.bridgew.edu/department/physics-photonics-optical-engineering
Western New England University (Western Massachusetts)
Supported by a $2.5 million grant from M2I2, the LEAP at Western New England University (WNEU) features a high-power semiconductor laser lab that supports the development of innovative technologies, plus a state-of-the-art education and training facility for students, teachers, and faculty from WNEU, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), and other Massachusetts institutions seeking training in optics and photonics technology. Equipment available at this LEAP allows for Printed Circuit Board Protoyping, featuring two rapid prototyping printed circuit board makers; Integrated Photonics Characterization, including six integrated photonics workstations with state-of-the-art characterization tools; and tools for General Optics Characterization.
- WNEU LEAP: https://www1.wne.edu/engineering/leap.cfm