South Bend Times

Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the University of Notre Dame’s new Microelectronics Commons and Wideband Lab in South Bend, Indiana. The event marked the opening of a facility aimed at advancing research and innovation in microelectronics.

“It’s great to be back at Notre Dame,” Rep. Yakym said. “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.”

Notre Dame is serving as a lead institution in the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub. This initiative is federally funded to speed up innovation in U.S. microelectronics by bringing together universities such as Purdue, Michigan, and Illinois with industry partners. The university offers specialized research facilities including nanofabrication labs, imaging resources, and its newly launched Wideband Test Facility.

The Wideband Test Facility addresses a national need for testing high-frequency electronics and antennas. It enables on-wafer transistor testing and antenna characterization up to 220 GHz—important capabilities for progress in technologies like 5G/6G wireless communications, satellite systems, radar applications, and defense.

The lab is open to both industry users and academic researchers. It provides opportunities for rapid prototyping, component characterization, and collaborative research projects. The facility also supports regional technology development efforts while contributing to national security objectives under provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act.

Rudy Yakym has represented Indiana's 2nd District in Congress since 2022 (https://yakym.house.gov/about). He was born in 1984 and lives in Granger (https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/10/26/who-is-rudy-yakym-republican-candidate-for-indianas-2nd-congressional-district/69593053007/). Yakym earned an associate degree from Indiana University South Bend in 2009 followed by a bachelor’s degree from the same institution in 2011 (https://yakym.house.gov/about).