Highlights
- BluGlass and North Carolina State University (NCSU) have extended their existing contract adding a third year, valued at US$680k (A$1.05 million) as part of the U.S. Department of War’s Microelectronics Commons Program
- The contract is part of the Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS) Hub led by North Carolina State University
- The Year 3 extension follows successful completion of all performance milestones under the Year 2 contract bringing the contract amount to US$4.4M (A$6.5M) to date
Global semiconductor developer BluGlass Limited (ASX: BLG)’s U.S. subsidiary and North Carolina State University (NCSU) have extended their existing contract to include a third year, valued at A$1.05 million (US$680,000). Under the extension, BluGlass will continue developing advanced gallium nitride (GaN) lasers to support defence, quantum, and dual-use technology development for the U.S Department of War (DoW) as part of the Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS) Hub.
The CLAWS Hub is one of eight Microelectronic Commons innovation hubs established by the U.S. DoW (formerly the US Department of Defense) and funded by the CHIPS and Science Act. The Microelectronics Commons program is a collaborative capability-building program developing sovereign next-generation microelectronics for critical defence and dual use technologies. Hub members include global leaders Coherent, MACOM, and General Electric.
Under its core-development contract for Year 3 of the Microelectronics Program, BluGlass will continue developing its high-fidelity, high-precision GaN laser and integrated photonic technology to address both the scalability challenges and the exacting precision requirements of next-generation quantum computing and intelligence applications. The contract award follows BluGlass’ successful completion of all development milestones of the Company’s A$2.9 million Year-2 core-development contract for USFY25.
Under the Year 2 CLAWS Hub development program BluGlass continued to develop its GaN laser platform and demonstrated significant power conversion efficiency improvements across its portfolio from violet to blue wavelengths as well as enhanced Distributed Feedback (DFB) laser capabilities. BluGlass has been awarded a combined A$6.5M (US$4.4M) for the first three years of the 5-year Microelectronics Commons program.
BluGlass CEO Jim Haden said, “Securing a third consecutive year of support from the U.S. Department of War is a strong endorsement of our technology leadership and the accelerating momentum of our GaN laser roadmap. Building on last year’s success with the CLAWS Hub, this renewed contract further strengthens our role in developing critical next-generation quantum, defence, and dual-use technologies supported by robust sovereign supply chains.
“Our continued collaboration with hub members and industry partners is fast-tracking the transition of advanced photonics and optoelectronic devices from early-stage research through to commercial manufacturing. BluGlass is establishing itself as a commercial off-ramp within the U.S. lab‑to‑fab ecosystem – enabling new capabilities in sensing, communications, materials processing, aviation, and future quantum systems. This contract reflects the conversion of an opportunity within our US$100 million pipeline, with this non-dilutive funding enhancing both our technology roadmap and manufacturing excellence as we team with Hub members to deliver technologies vital to national security and emerging quantum markets.”
