The creator of protective glasses Gorilla Glass receives 32 million dollars in funding from the US government
Corning, the creator of Gorilla Glass, will soon receive up to $32 million in federal CHIPS and Science Act grants to develop its glass production for applications related to semiconductor manufacturing. In announcing the grant Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department emphasized its role in strengthening domestic supply chains that are critical to chip production.
CHIPS Act investments are focused on helping Corning increase production of High Purity Fused Silica and Extreme Ultra-Low Expansion Glass, according to a statement from the US Department of Commerce. These specialized materials play a key role in semiconductor device manufacturing, particularly in the lithography processes and photomasks used to create precise patterns on silicon wafers.
Although Gorilla Glass is more known for making products for big tech companies like Samsung and Apple; But the US government’s financial assistance to this company is only for the glass used in Corning’s semiconductor industry and does not include glass for smartphones.
In line with the grant, Corning plans to expand operations at its factory in Canton, New York. The project is expected to create about 130 new jobs in manufacturing and more than 175 jobs in construction.
The confirmation of Corning’s financial support comes at the same time as the European Commission’s increased scrutiny of the company’s competitive practices. The investigation will examine whether Corning’s monopoly agreements may restrict competition in the European market. The outcome of this investigation could affect Corning’s influence on the market, especially in the European Union.
The CHIPS Act, signed into law by Joe Biden in 2022, aims to strengthen the US semiconductor manufacturing sector and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains. However, with Donald Trump in office, the future of this law is unclear.
