US Department of Commerce to invest $150m in xLight.

US Department of Commerce, a federal agency responsible for promoting economic growth, agreed to invest $150m in xLight, a developer of particle accelerator-driven free electron lasers for semiconductor manufacturing. “The future of semiconductor manufacturing hinges on lithography, and we are grateful for the support of the Trump Administration, Secretary Lutnick, and Deputy Secretary Dabbar, and their vision to drive innovation and restore American leadership in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. With the support from Commerce, our investors, and development partners, xLight is building its first free-electron laser system at the Albany Nanotech Complex, where the world's best lithography capabilities will enable the research and development that will define the future of chip manufacturing,” Nicholas Kelez, xLight CEO and CTO.