The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams or FRIB at Michigan State University today marked the inauguration of the K500 Chip Testing Facility or KSEE, expanding U.S. capacity for radiation effects testing of advanced microelectronics used in spaceflight, defense, wireless communications, and autonomous systems.
The ribbon cutting recognized the completion and operational launch of a refurbished superconducting cyclotron and a new high-bay addition that together increase FRIB’s ability to support testing for government, industry, and academic users nationwide.
“As a public, land-grant university, Michigan State University has a responsibility to steward public investment in ways that serve the nation,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “For more than six decades, MSU has led the way in accelerator-based science, building world-class facilities and expertise that advance discovery, educate future leaders, and benefit society. FRIB continues that tradition, and with the inauguration of the K500 Chip Testing Facility, our scientists are turning cutting-edge research infrastructure into tangible value for Michigan and the nation. This facility is the latest chapter in a legacy of bold vision, technical excellence, and public service that defines MSU—transforming ambitious ideas into lasting impact.”
Several members of Michigan’s congressional delegation participated in the ribbon-cutting event celebrating FRIB’s official inauguration of KSEE, either in person or through recorded video remarks, including:
- U.S. Sen. Gary Peters
- U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin
- U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett
- U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman
- U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell
- U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten
- U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar
Public mission and national role
As a public, research-intensive university, MSU operates FRIB in service to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and its Office of Nuclear Physics. FRIB’s science and technology strategies build on more than six decades of experience in accelerator-based research, providing a foundation of operational reliability and trust with federal partners. Strong bipartisan support in Congress—from both the House and Senate—has been essential to FRIB’s success and will continue to be key to enabling an even more impactful future.
DOE-SC’s core investment and expertise, together with FRIB’s role as a DOE-SC user facility, made it possible to establish KSEE. The inauguration of KSEE represents an extension of that mission, applying established capabilities to meet a documented national need for expanded microelectronics testing capacity.
KSEE is supported by approximately $14 million in federal funding for the cyclotron refurbishment project. The project repurposes the K500 superconducting cyclotron, originally built at MSU in the 1980s, into a heavy-ion accelerator dedicated to semiconductor reliability testing.
MSU funded the construction of the high-bay addition, approved by the MSU Board of Trustees in 2024. The addition includes two user vaults and increases testing throughput.
Testing capabilities and national demand
Together with the existing FRIB Single Event Effects Facility, or FSEE, KSEE provides high-energy heavy-ion beams that allow testers to estimate, within minutes, the likelihood of malfunctions or failures caused by decades of cosmic ray exposure on electronic components. This type of testing ensures the reliability of microchips used in spaceflight, autonomous vehicles, wireless communications, and other high-radiation environments.
Radiation effects testing facilities in the United States remain oversubscribed. FRIB now provides up to 2,000 hours of annual availability through FSEE and up to 6,000 user hours per year through KSEE. In fiscal year 2025, FSEE delivered nearly 1,200 hours of beam time across 46 experimental runs, helping address this national shortfall. The 2018 National Academies report, “Testing at the Speed of Light,” outlined a critical national shortfall of testing capacity of space-bound electronic components.
“Bringing the K500 Chip Testing Facility into operation required adapting a legacy accelerator to meet today’s mission and user demands,” said FRIB Laboratory Director Thomas Glasmacher. “The facility is now delivering beam to users and expanding national capacity for radiation effects testing at a time when demand significantly exceeds availability. This milestone reflects the strength of the FRIB team and our focus on operating complex facilities safely, reliably and in service to a broad user community.”
Contributions beyond chip testing
Capabilities developed through sustained investment by the DOE Office of Science—including low-beta superconducting radiofrequency particle acceleration, helium liquefaction, isotope harvesting; and Single Event Effects testing — support a range of applications beyond nuclear physics.
At FRIB, these capabilities are also applied to research aligned with federal priorities such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum science, including the use of machine learning in accelerator operations and the development of quantum algorithms for nuclear science applications.
Workforce, education, and economic impact
FRIB is also a major workforce development driver for Michigan and the nation, training highly skilled scientists and engineers in fields critical to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. MSU’s nationally top-ranked nuclear physics graduate program awards about 15% of the nation’s nuclear physics doctorates, with students completing their degrees faster than the national average. FRIB provides rare, hands-on training in accelerator science, cryogenic engineering and radiochemistry — areas in short supply nationwide. Over the past decade, FRIB-related programs have graduated 130 doctoral students, 76% domestic, strengthening the skilled workforce that supports advanced manufacturing, energy, defense and technology industries.
FRIB’s location on the MSU campus enables close integration with academic programs in the College of Engineering and the College of Natural Science. Through initiatives such as the Space Electronics Initiative and its Single Event Effects boot camps, undergraduate and graduate students gain hands-on experience in semiconductor testing, accelerator operations, and radiation effects research.
Since 2011, FRIB has spent or obligated more than $2 billion in procurements and labor, with $1.7 billion or 79% of that investment in Michigan and 94% within the United States, supporting domestic jobs and technical workforce development.
Looking ahead
MSU’s Engineering and Digital Innovation Center builds on FRIB’s advanced capabilities by creating new opportunities for shared technology development and collaboration. The center is intended to deepen connections among research, education, and industry, supporting innovation, workforce development, and the translation of university expertise into practical applications.
“We’re excited for the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation to open in 2028, as it will further leverage FRIB’s capabilities to create integrated, collaborative environments where research, education, and industry intersect,” said College of Engineering Interim Dean John Papapolymerou. “All of this translates into impact and promise for the State of Michigan, our nation, and our society.”
With nearly seven decades of accelerator-based science experience, MSU has repeatedly adapted its facilities to address evolving national research needs. The inauguration of the K500 Chip Testing Facility marks a milestone in that progression and positions FRIB to continue supporting microelectronics reliability testing alongside its core nuclear science mission.
Additonal quotes of support
“As a Spartan myself, I was proud to fiercely advocate for the federal funding needed to develop this new facility, which will allow further cutting-edge scientific research to occur right here in East Lansing. MSU has been a leader in nuclear science for generations, with a top-ranked graduate program in nuclear physics. The K500’s opening will build on this legacy and help create good-paying jobs for future innovators in Michigan.” — U.S. Sen. Gary Peters
“The MSU K500 Chip Testing Facility represents a major step forward in strengthening our semiconductor research and innovation ecosystem. Expanding advanced testing capacity will help position Michigan as a national leader in next-generation chip development and advanced manufacturing.” — U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin
“MSU’s expanded K500 Chip Testing Facility will make mid-Michigan a hub for the next generation of durable semiconductor research, especially when it comes to military and medical technology. I’m confident that combining this new testing facility with the $125 million investment I recently secured for FRIB’s other nuclear physics research will help ensure scientists, staff and students at MSU continue leading the way in cutting-edge innovation for years to come.” — U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett
“The ribbon cutting for the K500 Chip Testing Facility at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams marks a significant milestone for Michigan and our national defense. This new capability reinforces our leadership in advanced semiconductor testing, advances critical national security priorities and builds on FRIB’s proven track record of transforming federal research investments into Michigan jobs and innovation. I am proud to continue supporting this vital work in Congress.” — U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman
“Today’s ribbon-cutting is an exciting milestone for our state and for our country. This is exactly the kind of forward-looking investment we need to support American innovation and create new opportunities for students and researchers. At a time when supply chains remain fragile, building chip design and testing capacity in the United States is essential for our competitiveness and national security. I’m grateful to the Department of Defense, MSU leadership, and the FRIB team for making this possible, and I will continue to support investments that reaffirm Michigan as a hub for innovation.” — U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten
“Congratulations to Michigan State University on the opening of the new FRIB facility. As a scientist myself, I am proud to represent a state that is keeping the United States at the forefront of innovation. Collaborations like this demonstrate Michigan’s strong commitment to scientific breakthroughs, the creation of high-skilled jobs and ensuring our region remains a global hub for research and technological advancement.” — U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar
