en.Wedoany.com Reported - I-Pulse has reached a final agreement with the CHIPS Research and Development Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce, securing a $250 million grant to advance semiconductor and pulsed power technology. The announcement was made jointly by company co-founder and CEO Robert Friedland, and co-founder and CTO Laurent Frescaline.
This funding will support R&D activities focused on high-temperature, high-performance semiconductor components and proprietary pulsed power drilling technology. I-Pulse's plan will focus on the development and commercialization of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors, in collaboration with U.S. national laboratories, universities, and specialized manufacturing partners.
The grant agreement is part of a broader U.S. effort to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing, reduce reliance on imported components, and enhance national and energy security by building local supply chain resilience. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick described the investment as a step toward strengthening American capabilities and supporting its national and energy security goals.
I-Pulse's technology involves high-temperature, high-voltage, high-current solid-state switches, with potential applications in underground mining, manufacturing, rock fragmentation, and defense systems. According to the company, its SiC switches are designed to enable more efficient drilling in high-temperature rock, while its proprietary components can reduce drilling costs for geothermal power projects. The pulsed power drilling process uses high-voltage switches to release powerful electrical pulses into geothermal rock formations, helping to fracture and soften the rock, potentially increasing drilling speed and extending drill bit life.
Geothermal-related activities will be managed through I-Pulse's subsidiary G-Pulse and its other U.S. subsidiaries. Friedland stated that this CHIPS grant will be utilized by the I-Pulse team based in Albuquerque, led by Dr. Rick Spielman and Dr. Randy Curry, which will bring together the largest concentration of pulsed power experts within any company in the United States.
