Michael Liehr

Combined Semiconductor

Dr. Michael Liehr is a strategist and executive advisor who specializes in helping leaders define and execute technical and business strategies. His work is built on a strong foundation of practical business experience, deep technical expertise, and transformational practices. Dr. Liehr is currently president, Liehr Consulting LLC, in Troy, NY, USA. He specializes in semiconductor (CMOS) and integrated photonics and has conducted reviews for the National Research Council, Canada, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences and Medicine, works with a Washington Consulting Firm specializing in CHIPS funding and is a contractor for the Federal Government and is for consulting commercial clients. He furthermore advises several start-ups, including Combined Semiconductor, Inc.

Most recently, Dr. Liehr was the Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute for Manufacturing (AIM) of Integrated Photonics, the largest of fourteen centers under the Federal Integrated Manufacturing Initiative. As Principal Investigator he assembled a multi-partner team to pursue integrated photonics manufacturing technology, system integration, and business opportunities. He also served as State University of New York (SUNY) Polytechnic Institute’s Vice President for Research and Executive Vice President for Innovation and Technology, leading a team of over 350 engineers, technicians, and business managers. As part of this position, he led multiple large-scale negotiations with partner companies, government agencies and university research offices.

Trained as a solid-state physicist in Aachen, Germany, his subsequent research career began at IBM Research, Yorktown Heights, where he pursued and then led innovative approaches to electronic materials and processing, followed by research management assignments in Manufacturing Research. In 1996 he transferred to IBM Microelectronics in Burlington, VT, in a sequence of research, development and manufacturing management positions that culminated in his status as IBM Distinguished Engineer. During this time, he was actively engaged with the IBM technology licensing group during contract negotiations and led the subsequent execution of the agreements with international partners. Subsequently he moved to SUNY in Albany as Principal Investigator of a Semiconductor Research Center for post-CMOS devices and General Manager of the Global 450mm Consortium.

Panel Sessions