The Berkeley Emerging Technologies Research (BETR) Center is a hub of physical electronics research at the University of California, Berkeley.

Through research in materials, processes, devices and integrated systems, the BETR Center drives innovation toward a vision of global ambient intelligence.

BETR Membership

BETR membership provides a range of exclusive benefits, including access to pre-publication research, newly developed technologies, seminars, students and postdocs, and much more.

BETR Symposium
Hardware for AI

An event honoring and celebrating the careers of Prof. Tsu-Jae King Liu and Prof. Jeffrey Bokor

BETR Center’s inaugural symposium brought together experts from a wide range of the AI hardware ecosystem.

News & Highlights

Biomimetic High-Speed In-Memory Sensor

BETR Center faculty member Prof. Junqiao Wu and colleagues reported a high-speed in-memory sensor — a memsensor — in the journal Nature Materials. This new type of sensor can both detect and remember its chemical environment without the need of an external power input or complex circuitry. The team further showed that by mimicking the microscopic roundworm C. elegans, the new memsensor can be used to navigate a small robotic boat.

Ferroic Gate Dielectrics Reduce Leakage in GaN Transistors

BETR Center co-Director Prof. Sayeef Salahuddin led a team in the development of a new high-electron-mobility transistor based on two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The team showed that by adding a ferroic HfO₂– ZrO₂ bilayer as the gate dielectric, a simultaneous increase of the ON current and decrease in leakage current can be achieved in GaN transistors. This work was published in Science.

Prof. Liu Named NAE President

BETR Center co-Director Prof. Tsu-Jae King Liu was named president of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Quoting from the NAE press release: “The NAE is pleased to announce the appointment of Tsu-Jae King Liu as its next president. A trailblazing researcher, innovator, educator and academic leader, Dr. Liu will begin her six-year term on July 1, 2025.”