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
May 28, 2025
Banatao Auditorium, Sutardja Dai Hall
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.”
Upcoming Events
The Path from Electrons to Photons: Shining a Light on the Fabrication Challenges of Silicon Photonics
Michelle Bourke & Dr. David Haynes
Michelle Bourke, Managing Director, Specialty Technologies & Strategic Marketing, Lam Research Corporation
Dr. David Haynes, Vice President, Specialty Technologies, Lam Research Corporation
Title: TBA
Prof. Hong Tang
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Yale University
Title: TBA
Dr. Julien Frougier
Senior Engineer, Advanced Logic Technology Research, IBM