Chipmaker's RTP-area expansion promises 250 jobs -- and a boost to national security

Forge Nano, a Colorado semiconductor and battery maker, broke ground Wednesday on an RTP-area expansion in Morrisville aimed at defense and aerospace supply chains. The company expects about 250 manufacturing, engineering, and operations jobs, backed by a $100 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Forge Nano plans to produce advanced lithium-ion batteries for defense and aerospace systems, expanding its existing 100,000-square-foot site into a nearly 315,000-square-foot manufacturing campus. Production is expected to begin in 2028. The DOE says the investment will strengthen domestic high-performance battery availability and reduce dependence on foreign supply disruptions.