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Strategic hire reinforces ����ý Forge’s mission to revolutionize domestic semiconductor manufacturing through in-space innovation.

����ý Forge Inc., headquartered in Florida and the U.S. subsidiary of the UK-based leader in in-space manufacturing, has appointed Dr. Atul Kumar as Head of Semiconductors in the U.S. This key strategic hire marks a significant milestone as the company accelerates plans to establish a U.S.-based manufacturing capability for semiconductor materials, supporting both Earth-based production and in-space innovation.

The move aligns with ����ý Forge Inc.'s mission to revolutionise domestic semiconductor manufacturing and bolster national supply chain resilience in line with the CHIPS and Science Act.

Dr. Kumar, a materials scientist and semiconductor industry veteran, brings over two decades of experience in delivering cutting-edge process and equipment solutions across  semiconductors, displays, packaging, and advanced thin-film coating materials. With a PhD in physics, his work spans critical innovations for high-value applications, several of those now in commercial production.

At ����ý Forge Inc., Dr. Kumar will lead the development of U.S.-based manufacturing operations, supporting both terrestrial and in-space growth of semiconductor substrates. He is tasked with building a dedicated U.S. facility and advancing collaborations with strategic partners across defense, aerospace, power electronics, photonics, and quantum computing industries.

“I’m thrilled to be joining ����ý Forge at such a pivotal time for the semiconductor sector,” said Dr. Kumar. “The opportunity to develop materials that can only be made in space - and then use them to transform what’s possible on Earth - is truly out of this world. ����ý Forge has the vision, the talent, and the technology to redefine what’s possible in semiconductor manufacturing.”

Michelle Flemming, President of ����ý Forge Inc., commented:  “Atul’s appointment signals our deep commitment to building an integrated, end-to-end semiconductor capability in the U.S. His leadership and technical expertise will accelerate our work in delivering next-generation materials to support everything from resilient communications infrastructure to clean energy systems.”

Dr. Kumar’s first year will focus on operationalizing ����ý Forge Inc.'s U.S. facility, launching discussions with key customers and feeding insights into ����ý Forge’s upcoming ForgeStar™ missions - designed to validate material performance in orbit and establish scalable production pathways.

This appointment comes amid a period of rapid growth for ����ý Forge Inc., following the opening of its Florida office and the continued expansion of the ForgeStar™ satellite platform, the world’s first returnable and relaunchable in-space manufacturing solution.

By harnessing microgravity, extreme temperatures, and vacuum conditions in space, ����ý Forge is unlocking new frontiers in the creation of semiconductor materials that are impossible to manufacture on Earth.