Great Lakes Crystal Technologies

Great Lakes Crystal Technologies (GLCT) operates as a specialized manufacturer of high-performance, single-crystal diamond materials for advanced technology sectors. The company was established in August 2019 as a spin-out from Michigan State University (MSU), building on a collaborative history between MSU and the Fraunhofer USA Center for Coatings and Diamond Technologies. Its foundation stems from over three decades of diamond material research conducted at the university.

The company was co-founded by Dr. Timothy Grotjohn, an MSU professor in the College of Engineering with over 35 years of experience in diamond synthesis and device research, and Dr. Keith Evans, an industry veteran with extensive experience in commercializing post-silicon semiconductor materials. Dr. Grotjohn's work at MSU, which includes numerous patents, forms the technical backbone of GLCT. Dr. Evans, who was serving as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Spartan Innovations, was matched with Dr. Grotjohn to lead the commercialization efforts as the company's CEO. Their combined expertise—Dr. Grotjohn's deep technical knowledge and Dr. Evans' commercial and strategic experience—has been central to the company's trajectory.

GLCT's core business involves producing ultra-high-quality single-crystal diamond plates, substrates, and epitaxial wafers. These materials serve as a critical component for next-generation applications in quantum sensing, advanced packaging for artificial intelligence chips, high-power electronics, optics, and national security systems. The company's business model is centered on manufacturing and supplying these specialized diamond materials to clients in the defense, industrial, and research sectors. A key differentiator is its proprietary chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor technology, which is designed and built entirely in the United States, positioning GLCT as a key domestic supplier. This unique domestic manufacturing capability addresses a strategic need for advanced materials within the U.S. The company has secured significant funding, including over $20 million in federal investments from entities like the Department of Defense's National Security Innovation Capital (NSIC), to advance its manufacturing capabilities and expand its product roadmap.

Keywords: single-crystal diamond, diamond substrates, semiconductor materials, chemical vapor deposition, CVD reactors, quantum sensing, high-power electronics, advanced packaging, thermal management, MSU spin-out, defense applications, quantum technology, radiation-hard electronics, epitaxial wafers, advanced materials manufacturing, US semiconductor industry, optical materials, particle detectors, diamond synthesis, post-silicon commercialization