In this ASCENT project, the team aims to develop a set of semiconductor technologies, including new device fabrication, large-scale heterogeneous integration, and robust beam-alignment system architectures, to achieve electrically controlled collimation of electromagnetic waves in sub-terahertz (sub-THz) frequency bands at low cost. Compared to the existing 5G wireless bands below 100 GHz, the sub-THz bands offer unprecedented wide bandwidth that can enable ultra-fast data rate for data center networking and wireless infrastructure, as well as high precision for radar and imaging. The electronic hardware developed in this project provides a highly desirable function for most sub-THz systems -- focusing the beam power within one degree in space (hence the term "needle beam" in the project title) with high-precision electronic control of the beam direction. The new hardware architecture enables wireless communication systems to achieve a high data rate up to 120 Gbps over a distance greater than one kilometer. It also enables radar imaging systems to achieve high-resolution sensing of the ambient environment, which is critical for all-weather safe operation of autonomous vehicles. In addition, this project not only provides extensive graduate researcher training in high-frequency circuit designs and advanced semiconductor manufacturing but also promotes STEM education through various programs. Needle beam forming at 140 GHz requires large (> 70x70 millimeter square) electron