Thursday, May 23, 2024 3:40 PM
Eric Hadland, Director of Technology Policy
SIA today released a set of recommendations to advance the success of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), a critical public-private research consortium established by CHIPS and the Science Act. SIA’s recommendations synthesize the latest industry consensus and priorities.
The CHIPS & Science Act includes the largest federal investment ever made in chip research and development (R&D), totaling $13 billion between the Departments of Commerce and Defense. The anchor of the CHIPS R&D program is NSTC, a $5 billion+ effort “to conduct research and prototyping of advanced semiconductor technologies, develop the domestic semiconductor workforce, and enhance the economic competitiveness and security of the domestic supply chain” (15 USC § 4656(c)(1)).
Since the passage of the CHIPS Act, key stakeholders have issued several valuable reports detailing recommendations and priorities for starting and operating the NSTC. This body of work represents an emerging industry consensus that should guide the CHIPS R&D Office (CRDO) and Natcast (a new dedicated non-profit organization established to run the NSTC consortium) as they establish and operate the NSTC.
Key recommendations from the SIA include:
Industry-led public-private partnership: NSTC should reflect industry technology priorities and ensure alignment with the U.S. semiconductor industry technology agenda and roadmap. Purpose and focus: NSTC’s research agenda should pursue full-stack innovation, and associated infrastructure should aim to meet pilot, prototyping, and commercial scaling needs. Operating structure: NSTC should consist of technology centers focused on industry subsectors (e.g., advanced logic, advanced memory, analog and mixed-signal), cross-cutting R&D priorities (e.g., energy efficiency, security), and end-market working groups (e.g., automotive, edge, emerging technologies). NSTC should maximize existing facilities to the extent feasible, and build new facilities only as necessary to achieve program objectives. Participation structure: NSTC should operate primarily under a membership model for participation in R&D projects and access to facilities, using a variety of funding mechanisms to provide appropriate and ongoing support to a variety of stakeholders. Policy considerations: Where possible, NSTC should leverage existing industry-accepted protocols. Additionally, when new policies or guidance are needed (e.g., domestic production requirements, research security, intellectual property rights), it is critical that NSTC and all CRDO programs provide clear guidance with industry engagement.
In terms of organizational structure, SIA recommends a collection of technology-specific centers and a series of cross-cutting priority and end-market working groups to drive research and technology development.
To achieve the key goals of the CHIPS Act – advancing U.S. global leadership and ensuring that the next generation of transformative technologies are developed domestically – SIA’s recommendations emphasize the importance of ensuring that the CHIPS research and development program is driven by U.S. semiconductor industry priorities and fosters effective collaboration among companies, government agencies, higher education institutions, and other key stakeholders.
SIA looks forward to working with NSTC leaders to ensure this historic effort successfully advances American semiconductor innovation for years to come.
