Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is releasing a new strategy to strengthen the microelectronics research and development (R&D) innovation ecosystem in America. As called for in the bipartisan CHIPS for America Act, the National Strategy on Microelectronics Research outlines key goals and actions over the next five years. These actions will build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s industrial strategy to revitalize domestic manufacturing, create good-paying American jobs, strengthen supply chains and help secure future leadership in the semiconductor industry for the security and prosperity of the United States and its allies and partners.
Developed by the Subcommittee on Microelectronics Leadership of the National Science and Technology Council, this strategy leverages the historic investments in the CHIPS & Science Act to revitalize and connect with the full breadth of microelectronics R&D activities and infrastructure supported by the federal government. Implementation will contribute to a vibrant innovation ecosystem that accelerates new research breakthroughs, supports the transition of these advances to manufacturing, and provides good-paying jobs to people all across America – all key components of the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to deliver for the American people.
The National Strategy on Microelectronics Research provides the framework for federal departments and agencies, academia, industry, labor, nonprofits, and international allies and partners to address key needs to four interconnected goals:
• Enable and accelerate research advances for future generations of microelectronics
• Support, build, and bridge microelectronics infrastructure from research to manufacturing
• Grow and sustain the technical workforce for the microelectronics research and development to manufacturing ecosystem
• Create a vibrant microelectronics innovation ecosystem to accelerate the transition of research and development to U.S. industry
The first goal focuses on key research needs in several areas that are required to accelerate the advances required for future generations of microelectronic systems. Research areas include materials that can provide new capabilities; circuit design, simulation, and emulation tools; new architectures and associated hardware designs; processes and metrology for advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration; hardware integrity and security; and manufacturing tools and processes to enable transition of new innovations into production.
These research areas require access to specialized tools and equipment. The second goal is focused on supporting, expanding, and connecting the research infrastructure from small-scale material and device-level fabrication and characterization through prototyping, large-scale fabrication, and advanced assembly, packaging, and testing. The required tools include both software (including design tools) and commercial-scale production and metrology hardware.
Expansion of the domestic semiconductor industry will also expand opportunities for good-paying jobs across the country. Goal three identifies efforts to support learners and educators in the development of the technical workforce required from research through manufacturing.
Finally, goal four is focused on the entire R&D landscape and presents strategies and actions to create a vibrant microelectronics innovation ecosystem to accelerate the transition of new advances into commercial applications. Key efforts not only support actions at each stage of the microelectronics technology development pathway, but also connect the various networks and activities to build a virtuous cycle of microelectronics innovation.
These four goals will be pursued in the context of the global nature of the semiconductor industry. As is the case with the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain, research facilities and talent that support the microelectronics innovation ecosystem are located all over the world. International collaboration, trade, and diplomacy are important tools to leverage efforts and resources, promote talent flow and research collaboration, and ensure secure supply chains.
Implementation of this strategy will result in a vibrant innovation ecosystem that accelerates new research breakthroughs, supports the transition of these advances to manufacturing, and provides good-paying jobs to people all across America. A fully built-out and well-connected microelectronics research infrastructure will provide the foundation for researchers to advance their breakthroughs and lead to a virtuous innovation cycle. Nurturing and supporting microelectronics innovation will help secure future leadership in the semiconductor industry for the security and prosperity of the United States and its allies and partners.
Strategy:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/National-Strategy-on-Microelectronics-Research-March-2024.pdf
Press release:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2024/03/15/white-house-office-of-science-and-technology-policy-releases-national-strategy-on-microelectronics-research/