The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has released a new national strategy that aims to strengthen the microelectronics research and development (R&D) innovation ecosystem within the United States.
The strategy outlines four key goals and actions that will be taken over the next five years, from accelerating research in microelectronics to growing the technical workforce.
“Decades ago, American innovation sparked the microelectronics revolution, technology that now underpins nearly every aspect of our society, including communications, entertainment, health care, finance, energy, and transportation,” OSTP Deputy Director for National Security Steve Welby said in a March 15 statement.
“This whole-of-government strategy encourages the microelectronics R&D community to bring their diverse expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and drive to focus on a common purpose – to ensure that America remains a global leader in this important field,” he said.
The “National Strategy on Microelectronics Research” was called for in the Chips and Science Act of 2022, and according to OSTP, will revitalize domestic manufacturing, create good-paying American jobs, strengthen supply chains, and help secure future leadership in the semiconductor industry.
The document – developed by the Subcommittee on Microelectronics Leadership of the National Science and Technology Council – offers a framework for Federal agencies, academia, industry, labor, nonprofits, and international allies to address four 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; and
- 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 will accelerate the advances required for future generations of microelectronic systems. Research areas range from materials that can provide new capabilities to manufacturing tools and processes to enable transition of new innovations into production.
These research areas require access to specialized tools and equipment, OSTP said. The second goal is focused on supporting, expanding, and connecting the research infrastructure from small-scale material to prototyping and advanced testing.
The document highlights that 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 for research and manufacturing – including fostering meaningful public engagement and raising awareness of career opportunities in the semiconductor industry.
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, OSTP said.
“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,” the 61-page document reads. “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.”
