White House Releases National Strategy on MicroElectronics Research: Goals & Pillars

Report outlines a collaborative effort between the government, industry, academia and other stakeholders to ensure American leadership in microelectronics research and development (R&D).

Introduction:

The National Strategy on Microelectronics Research is a recently released (March 15, 2024) initiative by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) . It outlines a collaborative effort between the government, industry, academia and other stakeholders to ensure American leadership in microelectronics research and development (R&D).

Goals of National Strategy on MicroElectronics Research:

  • Prioritize research areas for next-generation microelectronics
  • Expand the microelectronics workforce at all levels
  • Strengthen the R&D infrastructure
  • Foster public-private partnerships and international collaboration
  • Address challenges in innovation, competitiveness, and supply chain security
  • Funding: The strategy leverages the CHIPS and Science Act, a significant government investment in semiconductor research and manufacturing.
  • Implementation: The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Microelectronics Leadership (SML) is leading the implementation.
  • Next Steps: The OSTP is encouraging stakeholders to collaborate and focus on a common goal of maintaining U.S. leadership in microelectronics.

In this article, we delve into each of these pillars, exploring their significance, challenges, and implications for shaping the future of science, technology, and society.

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What are 4 Pillars of National Strategy on MicroElectronics Research

Pillar 1: Enable and Accelerate Research Advances for Future Generations of Microelectronics

At the heart of the National Strategy lies a commitment to fostering cutting-edge research in key areas essential for the advancement of microelectronics technology.

This pillar emphasizes the importance of investing in materials science, circuit design, hardware architectures, packaging technologies, and security protocols.

Prioritizing research in these domains. Facilitating breakthroughs for innovation.

Propelling next-generation microelectronic systems. Collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, and industry stakeholders. Identifying and addressing pressing research needs.

  • Accelerate the research and development of materials that provide new capabilities
    or functional enhancements.
  • Increase the capabilities of circuit design, simulation, and emulation tools.
  • Develop a diverse array of robust processing architectures and associated hardware
    needed for future systems.
  • Develop processes and metrology for advanced packaging and heterogeneous
    integration.
  • Prioritize hardware integrity and security as an element in co-design strategies
    across the stack.
  • Invest in R&D for manufacturing tools and processes needed to support transition
    of innovations into production-worthy fabrication processes.

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Pillar 2: Support, Build, and Bridge Microelectronics Infrastructure from Research to Manufacturing

A robust infrastructure spanning the entire microelectronics development pipeline is essential for translating research discoveries into tangible products.

The second pillar emphasizes infrastructure expansion for microelectronic device development. This includes investing in cutting-edge facilities and manufacturing techniques.

The goal is to streamline the transition from lab experiments to commercial production.

Collaboration between academia, government labs, and industry is crucial. Integration across the microelectronics ecosystem will be facilitated.

  • Support federated networks of device-scale R&D fabrication and characterization
    user facilities.
  • Improve access for the academic and small-business research community to flexible
    design tools and wafer-scale fabrication resources.
  • Facilitate research access to key functional materials.
  • Expand access to advanced cyberinfrastructure for modeling and simulation.
  • Support advanced assembly, packaging, and testing.

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Pillar 3: Grow and Sustain the Technical Workforce for the Microelectronics Research and Development to Manufacturing Ecosystem

A skilled and diverse workforce is the lifeblood of the microelectronics industry. Pillar three of the strategy underscores the importance of cultivating a talent pool equipped with the expertise to drive innovation from research through to manufacturing.

Initiatives aimed at promoting STEM education, workforce training, and career development will be prioritized to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in microelectronics-related fields.

By investing in the technical workforce, the strategy aims to ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of microelectronics innovation and maintains its competitive edge in the global market.

  • Support learners and educators in and across science and technology disciplines
    relevant to microelectronics.
  • Foster meaningful public engagement in microelectronics and raise awareness of
    career opportunities in the semiconductor industry.
  • Prepare an inclusive current and future microelectronics workforce.
  • Build and drive microelectronics research and innovation capacity.

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Pillar 4: Create a Vibrant Microelectronics Innovation Ecosystem to Accelerate the Transition of Research and Development to U.S. Industry

The final pillar of the strategy focuses on fostering a dynamic innovation ecosystem that fosters collaboration, facilitates technology transfer, and accelerates the commercialization of research breakthroughs.

This entails forging partnerships between government agencies, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions. This is in order to facilitate knowledge exchange, support entrepreneurship, and stimulate investment in microelectronics startups.

By creating an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship, the strategy aims to catalyze the transition of research and development into viable products and services. This will further drive economic growth and create high-quality jobs across the country.

  • Support, build, and bridge centers, public private partnerships, and consortia to
    deepen collaboration among various stakeholders in the microelectronics ecosystem.
  • Engage with and leverage the CHIPS Industrial Advisory Committee.
  • Motivate and align the microelectronics community on key technical challenges
    with R&D roadmaps and grand challenges.
  • Facilitate academic, government, and industrial exchange to broaden
    understanding of needs and opportunities.
  • Support entrepreneurship, start-ups, and early-stage businesses through targeted
    programs and investments.

Read the detailed report here

Conclusion:

The National Strategy on Microelectronics Research represents a bold and ambitious roadmap for advancing the United States’ leadership in the field of microelectronics.

By focusing on key research areas, enhancing infrastructure, nurturing talent, and fostering innovation, the strategy lays the groundwork for a vibrant and resilient microelectronics ecosystem that will drive economic prosperity and ensure national security in the years to come.

Kumar Priyadarshi
Kumar Priyadarshi

Kumar Joined IISER Pune after qualifying IIT-JEE in 2012. In his 5th year, he travelled to Singapore for his master’s thesis which yielded a Research Paper in ACS Nano. Kumar Joined Global Foundries as a process Engineer in Singapore working at 40 nm Process node. Working as a scientist at IIT Bombay as Senior Scientist, Kumar Led the team which built India’s 1st Memory Chip with Semiconductor Lab (SCL).

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