Tuesday, July 1, 2025
26 C
New York

The article "From shortage to supremacy: How Sandia and the CHIPS Act aim to reboot US chip power" highlights the efforts of Sandia National Laboratories and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act to revitalize the US semiconductor industry. Here are the key points from the article:

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of the global semiconductor supply chain, leading to a severe shortage of chips.
  • The US has fallen behind in chip production, with only 12% of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity, down from 37% in 1990.
  • The shortage has affected various industries, including automotive, consumer electronics, and defense.

Sandia’s role:

  • Sandia National Laboratories, a US Department of Energy research and development lab, is working to develop new semiconductor technologies and manufacturing processes.
  • Sandia’s researchers are focusing on advanced semiconductor materials, such as gallium nitride and silicon carbide, which can improve chip performance and efficiency.
  • The lab is also exploring new manufacturing techniques, like 3D printing and nanoimprint lithography, to reduce production costs and increase yield.

The CHIPS Act:

  • The CHIPS Act, signed into law in 2020, aims to revitalize the US semiconductor industry by providing incentives for domestic chip production.
  • The Act offers grants, tax credits, and other forms of support to encourage companies to build and expand semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the US.
  • The goal is to increase US-based chip production to 30% of global capacity by 2030.

Goals and benefits:

  • The combined efforts of Sandia and the CHIPS Act aim to:
    • Reduce US dependence on foreign chip suppliers
    • Improve national security by ensuring a stable supply of critical chips for defense and other applications
    • Create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the US semiconductor industry
    • Enhance US competitiveness in the global tech market
  • By developing new semiconductor technologies and manufacturing processes, the US can regain its leadership in the industry and drive innovation in fields like artificial intelligence, 5G, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Challenges and opportunities:

  • The US faces significant challenges in rebuilding its semiconductor industry, including high production costs, competition from established players, and the need for significant investment in new technologies and manufacturing infrastructure.
  • However, the CHIPS Act and Sandia’s research efforts offer opportunities for the US to leapfrog current technologies and establish itself as a leader in next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.
  • The growth of the US semiconductor industry can have far-reaching benefits, from creating jobs and stimulating local economies to driving innovation and improving national security.

Overall, the article highlights the importance of the US semiconductor industry and the efforts underway to revitalize it. By combining research and development with targeted investments and incentives, the US can regain its position as a leader in the global chip market and drive innovation in critical technologies.

spot_imgspot_imgspot_img
- Advertisement -


Revitalizing US Semiconductor Manufacturing: Sandia National Laboratories Joins Forces with the National Semiconductor Technology Center

The United States is taking significant steps to regain its leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, with Sandia National Laboratories joining the US National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) to accelerate innovation and address pressing technology challenges. As the first national lab to partner with the NSTC, Sandia aims to strengthen US semiconductor manufacturing, enhance national security production, and foster the development of new technologies that set the nation apart globally.

The US was once a powerhouse in chip production, fabricating over 35% of the world’s semiconductors in the 1990s. However, this share has since dropped to 12%, with the US currently manufacturing none of the world’s most advanced chips that power technologies like smartphones, self-driving cars, quantum computers, and artificial intelligence-powered devices. Sandia National Laboratories has joined the NSTC to help change this landscape, leveraging its long history of contributing to the semiconductor industry through research and development partnerships, advanced cleanrooms, and cutting-edge facilities like the Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications (MESA) facility. By partnering with the NSTC, Sandia hopes to bolster US semiconductor manufacturing and research, enhance national security production, and drive innovation in new technologies.

Background and Context

The US National Semiconductor Technology Center was established under the CHIPS and Science Act to accelerate innovation and address some of the country’s most pressing technology challenges. The CHIPS Act has brought together national labs, US companies, and academia to form a powerful partnership that aims to regain US leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. As Mary Monson, Sandia’s senior manager of Technology Partnerships and Business Development, noted, “The CHIPS Act has brought the band back together… By including the national labs, US companies, and academia, it’s really a force multiplier.” Sandia’s membership in the NSTC marks a significant milestone in this effort, as the lab brings its expertise and resources to the table to help drive innovation and growth in the semiconductor industry.

Key Goals and Objectives

The partnership between Sandia and the NSTC has several key goals and objectives, including:
* Strengthening US semiconductor manufacturing and research and development
* Enhancing national security production
* Fostering the innovation of new technologies that set the nation apart globally
* Developing a workforce of the future to support the growing demands of the semiconductor industry
* Creating an ecosystem for packaging assemblies of chiplets, which communicate at low energy and high speed
Some key highlights of the partnership include:
* Over $12 billion in research and development spending planned under the CHIPS Act
* A $3 billion program to create an ecosystem for packaging assemblies of chiplets
* Sandia’s resources and partnerships can help expand access to small companies and national security applications
* MESA already fabricates high-reliability chiplet assembly products for the stockpile and nonproliferation applications

The Urgency of the Effort

The pandemic highlighted the urgency of the effort to regain US leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, as car lots were left bare and manufacturers sat idle, waiting for chips to be produced to build new vehicles. As Rick McCormick, Sandia’s senior scientist for semiconductor technology strategy, noted, “An average car contains 1,400 chips and electric vehicles use more than 3,000… Other nations around the globe are investing more than $300 billion to be leaders in semiconductor manufacturing. The US CHIPS Act is our way of ‘keeping up with the Joneses.'” The goal is for the US to have more than 25% of the global capacity for state-of-the-art chips by 2032.

Training the Workforce of the Future

Sandia is also poised to play a major role in training the workforce of the future, as the government has invested billions of dollars in new factories that need to be staffed by STEM students. As McCormick noted, “There is a potential crisis looming… The Semiconductor Industry Association anticipates that the US will need 60,000 to 70,000 more workers, so we need to help engage the STEM workforce.” Sandia’s efforts to train the workforce of the future will not only support the growing demands of the semiconductor industry but also help bolster its staffing pipeline.

Conclusion and Next Steps

In conclusion, the partnership between Sandia National Laboratories and the US National Semiconductor Technology Center marks a significant milestone in the effort to regain US leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. With its long history of contributing to the semiconductor industry, advanced facilities, and cutting-edge research, Sandia is well-positioned to play a key role in driving innovation and growth in the industry. As the US looks to the future, it is clear that the semiconductor industry will play a critical role in shaping the nation’s trajectory. With the help of Sandia and the NSTC, the US is taking significant steps to ensure that it remains a leader in this critical industry.

Keywords:
* Semiconductor manufacturing
* US National Semiconductor Technology Center
* Sandia National Laboratories
* CHIPS Act
* National security production
* Innovation
* Technology development
* Workforce training
* STEM education

Hashtags:
* #SemiconductorManufacturing
* #US NSTC
* #SandiaNationalLabs
* #CHIPSAct
* #NationalSecurity
* #Innovation
* #TechnologyDevelopment
* #WorkforceTraining
* #STEMeducation



Source link

- Advertisement -
spot_imgspot_imgspot_img
NewsPepr
NewsPeprhttp://newspepr.com
At NewsPepr.com, we deliver quick, concise, and easy-to-understand news updates from around the world. No more long articles—just the essential details, simplified using AI-powered technology. 🌍 Stay Informed Without the Overload!

Latest news

- Advertisement -
spot_imgspot_imgspot_img
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Related news

- Advertisement -

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here