California has been selected as the home of a new national headquarters for computer chip research and development, bringing more than $1 billion in research funding to the state, creating hundreds of local jobs, and supporting a core component of America’s It is expected to transform the semiconductor industry. economy and national security.
The Biden-Harris administration has selected the site for the second of three CHIPS for America research and development flagship facilities, based in part on the depth of semiconductor expertise across the University of California and Silicon Valley’s status as a hotbed for chip design. I chose Sunnyvale, California. innovation.
Small components, big costs
The semiconductor industry makes computer chips, the tiny, brilliant “brains” of all the electronic devices that power modern life, from smartphones and cars to satellites and data centers. Computer chips were invented in Silicon Valley, and California continues to be at the forefront of their design and innovation. However, the United States is gradually losing its advantage in producing these critical components.
Dr. Tzu Jie-King Liu, president of the University of California, Berkeley, said: “You’ve heard the dire statistics by now: America’s share of semiconductor manufacturing capacity has dropped from 37 percent in 1990 to 12 percent.” It has declined,” he said. Engineering personnel testifying before the House Research and Technology Subcommittee in 2022. The scarcity of domestic chip sources was keenly felt during the pandemic, when supply chain disruptions shut down U.S. factories and led to painful shortages of consumer goods.
Federal investment in the semiconductor industry
The Biden-Harris administration’s bipartisan Chips and Science Act of 2022 was enacted to avoid future supply chain problems that threaten the economy and national security by bringing chip manufacturing back to the United States. The legislation calls for the creation of three complementary, interconnected microchip research and development hubs. will address barriers and foster innovation and growth in the domestic semiconductor industry.
In early November, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Silicon Valley city of Sunnyvale as the future home of the CHIPS for America design collaboration facility. The Sunnyvale facility, the second of three planned hubs, will be part of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), a consortium of industry, academia and government working together to accelerate domestic innovation and land-based manufacturing. It functions as the headquarters.
“With NSTC’s R&D headquarters in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Biden-Harris Administration’s CHIPS and Science Act will provide access to cutting-edge research, tools, and high-quality “We are opening up jobs to communities across the country.” California). “By partnering with institutions like the University of California, which play a critical role in the strength of our semiconductor ecosystem, this new design and collaboration facility will leverage some of the state’s best talent and help bring it to the world. Securing U.S. leadership in global semiconductor technology.”
The University of California has joined Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) as a partner in the effort to bring one of these microchip hubs to California. In their appeal to the Department of Commerce, UC leaders highlighted the many opportunities to leverage the university’s talent, tools, and networks.
UC and GO-Biz are quarterly roundtables that bring together industry, academia, government agencies, the U.S. Department of Defense Research Agency, national labs, venture capitalists, and more to foster collaboration, innovation, and engagement. and plans to host the annual “Semiconductor Summit.”
The University of California, Berkeley, School of Engineering, in collaboration with NatCast, a nonprofit organization created to manage the National Semiconductor Technology Center Consortium, will launch a Visiting Scholars Program.
The University of California will partner with Natcast to launch a student internship program, connecting the university’s existing talent and workforce development efforts to the new hub.
The University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and the University of Southern California will integrate Natcast into two Department of Defense-funded microelectronics hub efforts to instantly connect organizations to more than 171 relevant industry and academic partners. Masu.
“UC’s track record of semiconductor-related innovation is a cornerstone of Silicon Valley. Our deep experience, expertise, and resources across 10 campuses and three national laboratories continue to build on America’s leadership in technology design and innovation. It is an unparalleled asset in our efforts to re-establish ourselves,” said Teresa Maldonado, UC vice provost for research and innovation.
“The Department of Commerce and NatCast are excited to locate this vital facility in Sunnyvale, in the heart of Silicon Valley, home to the world’s largest concentration of semiconductor business, talent, intellectual property, and investment activity,” said Dee Dee Meyers. I am thrilled that they have chosen this.” , GO-Biz Director. “The Newsom Administration and our partners across industry understand how important it is to shorten the time from research and development to commercialization. We look forward to a productive partnership with the Department of Commerce and NatCast to ensure our continued success.”
“With an unparalleled talent pool, leading research institutions, and a thriving technology sector and companies, California is the future of semiconductors,” said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who supported California’s candidacy. “We are in a unique position to lead the way.” facility. “This decision will reduce our dependence on foreign semiconductor supplies, bring good-wage jobs to California, and strengthen our supply chain. No other state has as much world-class innovation. It’s not there.
The role of UC in chip design and innovation
Since the 1960s, when UC Berkeley engineers established the first-ever laboratory for prototyping integrated circuits, the University of California has been a world leader in chip design and manufacturing. And the university’s technology transfer program has helped ensure these important innovations don’t remain confined to the lab. Generations of UC faculty and alumni have built and led companies that power some of the most fundamental technologies of modern life.
“The University of California’s legacy of innovation will help advance America’s best interests in the 21st century global economy,” said Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif., 18). “The University of California has created jobs and billions of dollars in economic growth and opportunity for Californians. University of California faculty and students will be located in Silicon Valley, the birthplace of countless cutting-edge technologies. We look forward to collaborating and seeing them work at the CHIPS for America Design and Collaboration Hub.”
