Public-private consortium will focus on
innovation, collaboration, and education to bolster the U.S.
semiconductor industry
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Natcast, the purpose-built,
non-profit entity designated to operate the National Semiconductor
Technology Center (NSTC) by the U.S. Department of Commerce, today
announced the official launch of the NSTC Membership program. The
public-private consortium will bolster the U.S. semiconductor
industry with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and education.
This announcement marks a significant milestone in U.S. efforts to
advance its competitive edge in semiconductor leadership.
NSTC members can benefit from dynamic and cross-sector
collaboration; access to leading-edge R&D facilities;
development of member-driven research agendas; unique opportunities
to research, prototype, and scale up semiconductor technologies;
and workforce and educational best practices and initiatives
developed through the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence. These
resources, several of which are planned to become available
throughout 2025, are aimed at reducing barriers for members to
bring new technologies from lab-to-fab as well as supporting member
efforts to build and sustain a strong U.S. semiconductor workforce
development ecosystem.
"As a public-private consortium, the NSTC represents a bold
vision for U.S. semiconductor innovation," said Deirdre Hanford, Natcast CEO. "Today's
launch of the NSTC Membership program is a critical step in our
evolution as we can now welcome and officially admit members into
the consortium. NSTC programs will support members in ushering in
the next era of innovation and collaboration that will accelerate
semiconductor research, extend U.S. leadership in the technologies
of tomorrow, and create a sustainable semiconductor workforce now
and for the future."
"CHIPS for America is closing the gap between invention and
commercialization, ushering in a new technological revolution
for the semiconductor ecosystem," said Secretary of
Commerce Gina
Raimondo. "The NSTC represents the foundation for
the next wave of technological breakthroughs, serving as the anchor
institution where we shape the future of semiconductor innovation.
With unprecedented collaboration between industry, academia, labor
organizations, and government, members of the NSTC will help to
secure America's leadership in global semiconductor
technology."
The mission of the NSTC is to convene a diverse set of members
from across the semiconductor ecosystem around three shared and
strategic goals:
- Strengthening U.S. semiconductor leadership: Through
innovative and member-driven research initiatives, the NSTC will
address industry and academia's most pressing semiconductor R&D
challenges and extend U.S. leadership in foundational technologies
for future applications and industries.
- Reducing time from lab-to-fab: By providing members
access to collaborative opportunities and leading-edge facilities
and capabilities, the NSTC will reduce the time and cost to
explore, prototype, and validate innovative semiconductor designs
and technology.
- Expanding the U.S. semiconductor workforce: Developing
and distributing critical workforce and education programming and
resources, the NSTC will support members in expanding and
sustaining a strong U.S. semiconductor workforce development
ecosystem.
"NSTC members will be at the forefront of defining the
technologies of the future," said Susan
Feindt, senior vice president of ecosystem development at
Natcast. "The NSTC seeks to engage organizations from across
the industry value chain, academia, and government. This unique
approach, coupled with access to R&D facilities, workforce
development initiatives, and other programs and resources, is
designed to increase opportunities for collaboration and reduce
barriers throughout the ecosystem. Together, our collective work
will accelerate innovation and have an impact on U.S. semiconductor
technology and workforce leadership for decades to come."
NSTC membership is offered in two categories, Core and
Affiliate, tailored to support the needs of the broad semiconductor
ecosystem. Core membership is designed for entities that are
directly involved in semiconductor technology development of
materials, tools, processes, design, package or systems. Affiliate
membership is designed for organizations that do not conduct
semiconductor research but would like to participate and contribute
to the ecosystem in areas such as workforce, investments,
consortia, or professional services.
Learn more about the benefits of becoming an NSTC member
and join the mission at natcast.org/NSTCmembership.
The launch of the NSTC Membership program builds on the momentum
of several announcements over the past few months, including the
launch of jump start R&D funding programs, the announcement of
three initial R&D facilities and selection processes, the
launch of the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE), and the
funding of an anticipated $11.5
million in Workforce Partner Alliance awards.
Learn more at natcast.org.
ABOUT NATCAST
Natcast is the purpose-built, non-profit entity designated to
operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) by the
Department of Commerce and established by the CHIPS and Science Act
of the U.S. government. The NSTC is a public-private consortium
dedicated to semiconductor R&D in the
United States. It convenes the U.S. government, allied and
partner nations, and organizations across the semiconductor
ecosystem—including academia and businesses of all kinds—to address
the most challenging barriers to continued technological progress
in the domestic semiconductor industry, including the need for a
capable workforce. The NSTC reflects a once-in-a-generation
opportunity for the U.S. to drive the pace of innovation, set
standards, and re-establish global leadership in semiconductor
design and manufacturing. Learn more at natcast.org.
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SOURCE Natcast