The United States House of Representatives and Senate included amendments in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) fiscal year that would authorize a new grant program for $1.2 billion to support semiconductor manufacturing and research in the U.S.
In addition to the new grant program, the Defense Department will create programs with the private sector to:
- Direct the Defense Department to create programs with the private sector to encourage the development of advanced, measurably secure microelectronics,
- Establish a Multilateral Microelectronics Security Fund the U.S., its allies and partners will use to reach agreements promoting consistency in their policies related to microelectronics,
- Direct the President to establish a subcommittee on semiconductor technology and innovation within the National Science and Technology Council, and
- Direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a national semiconductor technology center and other important new programs.
The U.S. has not kept pace with the growth of semiconductor manufacturing abroad. The new grant will help begin to reverse a 20-year decline in the U.S. share of global semiconductor manufacturing. The U.S. semiconductor supply chain accounts for about 240,000 high-skill and high-wage jobs throughout the country.
To read the full blog article on semi.org, click here.