Natcast Launches National Semiconductor Technology Center Membership Program
Public-private consortium will focus on innovation, collaboration, and education to bolster the U.S. semiconductor industry
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 30, 2024 – 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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