CHIPS Act to fund AI-Powered R&D of Sustainable Semiconductor Manufacturing Processes

CHIPS for America was established by the CHIPS Act to fund and invest in the development of domestic manufacturing capabilities, research and development (R&D), and workforce development programs within the U.S. semiconductor chip manufacturing industry. The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has just announced an open competition that will award up to $100 million in funding to the winners that develop university-led, industry-informed, collaborations about artificial intelligence-powered autonomous experimentation (AI/AE) to develop sustainable material processes relevant to sustainable semiconductor manufacturing. The competition hopes to spur accelerated innovation in sustainable semiconductor material processes using AI. It is believed that for the U.S. semiconductor industry to flourish in the long term, it must develop and use innovative and commercially competitive technologies to produce materials and manufacture chips in environmentally friendly and sustainable ways.

The DOC will make formal announcement of this competition, via a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), that intends to "seek to support the long-term viability of domestic semiconductor manufacturing by accelerating the discovery, design, synthesis, and deployment of new materials and processes and the development of new researchers needed to meet the industry’s technological, economic, and sustainability goals." These goals may include "improving leading-edge product performance; improving manufacturing yield, energy and water efficiency, and supply chain resiliency; and reducing manufacturing emissions and waste (including PFAS) through the development of materials and process alternatives, for the benefit of human health and safety."

The CHIPS for America includes an $11 billion investment in R&D and $39 billion allocation for incentives to encourage investment in facilities and equipment in the U.S. In August, the DOC announced $1.6 billion in proposed funding to support Texas Instruments' projects in Texas and Utah to increase the production of "foundational" chips commonly found in nearly all electrical and electronic systems. The proposed funding includes supporting Texas Instruments' construction of three new state-of-the art facilities in Texas and Utah that will support thousands of construction jobs and create over 2,000 manufacturing jobs.

More information about the CHIPS Act can be found here.