Seven institutions selected to lead U.S. semiconductor workforce training initiatives across more than a dozen states
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 25, 2024 – Natcast, the purpose-built, non-profit entity created to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) consortium, established by the CHIPS and Science Act of the U.S. government, today announced an anticipated $11.5 million in funding through the NSTC Workforce Partner Alliance (WFPA) program. The funding is slated to support seven programs that will serve more than 12,000 individuals entering or advancing careers in the U.S. semiconductor industry. The selected programs, funded as part of the newly launched NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence, supported by a $250 million investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce, will address critical U.S. job and skill gaps across semiconductor design, manufacturing, and production.
“This funding will create opportunities for thousands of students, educators, and professionals to join or advance in the U.S. semiconductor workforce, supplying employers with in-demand talent and solidifying the U.S. as a leader in this vital industry,” said Michael Barnes, senior manager of workforce development programs at Natcast. “By investing in these transformative programs, we’re ensuring that American workers are equipped with the skills necessary to compete in the global semiconductor market.”
Anticipated WFPA partners and programs include:
American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation (AFTEF)
AFTEF will use anticipated funding to expand a partnership with Micron to implement an Advanced Technology Framework in high schools across New York, Michigan, and Minnesota. The program aims to equip students with the skills needed for careers in the microchip industry, fostering talent and bridging the gap between education and industry demands.
Idaho Technology Council (ITC)
ITC will use anticipated funding to launch the Enhanced Access to the Semiconductor Industry in Idaho (EASII) program. The initiative will provide comprehensive support services, such as childcare, transportation, and mental health counseling, to participants in semiconductor workforce training programs. With this support, ITC aims to eliminate barriers to program completion and facilitate smoother transitions into the semiconductor workforce for 430 participants.
Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD)
MCCCD will use anticipated funding to expand its semiconductor technician training offerings and launch the Maricopa Accelerated Semiconductor Training (MAST) program, building on the success of the Quick Start program. As the largest workforce training provider in the state, MCCCD’s expanded programming will prepare an additional 300 individuals for careers as semiconductor technicians in Arizona’s booming semiconductor industry, addressing the region’s growing demand for highly skilled workers and reinforcing Arizona’s position as a global semiconductor leader.
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
RIT will use anticipated funding to implement the Broadening Research and Inter-Disciplinary Graduate Education (BRIDGE) for Microelectronics program, with the goal to train 555 students at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels, and through a new online certificate program, across microelectronics-related educational tracks. The program emphasizes education, industry collaboration, and student support to address workforce shortages in the microelectronics sector.
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M will use anticipated funding to empower its WAVE-CHIP project. The project will equip more than 7,500 individuals in the semiconductor workforce with critical hardware verification skills, directly addressing the industry’s pressing need for qualified engineers. The project’s impact will extend far beyond its immediate participants by training 109 community college and university-level instructors, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of skilled verification engineers for years to come.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering will use anticipated funding to establish the Center for Education of Microchip Designers (CEMiD) to provide comprehensive training in analog and digital chip design to engineering students and practicing engineers. Along with co-PIs at Carnegie Mellon University, University of Hawaii, University of Notre Dame, and Stanford University, the program will equip hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students at universities across the country with the skills to design, fabricate, and test their own chips. The program will also help participants foster industry connections to create a self-sustaining workforce development ecosystem in the U.S. microchip industry. CEMiD plans to train professors at universities and colleges nationwide to help expand the reach and impact of the program.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
Led by The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Illinois Semiconductor Workforce Network (ISWN) will use anticipated funding to address the critical shortage of skilled professionals in the U.S. semiconductor industry. This initiative will develop a diverse, highly skilled workforce through industry-aligned training programs. By collaborating with semiconductor ecosystem partners, Grainger Engineering will equip students with cutting-edge skills and career opportunities, strengthening America’s technological future in this crucial sector.
The WFPA programs will impact individuals throughout the U.S. education system, from K-12 students to advanced degree and research students. Together, these programs are estimated to prepare more than 12,000 individuals to enter the U.S. semiconductor industry job market, with the greatest impact on engineering and technician talent. Furthermore, this investment will bolster the semiconductor workforce ecosystem by training over 250 educators, ranging from K-12 teachers to university professors. This will enable K-12 educators to integrate foundational STEM and technical skills in their curricula, while community college and university instructors will impart the latest technology, application, and design knowledge on their students nationwide, ensuring the impact of the anticipated WFPA funding impact extends well into the future.
“By supporting partners who are leaders in workforce development, we’re helping to shape the next generation of talent who will support the growth of the U.S. semiconductor industry for years to come,” said John D. Ratliff, executive director of the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence and vice president at Natcast. “These programs will not only prepare the researchers, engineers, and technicians necessary to keep the industry at the forefront of innovation but also enable educators and employers across the country to meet the evolving demands of this sector that is critical to America’s national security and economic prosperity.”
Ratliff will lead all NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE) efforts as its new executive director. Ratliff comes to Natcast from CHIPS for America, where he served as head of R&D workforce strategy. His previous roles include serving as counselor to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and director of policy and strategic planning for the Commerce Department. Prior to Commerce, Ratliff spent seven years as director of policy for the state of Maryland. He has also served as a fellow and director of policy innovation at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program. Drawing on decades of experience leading efforts to prepare talent and build prosperity in an era of dramatic change, Ratliff will be instrumental in delivering on the WCoE’s strategic goals.
To learn more about the WFPA partners and programs and view statements of support from across the semiconductor ecosystem, please visit natcast.org/workforce/wfpa/partners.
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ABOUT NATCAST
Natcast is the purpose-built, non-profit entity created to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), 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.