What a year 2024 was! From the official signing of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) consortium agreement in February to the launch of jump start R&D programs, the Workforce Center of Excellence, NSTC membership, and the announcement of three R&D facilities, Natcast has accomplished a great deal — but it’s only the beginning.
The NSTC represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a transformative institution that endures for decades, accelerates the pace of innovation through investments in research, shared infrastructure, and workforce development programs, and ensures those innovations form the foundations for future industries. At Natcast, we are embracing the unprecedented opportunity presented to us by the CHIPS and Science Act and the Department of Commerce to build the NSTC and support a vibrant, sustainable ecosystem for semiconductor R&D in the United States.
As we start a new year, we’d like to first reflect on the progress and milestones achieved in our first year thanks in large part to your support, contributions, and participation. Here are a few highlights from 2024:
Laying the Foundation
Natcast’s first hire was our CEO, Deirdre Hanford, in January 2024. From there, we’ve worked swiftly to build our organizational structure, leadership, and staff, adding more than 50 team members and decades of experience across industry, government, academia, and beyond. With a strong team in place, we began defining and implementing the NSTC strategy, infrastructure, and programming built around three primary goals:
- Extend U.S. technology leadership
- Reduce the time and cost to prototype
- Build and sustain a semiconductor workforce ecosystem
Read the NSTC Strategic Plan here.
Driving R&D Innovation
Recognizing the urgent need to accelerate impactful innovation, Natcast launched the first three NSTC R&D jump start programs in 2024:
- AIDRFIC: Artificial Intelligence-Driven Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design Enablement
- TVIP: Test Vehicle Innovation Pipeline
- PRISM: Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Reduction and Innovation in Semiconductor Manufacturing
In October, Natcast announced three anticipated awardees and approximately $30 million in funding through the AIDRFIC program. In total, Natcast anticipates awarding up to $130 million across these first three programs, with the overarching goal of generating shared assets and resources that NSTC members can leverage to support, enhance, and advance their R&D priorities.
As we further develop our research agenda in the new year, we are soliciting input from NSTC members to help guide its strategic direction. Learn more about our R&D initiatives here.
Establishing World-Class Facilities
In July, Natcast and the Department of Commerce launched site selection processes for three CHIPS for America R&D flagship facilities and since then have announced the following anticipated location selections:
- CHIPS for America Extreme Ultraviolet Accelerator, an NSTC facility (EUV Accelerator) – NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex in Albany, New York
- CHIPS for America Design and Collaboration Facility, an NSTC Facility (DCF) – Sunnyvale, California
- NSTC Prototyping and NAPMP Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility (PPF) – Arizona State University Research Park in Tempe, Arizona
Together, these three facilities will provide a home for conducting world class R&D, fostering innovation, and reducing the time between early-stage research and commercialization.
Learn more about the facilities model and process selection here.
Expanding the Workforce
With a $250 million investment from the Department of Commerce, Natcast launched the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE) in September 2024 to build and sustain the U.S. semiconductor workforce development ecosystem. The WCoE brings together stakeholders from across the U.S. to better understand the nature of, and find solutions to, the workforce challenges currently facing the domestic semiconductor industry.
As the first funding opportunity offered through the WCoE, the Workforce Partner Alliance (WFPA) program awarded more than $11 million to seven institutions to develop the semiconductor workforce across more than a dozen U.S. states. The program is projected to support more than 12,000 individuals entering or advancing careers in the industry across semiconductor design, manufacturing, and production.
Natcast also announced 18 inaugural members of the Workforce Advisory Board (WFAB) earlier this month. Comprising U.S. leaders from the private sector, higher education, workforce development organizations, and federal agencies, the WFAB will offer input to ensure WCoE initiatives are employer-driven and responsive to real-time industry challenges.
Learn more about the WCoE and its initiatives here.
Building Membership & Collaboration
On September 30, 2024, Natcast launched the NSTC membership program, a significant milestone for the NSTC and the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem. Designed to provide unique value to entities across the ecosystem, the public-private consortium is focused on innovation, collaboration, and education to bolster the U.S. semiconductor industry.
By the end of the year, more than 100 companies and organizations across the semiconductor value chain had committed to join as NSTC members.
Learn more about NSTC membership and join the mission here.
Looking Ahead
We’ve already started 2025 strong by announcing our Workforce Advisory Board (WFAB) and the location of our third R&D facility, the PPF at the Arizona State University Research Park. Other priorities this year include:
- Sharing the NSTC research agenda
- Announcing our Technical Advisory Board
- Launching additional R&D jump start programs
- Establishing our Design Enablement Gateway and silicon aggregation service
- Announcing an investment fund
- Launching additional Workforce Center of Excellence programs, resources, and awards