DoC celebrates one-year anniversary of the CHIPS and Science Act

The U.S. Department of Commerce is celebrating the first anniversary of the historic CHIPS and Science Act. Signed into law by President Joe Biden, the law invests $50 billion to boost U.S. manufacturing, bring supply chains back to our shores, and protect national security. The CHIPS and Science Act will enhance the competitiveness of the American semiconductor industry to reduce reliance on other countries for semiconductor manufacturing, while protecting our long-term national security and strengthening the U.S. economy.

“The CHIPS for America program is a historic opportunity to solidify America’s leadership and protect national security. Our work will boost semiconductor manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and unleash the next generation of innovation. We’ve come a long way in the first year, but there’s exciting work still to be done. Under the President’s leadership, and through the CHIPS for America program, we’re ensuring that America secures its role as a technological superpower for decades to come,” said Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo.

In February, the Department of Commerce released its first notice of funding opportunity targeting commercial manufacturing facilities, and later opened it to include large supply chain and material equipment projects. In response, over 460 statements of interest have been submitted by companies eager to manufacture semiconductors in the United States. Private companies have announced more than $230 billion in semiconductor manufacturing under the Biden-Harris Administration.

“Since President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law, and before we’ve even given out a dime in CHIPS funding, we have already seen robust investments from private sector companies interested in establishing production in the U.S. As we charge ahead, we will continue to work with these companies to restore our nation’s supply chains, build out the workforce we need to compete in the 21st century economy, and ensure that leading-edge fabs are built here in America,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Graves.

Over the last year, the CHIPS for America team has grown to include 140 people housed in two newly established offices. The team holds decades of experience from both industry and government, with backgrounds in research and development, investments, and management of large-scale projects.

In July, the Department of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Defense to increase the exchange of information and coordinate on efforts to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor industrial base. Through this MOA, the two Departments can better address semiconductor needs for U.S. national security and defense programs.

Critical steps taken by DoC in last year

In addition to the 460 statements of interest from across 42 states, steps taken by Commerce include:

• Launching the first CHIPS for America funding opportunity for commercial manufacturing facilities, and then opened it to include large supply chain and material equipment projects.
• Creating two new CHIPS offices and building an efficient, fast, and responsible team that represents decades of experience across industry and government.
• Publishing a vision and strategy paper for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), a centerpiece of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act’s R&D program.
• Announcing the Selection Committee that will choose board members to form a nonprofit entity that we anticipate will serve as the operator of the NSTC.

Next steps

Later this year, CHIPS for America will release a dedicated funding opportunity for smaller semiconductor materials and manufacturing equipment facilities with capital investments below $300 million, as well as a funding opportunity for R&D facilities. These investments will restore U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, support good-paying jobs across the semiconductor supply chain, and advance U.S. economic and national security.

The bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act will continue to strengthen American manufacturing, supply chains, and national security. Investments research and development, science and technology, and the workforce of the future will keep the United States the leader in the industries of tomorrow, including nanotechnology, clean energy, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.

“We’ve come a long way, but there’s plenty of work to still be done,” said Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo. “If we do this right, we will once again lead in manufacturing, and the innovation that grows from it. We will foster a new generation of innovators who will write the next chapter in our history.”