The war for talent in the semiconductor industry is something we are hearing worldwide as governments around the world try to create local semiconductor ecosystems to build resilience into their supply chains. The latest news is a $30 million funding opportunity as part of the U.S. CHIPS & Science Act to manage the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME).

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Commerce (DoC) announced a $30 million funding opportunity, as part of the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Act signed into law by the Biden-Harris Administration, to establish the Network Coordination Hub that will manage the NNME and lead its national strategy to train skilled workers for good-paying jobs needed in the U.S. semiconductor and microelectronics industry over the next decade. The Hub will be managed by NSF in close coordination with the DoC.

The NSF and DoC are currently inviting proposals from institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or groups of such institutions and organizations to establish and operate the Network Coordination Hub. This hub will be responsible for coordinating a coalition of regional consortia, each with its own programs and centers, to offer consistent, rigorous, and engaging curricula, instructional materials, experiential opportunities, teacher professional development, and more throughout the U.S.

Proposers interested in operating the Network Coordination Hub must apply by Oct. 28, 2024, at 4 p.m. EDT. The solicitation can be found here. While this specific hub is being offered $30 million, the NNME is envisioned as an up to $200 million investment in the next generation of talent necessary for the long-term success of the U.S. semiconductor and microelectronics industry.

NSF director Sethuraman Panchanathan said in last week’s announcement, “Training all Americans, at all levels, across all industries, and across all states is critical to U.S. competitiveness. The National Network for Microelectronics Education will open the door for more opportunities, more training, and more connection with industry to ensure that Americans have the training for the skilled jobs of today and tomorrow, and that the semiconductor and microelectronics industry has the skilled American workers to hire into jobs resulting from the impacts of the bipartisan ‘CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.”

Adding to this, the announcement also included a comment from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “An empowered and skilled workforce is fundamental to fulfilling the vision of the CHIPS for America Program. Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, this is a collaborative, inclusive, and whole-of-government effort. Thanks to our partnership with NSF, the National Network will now work hand-in-hand with industry and the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence to boost our education system—from K-12 to Higher Education—and ensure workers have the skills they need to build careers in the semiconductor industry.”

By: DocMemory
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