The San Jose-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) Thursday praised the passage of the Department of Defense appropriation bill that includes funding for the Focus Center Research Program (FCRP).

“The Focus Center Research Program coordinates basic research on semiconductor technology at 33 universities across the country,” noted SIA President George Scalise, in a statement. “Securing federal funds to match the funds provided by the U.S. semiconductor industry was a top priority for SIA and we are very grateful for the bipartisan effort that achieved this objective.”

The FCRP is an example of how cooperation between government, industry, and academia can successfully coordinate and carry out mid- to long-term basic research to advance semiconductor technology, he continued.

“Leadership in microchip technology is a key element of U.S. strategies for growing our economy, improving our productivity, enhancing our standard of living, and ensuring national security. While driving advances in technology, the Focus Center program also trains the scientists and engineers of the future,” Scalise added.

The FCRP involves five focus centers – lead universities – and 33 other universities that work together on basic research in five critical areas: system design, interconnects, circuits, devices, and nanomaterials and nanodevices with all funds provided for the program going directly to the universities.

The SIA noted that its members fund the program at $20 million a year.

By: DocMemory
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