The U.S. Department of Defense has announced an additional investment of $160 million from the CHIPS and Science Act, aimed at enhancing America's microelectronics capabilities through the Microelectronics Commons network. This funding follows a previous allocation in September of $269 million for 33 new technical projects and nearly $240 million released a year ago to establish eight technology hubs.

Most of the recent funding, totaling $148 million, is directed towards these hubs to support infrastructure development, operations, and workforce training. Specific allocations include $18.7 million for the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition Hub led by Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, $16.6 million for Indiana's Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub led by Applied Research Institute, and $27 million for California's Defense Ready Electronics and Microdevices Superhub led by the University of Southern California.

Additional awards were given to North Carolina State University's Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors Hub with $23.7 million; Arizona State University's Southwest Advanced Prototyping Hub with $18.7 million; Ohio's Midwest Microelectronics Consortium Hub with $12.3 million; New York's Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub with $10.6 million; and California-Pacific-Northwest AI Hardware Hub led by Stanford University with $15.3 million.

Furthermore, a Cross-Hub Enablement Solution will receive $10 million to improve access to Electronic Design Automation tools and cloud resources, alongside a new prototype project linked to the SCMC Hub valued at $2 million.

Dr. Arati Prabhakar emphasized the significance of semiconductors in military systems: "America's military systems are the most capable in the world, and that would not be possible without advanced semiconductor technology." Dr. Dev Shenoy highlighted their role in future technologies: "Semiconductors are key to the must-win technologies of the future for next generation weapons systems."

The Microelectronics Commons network recently held its Annual Meeting and National Semiconductor Technology Center Symposium in Washington D.C., drawing over 2,000 participants both virtually and in-person. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks noted during her keynote speech: "Chips bring America together."

Throughout this event, hub leaders shared updates on their progress over the past year concerning prototype projects and workforce initiatives while emphasizing lab-to-fab pathways that facilitate transitions from research labs into fabrication facilities domestically.

Shenoy elaborated on these efforts: "The Microelectronics Commons aims to enable lab-to-fab prototyping...a national network of regional innovation hubs distributed across the U.S."

These developments under CHIPS Act funding underscore significant investments toward advancing domestic semiconductor industries crucial for maintaining national security amid growing demands globally.