The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) through the CHIPS and Science Act has launched the anticipated National Semiconductor Technology Center’s Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoe) with an estimated investment of about $250 million.
Additionally, the DOC through the CHIPS Act has finalized its direct investment to Polar Semiconductor of up to $123 million as the first Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities. Previously, Polar and DOC came to an agreement to transform the company into a U.S.-based chip foundry.
The investment would include private and state sources to expand Polar’s manufacturing facility and introduce new capabilities and technology in Bloomington, Minnesota. Additionally, this would transform the company from a majority foreign-owned in-house manufacturer to a U.S.-owned commercial semiconductor foundry.
WCoE
In February, the DOC unveiled the NSTC with an initial investment of $5 billion for research and development. At the time, one of the major draws to the organization was the inclusion of hundreds of millions of dollars into the semiconductor workforce, specifically in packaging, metrology and the creation of a CHIPS Manufacturing USA Institute.
The WCoE with an investment of $250 million would support this endeavor to help America remain a global leader in advanced semiconductors and semiconductor R&D, the DOC said. It will also help build up a workforce with good-paying jobs as part of the nine workforce hubs stationed across the U.S.
The investment will be divvied out over the next 10 years.
As part of the WCoE launch, non-profit NSTC entity Natcast has announced more than $11 million across more than 12 states and nationally through the NSTC Workforce Partner Alliance (WFPA) program to further help generate workforce development efforts.
There will be three inaugural programs inside the WCoE:
- The Amplifier Program
- The Signals Program
- The Connections Program
The Amplifier Program will scale efficient, equitable and industry worker-centered workforce development practices that place workers in high quality jobs and a chance to join a union.
The Signals Program will use data and research to monitor workforce trends. It will evaluate the progress and outcomes to develop insights into supply and demand in workforce.
Finally, the Connections Program will provide hands-on assistance and events to meet needs of NSTC member organizations to help build the chip workforce.
Polar
The investment in Polar will allow it to double its U.S. production capacity of sensor and power chips in two years. The award will be part of a total investment of more than $525 million from private, state and federal sources to transform the company from a foreign-owned in-house manufacturer to a majority U.S.-owned commercial foundry.
The investment will create over 160 manufacturing and construction jobs in Minnesota.
“Semiconductors — those tiny chips smaller than the tip of your finger — power everything from smartphones to cars to satellites and weapons systems,” said Joe Biden, president of the U.S. “I signed the CHIPS and Science Act to revitalize American leadership in semiconductors, strengthen our supply chains, protect our national security, and advance American competitiveness. And over the last three and a half years, we have done just that, catalyzing over $400 billion in private sector investments in semiconductors and electronics that are creating over 115,000 construction and manufacturing jobs. This year alone, the United States is on pace to see more investment in electronics manufacturing construction than it did over the last 24 years combined.”
