Extending U.S. Technology Leadership through R&D
The NSTC is reinforcing and extending U.S. leadership in semiconductors by identifying and advancing promising research initiatives in semiconductor technologies and fostering collaboration throughout the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.
To support this goal, Natcast is working closely with NSTC Members to define and implement NSTC research awards and programs including:
- Focusing on the early stage of “lab-to-fab” gap and helping ideas achieve a proof-of-concept or validation point
- Executing the NSTC Research Agenda through research awards and other in-house and member-driven research opportunities
Strategic objectives:
- Jump start research program
- Initial NSTC Research Agenda
- Long-term research programs
- Convenings across the ecosystem
NSTC Research Agenda
The NSTC Research Agenda will direct the NSTC’s research efforts, programming, and investments to maintain alignment and leadership in the evolving technical landscape. Natcast anticipates publishing the initial NSTC Research Agenda in summer 2025 with input from the NSTC Technical Advisory Board (TAB) and NSTC Members. Organized around industry challenges, the Research Agenda will be periodically updated to reflect evolving industry trends and stakeholder needs.
SMAP
The Scalable Memory Architecture Program (SMAP) focuses on architectural studies leveraging new memory devices and advanced packaging to address the memory wall.
NSTC R&D Jump Start Programs
The NSTC has been chartered to identify, conduct, support, and enable semiconductor research and development to best serve the needs of the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem as envisioned by the CHIPS and Science Act.
To that end, one of the top priorities for Natcast in 2024 was to launch a portfolio of initial NSTC R&D Jump Start Programs, focused on funding projects with high impact, quick turnaround, and broad ecosystem engagement. In total, Natcast anticipates awarding up to $130 million across the following three programs, with the overarching goal of generating shared assets and resources that NSTC members can leverage to support, enhance, and advance their R&D priorities.
AIDRFIC
The Artificial Intelligence Driven Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design Enablement (AIDRFIC) program will enable domestically developed AI-based Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools for RFIC.
TVIP
The TVIP program focuses on leveraging economies of scale in shared test vehicles to drive innovation.
PRISM
The goal of the PRISM program is to enhance the economic sustainability of semiconductor manufacturing.
NSTC Technical Advisory Board
Natcast has established a Technical Advisory Board (TAB) comprised of key stakeholders spanning the semiconductor ecosystem to provide strategic guidance, expertise, and advice to Natcast in shaping and guiding the NSTC Research Agenda through the ever-evolving technical landscape.
Natcast Approach to Competitions and Awards
To advance and enable disruptive innovation and promote a skilled workforce, Natcast will be engaged in both internal and external projects. Many of the external projects will be awarded through a competitive proposal process.
The “Proposer overview of Natcast processes and policies for competitions and awards” document provides a high-level overview of Natcast’s approach to managing the competition and award process. The purpose of the overview is to give the NSTC membership (which is also the NSTC proposer community) a sense of how Natcast addresses process integrity issues including confidentiality, fairness, and rigorous decision-making.
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