National Semiconductor Technology Center

AFTEF will use anticipated funding to expand a partnership with Micron to implement an Advanced Technology Framework in high schools across New York, Michigan, and Minnesota. The program aims to equip students with the skills needed for careers in the microchip industry, fostering talent and bridging the gap between education and industry demands.

RIT will use anticipated funding to implement the Broadening Research and Inter-Disciplinary Graduate Education (BRIDGE) for Microelectronics program, with the goal to train 555 students at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels, and through a new online certificate program, across microelectronics-related educational tracks. The program emphasizes education, industry collaboration, and student support to address workforce shortages in the microelectronics sector. 

Led by The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Illinois Semiconductor Workforce Network (ISWN) will use anticipated funding to address the critical shortage of skilled professionals in the U.S. semiconductor industry. This initiative will develop a diverse, highly skilled workforce through industry-aligned training programs. By collaborating with semiconductor ecosystem partners, Grainger Engineering will equip students with cutting-edge skills and career opportunities, strengthening America's technological future in this crucial sector.

ITC will use anticipated funding to launch the Enhanced Access to the Semiconductor Industry in Idaho (EASII) program. The initiative will provide comprehensive support services, such as childcare, transportation, and mental health counseling, to participants in semiconductor workforce training programs. With this support, ITC aims to eliminate barriers to program completion and facilitate smoother transitions into the semiconductor workforce for 430 participant.

Texas A&M will use anticipated funding to empower its WAVE-CHIP project. The project will equip more than 7,500 individuals in the semiconductor workforce with critical hardware verification skills, directly addressing the industry's pressing need for qualified engineers. The project’s impact will extend far beyond its immediate participants by training 109 community college and university-level instructors, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of skilled verification engineers for years to come.

MCCCD will use anticipated funding to expand its semiconductor technician training offerings and launch the Maricopa Accelerated Semiconductor Training (MAST) program, building on the success of the Quick Start program. As the largest workforce training provider in the state, MCCCD's expanded programming will prepare an additional 300 individuals for careers as semiconductor technicians in Arizona's booming semiconductor industry, addressing the region's growing demand for highly skilled workers and reinforcing Arizona's position as a global semiconductor leader.

The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering will use anticipated funding to establish the Center for Education of Microchip Designers (CEMiD) to provide comprehensive training in analog and digital chip design to engineering students and practicing engineers. Along with co-PIs at Carnegie Mellon University, University of Hawaii, University of Notre Dame, and Stanford University, the program will equip hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students at universities across the country with the skills to design, fabricate, and test their own chips. The program will also help participants foster industry connections to create a self-sustaining workforce development ecosystem in the U.S. microchip industry. CEMiD plans to train professors at universities and colleges nationwide to help expand the reach and impact of the program.