U.S. National Science Foundation and Department of Commerce Announce $30 Million Funding to Prepare Talent for Semiconductor Jobs Nationwide
Full applications are due by 4:00 p.m. ET on October 28, 2024
Announcement Type: Program Solicitation (the program is now open for applications)
Opportunity: National Network for Microelectronics Education Program
Overview and Eligible Uses: The U.S. CHIPS and Science Act provides funding to revitalize microelectronics research, development, design, and manufacturing within the United States. A portion of this funding has been allocated to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to support education and workforce development, addressing the anticipated shortage of skilled workers needed by the U.S. microelectronics industry, with an emphasis on the semiconductor workforce. The purpose of this solicitation is to select an operator for the National Network Coordination Hub (referred to as the "Hub"), which will oversee the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME). The NNME will function as a coalition of regional programs and centers, aimed at fostering and advancing new and existing efforts to prepare individuals for roles within the microelectronics workforce.
Through this announcement, NSF, in partnership with the CHIPS for America R&D Office and the CHIPS Program Office (CPO) within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a bureau of the DOC, is seeking proposals. Following the merit review and selection process outlined in this announcement, NSF intends to grant one award to a suitable organization to serve as the Hub. As the primary component of the NNME, the Hub will be responsible for establishing, expanding, operating, coordinating, and managing the NNME to ensure it has the geographical reach and operational capacity needed to meet the U.S. microelectronics workforce demands.
The creation of the NNME is supported by several NSF Directorates, including Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), STEM Education (EDU), Engineering (ENG), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP), along with the DOC’s CHIPS R&D Office and CPO within NIST. NSF and DOC anticipate that the Hub will collaborate closely with the National Semiconductor Technology Center’s (NSTC) Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE), operated by Natcast, a purpose-built nonprofit overseen by the DOC.
Amount: Up to $30,000,000 over 6 years.
Award Type: Competitive Grant
Eligible Applicants:
This solicitation requires a lead organization to submit a proposal, and all lead organizations must be actively registered in the Federal Government’s System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting a proposal
The lead organization must be an institution of higher education or non-profit organization or a consortium (group) of such institutions and organizations
Key Dates: Applications deadline at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on October 28, 2024
Key Links:
Program Solicitation (NSF)
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