Durham Tapped as Site for $285M Semiconductor Institute

A new semiconductor manufacturing institute may come to Durham, thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration.

The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Semiconductor Research Corporation Manufacturing Consortium Corporation (SRC) are in negotiations to provide SRC with $285 million to establish the institute in Durham.

The institute, known as SMART USA (Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA) is expected to focus on developing, validating, and using digital twins to improve semiconductor design and manufacturing. SMART USA would join a network of 17 other institutes meant to improve U.S. competitiveness and promote robust research and development infrastructure.

“Digital twins” are virtual models that replicate physical objects, such as chips or machinery. Engineers and researchers use models to design, develop, and test processes in the virtual world before applying them to real life.

“America’s technological leadership on the world stage depends on its ability to collaborate with the best and brightest around the globe,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

SMART USA aims to:

• Speed up development and adoption of advanced semiconductor technologies.
• Shorten the time and cost of chip production.
• Provide training opportunities for next-gen semiconductor workers.