Chip companies and government officials have consistently bemoaned the need for chip production in the U.S., which includes the lack of production facilities as well as a stronger focus on research and development of talent.
To that end, the National Science Foundation and Semiconductor Research Corp. recently signed a deal to support hands-on research for undergrads in areas related to semiconductors. The goal is to advance the fundamental science and engineering of semiconductors and development of a diverse science and engineering workforce.
The five-year agreement means NSF and SRC will support awards for NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduate sites. SRC President and CEO Todd Younkin testified to the value of the REU program since he was once part of it, saying it drove him into graduate studies in chemistry that led to a nanotechnology career at Intel.
About 6,000 students participate in NSF REU sites annually where they get 8 to 10 weeks of research and profession development in groups of about 10. Many are women, persons with disability or Black, Hispanic or other underrepresented minorities.
The goal of the program is to teach students to think and work like scientists. “They learn by doing,” said Sylvia Butterfiled, acting NSF director for education and human resources.
Separately, Intel announced on Thursday an AI Incubator Network with Dell and American Association of Community Colleges to build AI labs across the country using industry connections with the community college system.
Ten colleges will be selected for 12-month grants of $40,000 each to build out their AI labs. Applications are online through AACC.
The incubator concept is an initiative of Intel’s AI for Workforce program that has expanded to 31 schools in 18 states since its inception in 2020.
Many tech companies provide funding and other support for research and technical training, but Intel has also been in the news lately for announcing it will spend $100 million over a decade with universities and colleges in the Ohio area to include labs and curriculum leading to undergrad and associate degrees in technology fields. The Ohio effort was announced the same time Intel said would build two chip factories for $20 billion in New Albany, Ohio.
RECENT: Intel to build two fabs in Ohio for $20B, launch $100M college partnership.