Commerce talks timeline for semiconductor, CHIPS funding

This week, the U.S. Department of Commerce updated its timeline for funding opportunities that support semiconductor and related manufacturing, as well as relevant R&D facilities. The department still intends, as first stated in its strategic plan last fall, to make funding for chip fabrication facilities available later this month. The funding opportunity for related manufacturing will be made available in “late spring.” The announcement, which was made over email, states that funding to support the construction of semiconductor R&D facilities is planned for “early fall” but does not specify if that opportunity would encompass all or just some of the research centers and networks funded in the CHIPS and Science Act. 

Separately, the agency made two public notices for information collection that appear to be related to the CHIPS manufacutring funding in the Federal Register for comment: one is a meeting request form (comments open until Feb. 13) and one is a notice of interest form (comments open until Feb. 23).

SSTI’s Tech-based Economic Development Community of Practice recently discussed these programs in its webinar overviewing new federal funding available from CHIPS and the FY 2023 budget — view the recording here.