National Semiconductor Technology Center Consortium seeks proposals to address workforce challenges in the semiconductor industry

Natcast, the nonprofit entity that operates the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) Consortium, recently launched the NSTC Workforce Partner Alliance (WFPA) program. ​The program seeks to address workforce challenges in the U.S. semiconductor industry by supporting projects that close skills and labor market gaps for researchers, engineers, and technicians in semiconductor design, manufacturing, and production. ​The WFPA will fund between four and ten projects with budgets between $500,000 to $2 million per award. While not required, proposals that include complementary funding or leverage public resources will receive strong preference.

Natcast seeks proposals that support

• Established programs seeking to scale
• Growing programs seeking expansion or realignment
• New programs that address previously unaddressed needs.

Open to for-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other training providers, including state and local government agencies, nonprofits, and unions, the WFPA program encourages evidence-based workforce development strategies such as:

• Paid work-based learning, including apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships
• Industry-recognized credentials
• Relevant degree programs, including undergraduate or graduate programs in computer engineering, electrical engineering, technology, informatics, computer programming, chemical engineering, or industrial engineering
• Curriculum modernization, based on employer input
• On-the-job training with effective classroom instruction leading to milestone-based wage gains.

As described in the Call for Proposals, the semiconductor industry is facing a significant workforce challenge as growth in the demand for semiconductor talent is expected to outpace the supply of skilled workers. ​Estimates from the Semiconductor Industry Association  show that the industry will be unable to fill more than 67,000 of the 238,000 jobs it is expected to create by 2030. ​ New workers from all backgrounds will be needed because these jobs range from researchers to engineers to technicians. ​Natcast states that filling this workforce gap is an opportunity to serve underserved communities, connect individuals to sustainable jobs, and develop a robust workforce ecosystem that supports the national and economic security of the U.S. ​

The full application deadline is July 26th at 11:59 p.m. EDT.