Commerce Seeking Nominations for Microelectronics Advisory Committee
The Commerce Department is seeking nominations for a new Industrial Advisory Committee on microelectronics research development, manufacturing and policy, the agency said this week. The committee, to be composed equally of representatives from the semiconductor industry, federal laboratories and academic institutions, will advise the administration on how best to maintain U.S. leadership in microelectronics manufacturing and support the semiconductor sector. The agency will accept committee nominations on an ongoing basis “and will be considered as and when vacancies arise.”
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“Microelectronics are enabling technologies for industries of the future, like artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, 5G and quantum computing,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Dec. 1. “This committee will provide the necessary practical, expert advice from industry, academia and government to help us get this right.”
The committee will include at least 12 members who are “qualified to provide advice” to the U.S. government on microelectronics issues, Commerce said. Members will serve three-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms. A member who has served two consecutive terms will be ineligible to serve another term until one year after the second term ends. Meetings are expected to be held at least twice a year and open to the public.
The committee was mandated by the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires Commerce to work with the Defense, Energy and Homeland Security departments to create an advisory board for microelectronics. The call for nominations comes as the U.S. looks for ways to address the global chip shortage and maintain U.S. leadership over microelectronics and other emerging technologies, including through export controls, foreign investment screening and more industry funding and incentives (see 2104060045, 2103120042 and 2112010023).