Sec. 10663. Microelectronics research program
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The Secretary shall carry out a cross-cutting program of research, development, and demonstration of microelectronics relevant to the missions of the Department and in the service of the Nation’s global competitiveness in the field of microelectronics. In carrying out this program, the Secretary shall coordinate across all relevant programs and offices of the Department. In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall award financial assistance to eligible entities under subsection
(c)to carry out research projects in— foundational science areas, including— materials sciences, chemical sciences, and plasma science synthesis, and fabrication; novel microelectronics devices, including emerging memory and storage technologies; diverse computing architectures and paradigms, including analog computing and edge computing; data-driven modeling and simulation; integrated sensing, power harvesting, and communications; component integration and subsystems; photonic integration; and development of co-design frameworks for all stages of microelectronics design, development, fabrication, and application; cybersecurity by design to result in trusted and resilient microelectronics; methods for leveraging advanced simulation and artificial intelligence to enhance co-design and discovery in microelectronics; in consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, fabrication and processing science and metrology associated with microelectronics manufacturing, including lithography, patterning, surface deposition, etching, and cleaning; approaches for optimizing system-level energy efficiency of advanced computing systems, the electrical grid, power electronics, and other energy infrastructure; approaches for enhancing the durability and lifetime of radiation-hardened electronics; enhancement of microelectronics security, including the development of integrated devices, packages, and thermal management for severe environments and national security; in coordination with other relevant initiatives at the Department, methods to improve the lifetime, maintenance, decommissioning, recycling, reuse, and sustainability of microelectronics components and systems, including technologies and strategies that reduce the use of energy, water, critical materials, and other commodities that are determined to be vulnerable to disruption; and methods and techniques for domestic processing of materials for microelectronics and their components. The entities eligible to receive financial assistance under this section include— an institution of higher education, including historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, and minority serving institutions; a nonprofit research organization; a State research agency; a National Laboratory; a private commercial entity; a partnership or consortium of 2 or more entities described in paragraphs
(1)through (5); and any other entities the Secretary deems appropriate. In carrying out the program described in subsection (a), the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Technology Transitions, and in consultation with the private sector, shall support translational research and transfer of microelectronics technologies and identify emerging research and development needs of industry and government for the benefit of United States economic competitiveness. In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall support— workforce development through the existing authorities and mechanisms available to the Department, including internships, fellowships, individual investigator grants, and other activities the Secretary deems appropriate; and education and outreach activities to disseminate information and promote understanding of microelectronics and related fields among students at K–12, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Such activities may include educational programming with an emphasis on experiential and project-based learning. The Secretary shall consult with the Director of the National Science Foundation on activities carried out this paragraph. In carrying out activities under subsection (e), the Secretary shall ensure program outreach to recruit applicants and engage participants from all regions of the country, especially underserved communities and groups historically underrepresented in STEM. Not less than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, a report describing the goals, priorities, and anticipated outcomes of the program described in subsection (a). There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the activities described in this section— $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.