Sec. 5. Microelectronics Science Research Centers
937 words·~4 min read·
/bill/117/s/3740/is/section-5·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
In carrying out the program, subject to the availability of appropriations, the Director shall designate not more than 4 eligible entities as Microelectronics Science Research Centers— to conduct mission-driven research to address foundational challenges in the design, development, characterization, prototyping, demonstration, and fabrication of microelectronics; and to facilitate the translation of research results to industry. An eligible entity referred to in subsection
(a)is— a National Laboratory; an institution of higher education, including a historically Black college or university, a Tribal College or University, and a minority-serving institution; a private commercial entity; a research center; a partnership or consortium of 2 or more entities described in paragraphs
(1)through (4); and any other entity that the Secretary determines appropriate. The activities of a Center shall include research, development, and demonstration activities for— accelerating the development of new microelectronics science and technology, including materials, devices, circuits, systems, architectures, fabrication tools, processes, diagnostics, modeling, synthesis, and, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, metrology; advancing the sustainability and energy efficiency of new microelectronics devices, packages, and systems; application-driven codesign and prototyping of novel devices to facilitate laboratory-to-fabrication transition; advancing knowledge and experimental capabilities in surface and materials science, plasma science, and computational and theoretical methods, including artificial intelligence, multiscale codesign, and advanced supercomputing capabilities to invent and manufacture revolutionary microelectronic devices; creating technology testbeds for prototyping platforms for validation and verification of new capabilities and sharing of ideas, intellectual property, and the unique facilities of the Department; supporting development of cybersecurity capabilities for computing architectures that measurably improve safety and security and are adaptable for existing and future applications; and supporting long-term and short-term workforce development in microelectronics. The Director shall, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director determines to be appropriate, issue a request for proposals from eligible entities described in subsection
(b)seeking to be designated as a Center. Each Center shall operate for a period of not more than 5 years, unless renewed for an additional 5-year period in accordance with subparagraph (B). In the case of a Center that has operated for not more than 5 years, the Director may renew support for the Center on a merit-reviewed basis for a period of not more than 5 years. In the case of a Center that has operated for not less than 5 years but not more than 10 years, the Director may renew support for the Center on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis for a period of not more than 5 years. In the case of a Center that has operated for not less than 10 years but not more than 15 years, the Director may renew support for the Center on a merit-reviewed basis for a period of not more than 5 years. Consistent with the existing authorities of the Department, the Director may terminate an underperforming Center during the performance period. The Director, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Technology Transitions, shall seek to enter into partnerships with industry groups to facilitate the translation and transfer of research results produced by the Centers. The Secretary shall— establish a coordinating network to coordinate cross-cutting research and foster communication and collaboration among the Centers; and ensure coordination, and avoid unnecessary duplication, of the activities of each Center with the activities of— other research entities of the Department, including— the Nanoscale Science Research Centers; the National Quantum Information Science Research Centers; the Energy Frontier Research Centers; the Energy Innovation Hubs; the National Laboratories; and other offices of the Department; the national semiconductor technology center established under section 9906(c)(1) of the William M.
(Mac)Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( 15 U.S.C. 4656(c)(1) ); institutions of higher education; industry; and relevant research activities carried out by other Federal agencies. Each Center shall support workforce development through— incorporation of undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and early career researchers, as well as elementary school, secondary school, and high school students, through opportunities such as dual-enrollment programs and work-based learning programs, as applicable; hands-on research and equipment training programs; technical training and certificate programs for the skilled technical workforce; facilitation of engagement among academic, industry, and laboratory researchers; and public outreach activities, including to students at elementary school, secondary school, high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels, which activities may include educational programming with an emphasis on experiential and project-based learning. The Secretary shall conduct outreach to recruit applicants to the program and engage participants from all regions of the United States, especially individuals from underserved communities and groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Secretary shall ensure that the intellectual property and value proposition created by the Centers are retained within the United States. In this subsection, the term covered determination means a determination of the Secretary— to designate an eligible entity as a Center under subsection (a); to renew support for a Center under subsection (e)(1)(B); or to terminate a Center under subsection (e)(2). Not later than 30 days after the Secretary makes a covered determination, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a notification of the covered determination, including— the criteria used by the Secretary to make the covered determination; and the manner in which the criteria described in subparagraph
(A)comport with the purposes of the program described in subsection (a). Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall use not more than $25,000,000 to fund each Center for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
Connectionstraces to 1
Traces to 1 document
Citation graph
cites case law
Sec. 5
Microelectronics Science Research Centers
Cites 1Cited by 0 across 0 sources