Semiconductor Industry Calls for Increased Funding for Research in Recovery Plan

The Semiconductor Industry Association wants the new administration to include substantial funding for semiconductor manufacturing and research via grants and tax credits in its economic recovery plan. In a Feb. 11 letter to President Joe Biden, SIA said its competitors worldwide have an unfair advantage due to incentives and subsidies provided by their governments. SIA said the U.S. took a step in the right direction when it passed the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act, or CHIPS for America Act, in the 2021 defense bill, but it said more is needed. “Semiconductors are critical to the U.S. economy, American technology leadership, and our national security,” the letter said. “They enable the technologies needed to realize your Build Back Better goals, including smarter and safer transportation, greater broadband access, cleaner energy, and a more efficient energy grid, while also providing high-paying jobs for Americans and strengthening our advanced manufacturing base.”