NeoCity singled out for 'Foresight to make key strategic investments in semiconductor talent pipelines'
As part of a first-ever collection of “Regional Innovation Engines,” the National Science Foundation Monday announced Osceola County has been awarded one of the 10 regional teams.
The Central Florida Semiconductor Innovation Engine, led by the International Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research, known in public circles as BRIDG, will fill “A critical role in supporting the nation's capability for semiconductor advanced packaging design and manufacturing, rooting a vital industry on American shores and securing national defense,” a post from the Foundation announcing the program said Monday.
Each NSF regional engine will initially receive up to $15 million for two years. The total potential investment over the next decade across the 10 teams is expected to approach $1.6 billion, the release said Monday.
“Teams that demonstrate progress toward well-defined milestones could potentially receive up to $160 million each from NSF over 10 years, as they seek to catalyze funding to draw additional investments into the overall region,” the NSF said.
The federal CHIPS and Science Act, passed by Congress in 2022, authorizes this program.
So, why Osceola County? In short, it’s NeoCity, where Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Friday to announced state-level funding for more semiconductor manufacturing education and technology, to create a domestic pipeline for the microchips and sensors used by things like cell phones, cars and medical equipment.
To hear it from the NSF: “Over the last eight years, Osceola County had the foresight to make key strategic investments in semiconductor talent pipelines, develop industry partnerships with global leaders in the semiconductor industry, and build an unprecedented county-owned fabrication facility on a green industrial park with space to grow. Today, the region has developed a physical infrastructure and talent advantage in an emerging subfield in the semiconductor technology sector focused on advanced semiconductor packaging, which is essential to computational computing, quantum computing, artificial intelligence and other highly complex and computationally-intensive technologies.”
And, from the White House: “The Central Florida Semiconductor Innovation Engine will build a next-generation semiconductor technology innovation ecosystem and sharpen our nation’s competitive advantage in the emerging field of semiconductor advanced packaging, ensuring that America maintains reliable and secure access to the chips that underpin nearly every aspect of our economy.”
BRIDG interim President Dr. John Allgair said awards like these are fostering long-lasting technological partnerships.
“We look forward to working closely with our partners in the years to come to foster and grow an inclusive regional semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and microelectronics systems industrial base together,” he said.
And, there is potentially more in store for the advanced manufacturing operation. Beyond the 10 NSF Engines awards, a number of NSF finalists will be invited to pursue NSF Engines Development Awards, with each receiving up to $1 million to further develop their partnerships. The NeoCity Semiconductor Technology Accelerator, was one of those announced in 2023.
"The inaugural NSF Engines awards demonstrate our enduring commitment to create opportunity everywhere and enable innovation anywhere," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "Through these NSF Engines, NSF aims to expand the frontiers of technology and innovation and spur economic growth across the nation through unprecedented investments in people and partnerships. NSF Engines hold significant promise to elevate and transform entire geographic regions into world-leading hubs of innovation.”
This is a developing story; check back for updates, including in Thursday's News-Gazette weekly print edition.
