Chip Technology Agreement Formed Between NIST, Google

The National Institute of Standards and Technology and Google will collaborate to devise chip technology usable for future semiconductors and nanotechnologies. The two entities aim to create a bottom layer chip that can monitor the performance of its future top layers, which could be memory devices, nanosensors, bioelectronics and quantum computing devices. SkyWater Technology will serve as a partner in the endeavor, producing 200-millimeter silicon wafer discs for use by research entities elsewhere.

Laurie Locascio, director of NIST, said that the working relationship is intended to drive innovation across the U.S. by creating an affordable supply of chips for research and development, FCW reported.

According to Locascio, planning for the cross-sector agreement predates the CHIPS and Science Act enacted by President Joe Biden in August. Both the legislation and the NIST-Google partnership represent federal efforts to improve U.S. chipmaking production amid a global semiconductor shortage and concerns over a waning competitive edge above adversaries such as China.

The Department of Commerce unveiled a website in late August aimed at reporting on and supporting the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act. According to CHIPS .gov, the programs established by the law aim to expand the domestic manufacturing capacity needed to make chips used for high-end applications such as artificial intelligence.