Commerce Department Appoints Seven to Oversee Semiconductor R&D Center

A committee assembled by the Department of Commerce has named seven individuals to lead the nonprofit responsible for the National Semiconductor Technology Center, the CHIPS for America program’s research and development arm.

The NSTC will facilitate collaboration and innovation within the semiconductor industry while reducing the cost and time needed to commercialize new technology, the National Institute of Standards and Technology said Wednesday.

The appointees are Robin Abrams, former interim CEO of Zilog; Craig Barrett, former CEO and chairman of Intel; Reginald Brothers, operating partner at AE Industrial and past Wash100 winner; Nicholas Donofrio, former IBM executive; Donna Dubinsky, former CEO of Palm Computing; Erica Fuchs, an engineering and public policy professor at Carnegie Mellon University; and James Plummer, a distinguished electrical engineering professor at Stanford University.

As the board of trustees of the nonprofit operating the NSTC, they are expected to oversee the recruitment of executive leadership.

The Commerce Department plans to enter into a funding agreement with the nonprofit to commence NSTC operations.

NIST Director Laurie Locascio said the center will deliver advanced technology to ensure that domestic semiconductor production is competitive.