DOD Officials to Tour Manufacturing Hubs Across the US

A three-week tour across the United States will showcase local advanced microchip manufacturing, highlighting the nation’s capability to help the country’s military gain a technological advantage.

From Jan. 22 to Feb. 9, officials from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, and National Security Technology Accelerator will tour the Microelectronics Commons Hubs and meet with local government officials, industry experts and academia.

The CHIPS and Science Act has been funding Microelectronics Commons Hubs, a network composed of eight regional innovation centers that stand to receive $2 billion from fiscal years 2023 to 2027, Defense .gov reported.

The Commons aims to promote a manufacturing revival in the country. The tour itinerary includes the University of Southern California in southern California, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative in Massachusetts and the Applied Research Institute in Indiana.

President Joe Biden has been working to improve onshore semiconductor manufacturing. In September 2023, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks announced a $238 million CHIPS and Science Act grant benefiting eight manufacturing regional hubs.

Trenton Systems CEO Michael Bowling described the Act as a significant piece of the puzzle as the federal government advances microelectronics development in the country.