Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is on a mission to position the United States as a global leader in the microchip industry through strategic investments. In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, she outlined how initiatives like the CHIPS and Science Act are crucial to achieving this goal by producing a significant portion of the world’s cutting-edge logic chips by 2030.
Raimondo emphasized the importance of domestic chip production, talent development, research, and manufacturing to solidify the U.S.’s position in the industry. The CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden, provides $280 billion in funding to support semiconductor research and manufacturing across the country.
Despite being a leader in chip design and AI development, the U.S. currently does not produce the advanced chips needed for AI on its soil. Raimondo stressed that investing in leading-edge chip manufacturing is essential for maintaining leadership in AI technology.
By focusing on projects with shorter timelines, Raimondo believes the U.S. can house the entire silicon supply chain for producing these advanced microchips, from polysilicon production to fabrication and packaging. This comprehensive approach aims to reduce the country’s dependence on other regions for critical hardware components.
In light of growing competition, particularly from China, Raimondo underscored the urgency of strengthening the U.S.’s semiconductor industry. The Biden administration has expanded restrictions on semiconductor exports to China to curb the regime’s advancements in military technology. These measures aim to protect American technological leadership and national security in the fast-paced tech race.