The article discusses the critical role of semiconductors in enabling advanced technologies, with a focus on their importance for quantum computing. The semiconductor industry employs over a quarter of a million workers in the U.S. and generated $208 billion in sales in 2020. However, the industry faces challenges such as technical limits to conventional semiconductor materials, the potential end of Moore’s Law, and a supply chain problem with most manufacturing occurring in Asia.
To address these challenges, advances in measurement science, standards, materials, instrumentation, testing, and manufacturing capabilities are essential for the design, development, and manufacture of next-generation microelectronics. The U.S. Department of Commerce is seeking information to guide programs supporting a strong domestic semiconductor industry, including incentives for manufacturing facilities, shared infrastructure for research, and support for advanced packaging and metrology research.
NIST has been involved in semiconductor research since the field’s inception, dating back to World War II radar technology and transistor invention. Today, NIST continues its commitment to supporting and collaborating with the semiconductor industry, including making chips for cutting-edge research and partner institutions. The semiconductor industry plays a central role in U.S economic prosperity and national security, and its evolution, especially in the context of quantum computing, will require significant advances in technology and infrastructure.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/semiconductors
Keywords: Semiconductor industry, Quantum computing, Microelectronics
