The CHIPS and Science Act will boost American semiconductor research, development, and production, ensuring U.S. leadership in technology that forms the foundation of everything from automobiles to household appliances to defense systems. The law ensures the United States maintains and advances its scientific and technological edge–here are ten important facts you should know.
1. An Emphasis on Place-Based Policy Initiatives: While most of the act focuses on semiconductor manufacturing, R&D for advanced technologies, and government led programs to spur research, the bill also contains nearly unprecedented levels of investment into place-based policy initiatives.
2. Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program Offering 2 Grant Opportunities: The Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program offers 2 grant opportunities, one for strategy development and one for strategy implementation. Recipients don’t have to have received the development grant to be eligible for the implementation grant.
3. Strategy Development Funding Activities: Strategy development funds can go to activities such as the coordination of planning processes across consortia members, the identification of regional partnerships, needs-based assessments, the identification and planning of local zoning/code changes, and long-term strategic planning.
4. Implementation Funding Activities: Implementation funds can go to activities such as implementing strategies established as a result the strategic planning grant, workforce development, business and entrepreneur development, technology development and maturation, and infrastructure activities.
5. Who Qualifies as Eligible Consortia: Eligible consortia include, but aren’t necessarily limited to institutions of higher education, state/territorial/local/tribal governments and other political subdivisions of a state, firms in relevant technology innovation or manufacturing sectors, economic development entities focused on improving science/tech/innovation/access to capital, and labor/workforce training organizations including government workforce development boards (WIOA).
6. Designating Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs: The Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program is also tasked with designating eligible consortia as “regional technology and innovation hubs.” The goal is to encourage consortia to leverage higher education institutions and regional resources to uplift underserved regions and populations in STEM opportunities and innovation.
7. The Recompete Pilot Program: The Recompete Pilot Program focuses on making grant money available to communities experiencing persistent economic distress in order to support long-term comprehensive economic development planning and implementation.
8. Recompete Funding Activities: Funds for the Pilot Program can go to a wide array of uses, including everything from workforce development activities, business and entrepreneur development, technology development and maturation, infrastructure projects supporting job creation, as well as predevelopment, technical assistance, and other administrative work
9.Who Qualifies as Eligible Recipients for the Recompete Program: Up to half of grants for the Recompete Pilot Program will go to recipients to develop a recompete plan and carry out related predevelopment activities. At least 10 awards must go to strategy implementation grants, and the minimum grant amount is set at $20,000,000 .
10. CHIPS Programs’ Launch Date: These programs, along with many others associated with the CHIPS Act, are set to be launched in February of 2023. We are expecting more details regarding the grant application and award process at that time.
Author:
Ashley Sharpley
Associate