The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) soliciting proposals for research, prototyping, and commercial solutions to strengthen U.S. leadership in microelectronics technologies.
The initiative falls under the CHIPS for America program and seeks to accelerate innovation in areas such as semiconductors, AI-driven design, quantum-enabled microelectronics, biotechnology, and standards development. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis, with applicants first submitting a white paper followed by a pre-negotiation package if invited to advance.
“This effort will allow us to identify and support innovative advanced microelectronics research that will grow U.S. leadership and accelerate technology development,” said Craig Burkhardt, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Acting NIST Director. NIST will host a webinar in the coming weeks to provide additional details and guidance.
🌐 Analysis
The CHIPS Act, originally enacted in 2022, has shifted under the Trump administration toward defense-critical technologies and strategic independence, placing a stronger focus on AI infrastructure, secure supply chains, and advanced R&D rather than only large-scale fabrication plants. While several megafabs from Intel, TSMC, Samsung, and others are still under construction, permitting delays and funding reviews have slowed disbursement. Today’s BAA reflects a renewed emphasis on smaller, high-impact research programs to position the U.S. at the forefront of semiconductor and adjacent technologies amid growing global competition.
🌐 We’re tracking the latest developments in semiconductor policy and the CHIPS Act at https://convergedigest.com/tag/semiconductors.
