Sinema and Kelly negotiated the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022 – historic legislation bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S., creating strong careers, and strengthening supply chains
The $100 million for ASU will be paired with an additional anticipated $30 million investment from the private sector, totaling over $130 million
WASHINGTON – Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly announced that Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe, Arizona, will be awarded $100 million from the CHIPS and Science law, led by Sinema and Kelly. The award will support SHIELD USA (Substrate-based Heterogeneous Integration Enabling Leadership Demonstration for the USA), an ASU-led initiative to drive innovation in the domestic microchip packaging ecosystem, expand capacity for domestic advanced packaging, and help regain U.S. leadership in microelectronics while strengthening national security.
“ASU is one of the nation’s largest engineering colleges, with an established reputation for innovation and partnerships at various stages of the semiconductor supply chain. I’m proud to help secure this investment from our bipartisan CHIPS and Science law – ensuring ASU continues to strengthen Arizona’s leadership in advanced packaging and leading-edge microchip manufacturing,” said Sinema.
“This award further establishes Arizona as the national leader in advanced packaging and leading-edge microchip manufacturing,” said Kelly. “Advance packaging is a key component of the microchip manufacturing process, yet most advanced packaging research and manufacturing occurs overseas. This investment builds upon other investments we’re seeing in Arizona to bring advanced packaging back to the United States. I applaud ASU for their work in developing cutting-edge technologies and their commitment to make Arizona a major player in microelectronics.”
“This is a critical step for U.S. semiconductor independence, and it is the area of expertise in which we are in direct competition with China to determine who will unlock the future of innovation in semiconductor chip manufacturing,” said ASU President Michael Crow. “ASU is well prepared with a dynamic partner in Deca Technologies, and we are eager to lead the work that will enable SHIELD USA to play a pivotal role in ensuring the country’s technological and economic future.”
The funding – awarded through the CHIPS R&D National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program will accelerate U.S. capacity for advanced packaging substrates and substrate materials, a key technology for manufacturing microchips. Such substrates are not currently produced in the United States but are foundational to establishing and expanding domestic advanced packaging manufacturing capability.
Earlier this year, Arizona Senators Krysten Sinema and Mark Kelly, along with Representatives Greg Stanton, Raúl Grijalva, Juan Ciscomani, and Debbie Lesko sent a letter in support of the SHIELD USA proposal to Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo.
Sinema and Kelly worked for nearly two years to negotiate and champion the CHIPS and Science Act, a $52 billion plan to boost domestic microchip manufacturing. Thanks to their leadership, Arizona is well positioned to become a global hub for microelectronics research, development, testing, manufacturing, and packaging. With new semiconductor facilities being constructed in Maricopa County, Arizona workers are already feeling the impact of this historic law.
In June 2020, Sinema first introduced the CHIPS for America Act with Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States. The CHIPS and Science Act included the funding to make Sinema’s CHIPS in America Act operational. Sinema was instrumental in passing the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act into law, partnering with Republican Senator Todd Young (Ind.) to prevent the legislation from partisan collapse on the Senate floor.
Since the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, more than $60 billion in private investment for 38 semiconductor industry projects have been announced in Arizona.