New White House Group to Tackle Semiconductor Industry Challenges: Commerce Secretary Pritzker to Discuss Future of Industry on Wednesday

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science & Technology (PCAST) today announced the launch of a new Semiconductor Working Group that will provide recommendations to PCAST to consider in its report to the President regarding current challenges facing the semiconductor industry, including the rapid rise of semiconductor capabilities abroad.

SIA welcomes this timely announcement, given new challenges facing the U.S. semiconductor industry, including unprecedented government investment programs from some countries and the increasing technological complexity involved in achieving new innovation breakthroughs. These developments have implications not only for the economy and society, but also national security. In fact, SIA earlier recommended the Administration form a public-private advisory group to help guide government policy related to improving the competitiveness of the U.S. semiconductor industry.

The Working Group includes 11 leading experts on the semiconductor industry and the broader economy from industry, academia, and government.

In a related development, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will give a policy address on the importance and future of the U.S. semiconductor industry at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) this Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. Following her remarks, I will join other CSIS panelists to continue the conversation on the critical importance of the semiconductor sector to U.S. competitiveness and innovation.  Other panelists include Ted Dean, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Services International Trade Administration, and David George, Senior Manager-Wireless Technologies for General Motors. Click here to register to attend the event or to view the live webcast.

Semiconductors are a fundamental building block for U.S. technology leadership. They enable commercial innovations that drive economic growth and productivity, as well as strategically important platforms that ensure U.S. national security, such as satellites and supercomputers. The chip industry spawns new industries, makes existing industries more productive, and drives advances once never imagined.

Maintaining U.S. technological leadership requires a healthy and vibrant U.S. semiconductor industry, which continues to invest heavily in its own future and which partners effectively with government to address key challenges facing the nation. We view today’s announcement as helpful for assessing, analyzing, and formulating recommendations to this and the next Administration on how to maintain U.S. leadership in this key sector. We look forward to working with the PCAST Semiconductor Working Group and hope this and other efforts can lead to a more comprehensive and robust national strategy to spur greater competiveness, innovation, and research and development in the U.S. semiconductor industry.