Jane Edwards
The Department of Defense is soliciting information to help inform the creation of a microelectronics commons management organization that would coordinate regional innovation hubs and facilitate laboratory-to-fabrication transition of microelectronics technologies.
DOD seeks to advance the microelectronics commons concept and MCMO through a public-private partnership to focus on on-shore prototyping to help move technological innovations from startups and universities to manufacturing and link “lab-to-fab” testing and prototyping hubs to establish a network focused on maturing emerging microelectronics technologies, according to a request for information published Thursday.
The department also expects the partnership to facilitate microelectronics training and education at local universities and colleges and contribute to the development of a domestic semiconductor workforce.
“Through MCMO administration, the ME Commons will promote a synergistic effort between academia, commercial industry, and DoD to identify and select dual-use technology advances that are ready for maturation. The main focus will be on identifying viable emerging technologies and new device and circuit concepts that are both sufficiently practical and also sufficiently high impact,” the RFI reads.
The Pentagon is asking stakeholders to share some best practices for creating an independent MCMO to ensure responsiveness and flexibility to regional market needs and alignment with defense and government requirements and cite issues related to the ME Commons concept the department should consider in developing an approach to public-private partnerships.
The RFI also includes questions on technology innovation and transition considerations, including potential barriers and infrastructure limitations in maturing and prototyping innovation within the domestic ecosystem and best practices to manage and coordinate regional hub access for shared resources, including electronic design automation tools and fabrication facilities.
Responses to the RFI are due April 5.
