$1bn US semiconductor digital twin centre approved

The US government is to back a $1bn semiconductor digital twin centre with a $285m grant.

The Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins (SMART) centre will be based in Durham, North Carolina, with over 150 expected partners across industry, academia, and the full spectrum of supply chain design and manufacturing.

The US Department of Commerce is working with the Semiconductor Research Corporation Manufacturing Consortium Corporation (SRC) for the semiconductor digital twin centre which will develop, validate, and use digital twins to improve domestic semiconductor design, manufacturing, advanced packaging, assembly, and test processes.

EDA vendor Synopsys has already welcomed the centre which was first proposed back in February.

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Collaborators also include ten national laboratories, five Manufacturing USA institutes, five economic development agencies, and four Trade and Union groups.

Digital twin-based research can also use AI to optimize chip design, improve production efficiency, and lower costs by streamlining operations and reducing the need for costly adjustments. The digital twins can also be used for training.

The centre aims to speed up the development and adoption of advanced semiconductor technologies by streamlining the development process. It also aims to shorten the time and cost of chip production with more efficient design and validation methods using digital twins, significantly cutting expenses and improving productivity.

“Digital Twin technology can unleash a new frontier for innovation in America’s semiconductor R&D ecosystem,” said Laurie Locascio, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “With the new SMART USA Institute, America is both expanding its semiconductor manufacturing and R&D capabilities and bolstering the domestic semiconductor R&D ecosystem that will be a key innovation engine for years to come.”

“This designation as the CHIPS Manufacturing USA institute reaffirms our dedication to fostering collaboration and excellence across the semiconductor ecosystem. At its core, the SMART USA Manufacturing Institute is about bringing people together as a cohesive team. Through this collaboration, we harness the collective strengths and expertise of our partners. Teaming is the cornerstone of our strategy, and it is through this united effort that we will succeed in achieving our ambitious goals,” said Todd Younkin, Executive Director of SMART USA.  

Within five years, SMART USA aims to reduce US chip development and manufacturing costs by more than 35% by improving capacity planning, production optimization, facility upgrades, and real-time process adjustments using digital twins, as well as reduce development cycle times by 30%. This aims to demonstrate a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with semiconductor manufacturing, along with training over 100,000 workers and students on semiconductor digital twin technology.

The SMART centre joins an existing network of seventeen institutes designed to increase U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and promote a robust R&D infrastructure.