America’s technological preeminence has been the foundation for unprecedented prosperity and security. That’s why "Choose to Compete" - the chip industry’s campaign for American innovation leadership - is a key policy priority.

SIA and its members are increasing their efforts to educate policymakers about the chip industry's integral role in American innovativeness, productivity and prosperity. Through outreach in Washington, D.C. and states across the country, the industry is seeking to make American innovation leadership a national priority.

Legislation: Focus Center Research Program (FCRP)

The Focus Center Research Program (FCRP) is a working model for collaboration between government, industry, and academia on basic research.  The annual federal investment of $20 million is matched dollar for dollar by the semiconductor industry and goes directly to 38 universities nationwide.  Both DDR&E and DARPA have active roles on the FCRP Governing Council which regularly reviews results. The FCRP has generated over 1800 published papers, over 100 patent disclosures, and supports the research of over 200 professors and 400 students nationwide.  These students will become valuable members of the American innovation workforce, pursuing careers in government, industry, and academia.

Working together, Congress and DOD provided a total of $18 million in federal funding for the FCRP in FY 2007.  This investment was matched by the semiconductor industry’s contribution of $20 million.  Congress must once again fully fund the FCRP by securing an additional $10 million in the FY 2008 Defense Appropriations bill under DDR&E to supplement projected DARPA funding.

FCRP Backgrounder

FCRP Map

Focus Center University Directors