Coherent, SkyWater và X-Fab đều đồng ý các điều khoản sơ bộ cho khoản tài trợ theo Đạo luật CHIPS của Hoa Kỳ
News: Microelectronics
9 December 2024
Coherent, SkyWater and X-Fab all agree preliminary terms for US CHIPS Act funding
The US Department of Commerce has signed three separate preliminary memoranda of terms (PMT) under the CHIPS and Science Act to provide proposed direct funding of the following projects:
- Coherent (Sherman, Texas): up to $33m for the modernization and expansion of a manufacturing cleanroom in Coherent’s existing 700,000ft2 facility in Sherman, Texas to establish the world’s first 150mm indium phosphide (InP) manufacturing line by adding advanced wafer fabrication equipment for large-scale production of InP optoelectronic devices, for applications such as datacom and telecom transceivers (including for AI infrastructure), advanced sensing for consumer electronics, and medical and automotive applications. Increased production of Coherent’s InP devices, which are increasingly growing in demand, would allow the US to advance supply chain resiliency and technological leadership and create about 70 jobs.
- SkyWater Technology Foundry Inc (Bloomington, Minnesota): up to $16m for the modernization of its existing facility in Bloomington, Minnesota to improve the quality of production and wafer services by replacing equipment, upgrading the facility’s cleanroom and space and IT systems, and to increase overall production capacity of 90nm and 130nm wafers by about 30%. The facility enables aerospace & defense, automotive, biomedical and industrial customers to prototype and scale differentiated technology to volume production. As the firm is a US Department of Defense (DoD) Trusted Foundry; the funding would enable it to improve productivity and enhance operational sustainability to support DoD missions as well as grow its commercial business. The investment would build on the firm’s 40-year history in Bloomington and is expected to create about 70 jobs. SkyWater’s community workforce development efforts include its ongoing partnership with Hennepin Technical College, Greater Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and working with the Minnesota CHIPS coalition to support its short- and long-term workforce development goals. In addition, the State of Minnesota’s Forward Fund would provide $19m in dedicated funding to support the proposed project.
- X-Fab (Lubbock, Texas): up to $50m for the expansion and modernization of what is the only high-volume Silicon Carbide (SiC) foundry in the USA. The proposed funding would bolster supply resiliency for critical infrastructure markets that were adversely impacted by foundry capacity shortages and supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed terms provide support for workforce development efforts including X-Fab’s existing partnerships with Texas Tech College of Engineering, South Plains College, Western Technical College, Lubbock Area United Way, SEMI Foundation, and the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance. The investment would create an estimated 150 jobs.
“The demand for silicon carbide technologies will be strong for the long term, and we are proud to provide solutions that support the transition to electric mobility and renewable energy sources,” says X-FAB Texas’ CEO Rico Tillner. “The proposed CHIPS funding will support the future success of X-FAB Texas and will contribute to the establishment of a domestic supply chain for silicon carbide.”
Coherent, SkyWater and X-Fab all plan to claim the Department of the Treasury’s Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (CHIPS ITC), which is 25% of qualified capital expenditures.
As explained in its first Notice of Funding Opportunity, the Department of Commerce may offer applicants a PMT on a non-binding basis after satisfactory completion of the merit review of a full application. The PMT outlines key terms for a potential CHIPS incentives award, including the amount and form of the award. The award amounts are subject to due diligence and negotiation of award documents and are conditional on the achievement of certain milestones. After a PMT is signed, the Department of Commerce begins a comprehensive due diligence process on the proposed projects and continues negotiating or refining certain terms with the applicant.
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