Department of Defense Selects Eight Regional Innovation Hubs for Funding

UCI among 16 collaborators in USC-led Microelectronics Commons Hub

Sept. 20, 2023 - Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on Wednesday announced the award of $238 million in Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act funding for the establishment of eight Microelectronics Commons regional innovation hubs. This is the largest award to date under the CHIPS and Science Act. 

USC was named one of the hub leaders for the Microelectronics Commons program. USC is working with 15 other institutions. 

“Our united effort will tackle everything from cybersecurity and blockchain to next-generation medical treatments and climate change,” USC President Carol L. Folt said. “It’s USC’s privilege to be leading and collaborating with the powerhouse research universities and industry in Southern California, addressing national security, helping solve global problems, bringing major technological advances and jobs to our region, and ensuring U.S. economic growth.”

The superhub at USC is led by researcher Stephen Crago of USC Viterbi’s Information Sciences Institute and the school’s Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering. The USC-led hub involves:

  • The Boeing Co.
  • Caltech 
  • HRL Laboratories
  • Lockheed Martin Aeronautics 
  • Morgan State University, Baltimore
  • North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, Greensboro, N.C.
  • Northrop Grumman Corp.
  • Pasadena City College
  • PDF Solutions
  • Raytheon Co.
  • Teledyne Technologies
  • University of California, Irvine
  • UCLA
  • University of California, Riverside
  • University of California, San Diego
  • University of California, Santa Barbara

Learn more on the Department of Defense website. 

- USC Staff

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