There will soon be a new national lab for semiconductors, and Illinois wants it.
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Illinois and the Chicago area are working to secure a new government flagship center for advanced semiconductor research and manufacturing.
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Semiconductors are important for the economic security of the U.S. as they power technologies like AI, quantum computing, self-driving cars, and consumer goods.
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The National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) is part of the bipartisan CHIPS Act, which aims to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S.
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Illinois is competing to win the NSTC, with support from economic development group P33, Governor JB Pritzker, and local universities and businesses.
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The amount of money needed to build the NSTC is estimated to be between $2 billion and $5 billion.
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Illinois is lobbying the White House to choose them for the NSTC, citing the state's strong R&D ecosystem and collaboration in quantum, semiconductor, and microelectronics research.
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The University of Chicago and the University of Illinois are working together to improve their chances of winning the NSTC, despite the usual reluctance of colleges to collaborate on competing technologies.
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Silicon Valley is also a strong contender for the NSTC, given its existing tech infrastructure and powerful tech companies.
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Illinois and Chicago could benefit from the NSTC as it would improve their image and attract more business opportunities.
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Winning the NSTC would be a significant achievement for any state.
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