The U.S. semiconductor industry faces a “design-fabrication gap”: advancements in chip architecture are accelerating rapidly, but the AI-driven design tools, packaging integration methods, and workforce pipelines needed to produce them at leading-edge performance are lagging. While many organizations are applying AI to address design and manufacturing challenges, most efforts remain focused on isolated points within a highly complex process.

The NSF FAST Engine in Oregon, led by Oregon State University, is developing a comprehensive, AI-based advanced process control system anchored in Oregon’s semiconductor innovation corridor that will enable semiconductor manufacturers to produce higher-performance integrated circuits at lower costs. At scale, the system holds the potential to significantly accelerate semiconductor design, increase yields, improve productivity, and shorten product development cycles, with a goal of fully automatic chip design.  

Leveraging the region’s public-private partnerships and deep concentration of semiconductor engineering and manufacturing expertise, the NSF FAST Engine is also building a durable talent pipeline to meet the industry’s most pressing workforce needs.