PORTLAND, Oregon — Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek wants to strengthen Oregon's semiconductor industry. She plans to propose forming a new technical center at Intel's Hillsboro site.
She made the announcement April 22 during a celebration event for Intel's plans to invest over $36 billion to expand and modernize its operations.
The technical center would be affiliated with the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), a group dedicated to semiconductor research and development in the U.S. It would focus on manufacturing-related research and development, and would feature an Advance Lithography Center. The technical center would appeal to academic researchers and advanced chip design teams, Kotek's office said, inviting them to bring their latest tools and prototypes to Oregon.
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"With our existing workforce hub in Washington County and a robust semiconductor manufacturing and exporting industry, Oregon has set a strong foundation as a decades-long national center of research and development," Kotek said. "With support from industry leaders, the federal delegation, our universities, and local leadership, Oregon is excited for the potential to host a NSTC-affiliated technical center and advance our strong track record as a leader in the semiconductor supply chain."
Kotek's office said it will work with a coalition of industry leaders, state and local government and higher education representatives on developing a proposal to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Intel's Hillsboro complex has already secured the world's first commercial use High Numerical Aperture lithography tool, known as the High NA EUV machine. It will allow engineers to make microscopic features on a chip even smaller than before.
Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway said the semiconductor cluster in Hillsboro's Silicon Forest is the only one in the U.S. leading the way in research and development for semiconductor manufacturing.
"As the nation’s largest and most advanced semiconductor hub, Oregon offers the National Semiconductor Technology Center the greatest competitive advantage to further the interests of our local community, the industry, and the nation," Callaway said in a statement provided by Kotek's office.
In February, the Biden-Harris administration announced it expects to invest more than $5 billion in semiconductor-related research and development, including in the NSTC.