The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the United States Department of Commerce has inked a joint research and development arrangement with Google to produce chips for researchers. SkyWater Technology will produce the chips used by researchers in the creation of novel nanotechnology and semiconductor devices. The Alphabet-owned firm will cover the first set-up costs and subsidise the first manufacturing run. The statement comes just days after the United States enacted the CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to increase semiconductor research and manufacture in the country.
According to NIST's blog, the US government agency has secured an agreement with Google to design and manufacture chips that researchers may utilise to build new nanotechnology and semiconductor technologies.
NIST will collaborate with university research partners such as the University of Michigan, the University of Maryland, George Washington University, Brown University, and Carnegie Mellon University to develop circuits for the chips. SkyWater Technology's semiconductor foundry in Bloomington, Minnesota, will produce the chips.
The search engine giant will pay for the initial set-up costs and will subsidise the first manufacturing run.
"NIST expects building up to 40 distinct semiconductors optimised for certain purposes. Because the chip designs would be open source, researchers will be allowed to pursue new ideas and openly exchange data and device designs "According to the Commerce Department.
US President Joe Biden recently signed an order implementing the 2022 CHIPS Act, which gives $52.7 billion (approximately Rs. 4,21,000 crore) in subsidies to support semiconductor production and research in the United States. It is also intended to help the country compete with China's scientific and technical advancements.
