August 1, 2022

SCHUMER: AFTER PASSAGE OF HIS HISTORIC BIPARTISAN CHIPS & SCIENCE BILL, SCHUMER MAKES FINAL PUSH, CALLS ON PRESIDENT TO SIGN INTO LAW AND MAKE UPSTATE NY THE EPICENTER OF AMERICAN CHIP R&D AND MANUFACTURING, CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS, MAKE THE CAPITAL REGION THE MAJOR HUB OF AMERICA’S FIRST NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY CENTER

Semiconductor Chips Are Integral To Everyday Life From Cars To Refrigerators, But Most Are Not Made In The U.S. Threatening National Security, Worsening Inflation and Increasing Costs For Families, & Weakening U.S. Competitiveness

Schumer Brought Commerce Top Brass To The Capital Region To Announce GlobalFoundries’ Planned Expansion And Pitch Albany Nanotech As A Clear Front-Runner To Be America’s NSTC; Bill Has Now Passed Through Congress And Will Soon Be Signed By President

Schumer: Albany Nanotech For The NSTC Is A Win-Win-Win; Will Create 1,000+ Good Paying NY Jobs, Supercharge American Chip Manufacturing, And Maintain Global U.S. Tech Leadership

Schumer: It Is Time To Make The Future Of Semiconductors In The Capital Region NOT China

After years of staunch advocacy, multiple visits with Commerce Department leaders to show how the Capital Region is leading the nation in semiconductor research, and now with the his historic bipartisan CHIPS & Science Bill passed through Congress, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today doubled down on his push to make Albany Nanotech the major hub of the nation’s first National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). Schumer highlighted how his bipartisan bill has already spurred local companies like GlobalFoundries to invest and add thousands of good-paying local jobs. Previously, GlobalFoundries had indicated that their planned second fab may be delayed if the federal chip incentives in Schumer’s bill were not passed into law. Now that Schumer’s bill will soon be law in the coming day, GlobalFoundries has indicated that they are ready to accelerate its expansion plans in the Capital Region, creating thousands of construction and high-tech jobs. Schumer is making the final push for Albany Nanotech to be selected for millions in federal investment to bolster the nation’s chip R&D, potentially create over a thousand local jobs, and keep the nation at the cutting-edge of innovation and manufacturing in the chip industry.

“After years of pushing we are now days away from of my historic bipartisan Chips & Science bill finally becoming law, and the Capital Region is primed to reap the rewards and become the foundation for the future of America’s semiconductor leadership. Before I went back to Washington to see the bill signed into law I wanted the feds to hear me loud and clear, there is no better place in the country than Albany Nanotech to become the major hub of America’s first ever National Semiconductor Technology Center that my bill creates,” said Senator Schumer. “Over the past year I’m proud to have personally brought the Commerce Secretary and Deputy Secretary with me to the Capital Region to see firsthand how Albany Nanotech’s national partnerships and infrastructure are uniquely suited to lead the NSTC, supercharge American chip production, address our supply chain crisis, and bring over a thousand jobs to the Capital Region. With my bill’s federal incentives soon on the way, GlobalFoundries will now charge forward faster on building a second fab and creating thousands of more jobs for the Capital region. Now as the bill is finally set to be signed into law, I say let’s seal the deal and make Albany and Upstate New York the foundation for the next generation of American innovation and manufacturing!”

Schumer added, “When you combine the chip manufacturing potential at shovel-ready sites like White Pine Commerce Park in Central New York, Marcy Nanocenter in the Mohawk Valley, and STAMP in Genesee County, with Globalfoundries planned expansion, Wolfspeed’s new fab, and onsemi soon acquiring a facility in East Fishkill, NY, all coupled with world-renowned research capabilities at the Albany Nanocenter and across the SUNY system and the state’s universities and labs, Upstate New York could be the nation’s leader in microchips and other tech industries that will dominate this century. Simply put – this is the 21st Century’s Erie Canal!”

"On behalf of GF’s more than 7,000 U.S. employees, I want to convey our appreciation to Senator Schumer for his leadership and tireless efforts in pushing for the passage of the CHIPS Act. This legislation will strengthen U.S. high-tech manufacturing competitiveness, economic and national security, and create high-paying semiconductor manufacturing jobs in America,” said Dr. Thomas Caulfield, president and CEO of GlobalFoundries. “The past two years have clearly shown how vitally important chips are to American consumers, businesses and the economic health of our nation, both today and in the future. Senator Schumer recognizes this and is a true champion for the semiconductor industry.”

“This week, thanks in very large part to Senator Schumer’s leadership and tireless dedication, the U.S. Congress passed legislation that is going to accelerate the pace of semiconductor innovation in this country to a level not seen in decades. The unique semiconductor innovation ecosystem here at Albany Nanotech will not only play a central role in unlocking new chip technology breakthroughs, it exemplifies how this legislation will catalyze economic opportunity and create well-paying, high-tech jobs nationwide. America is on the verge of a semiconductor renaissance, and IBM together with our partners in the American Semiconductor Innovation Coalition are committed to helping realize its full potential,” said Darío Gil, IBM Senior Vice President & Director of Research.

David Anderson, President of NY CREATES said, “The legislation passed last week represents a generational investment in American innovation, job creation and economic development, and re-establishing global leadership in technology. Senator Schumer has led the effort from the start and we are grateful for his steadfast commitment to addressing this critical issue. NY CREATES looks forward to playing a central role in developing and establishing the headquarters of the National Semiconductor Technology Center at the Albany Nanotech Complex.”

Schumer explained that Albany Nanotech is the most “shovel-ready” R&D facility in the country to quickly stand up the NSTC and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP). The multibillion dollar Albany Nanotech is the most advanced, publicly-owned, 300-millimeter semiconductor R&D facility, has well-established partnerships with industry leaders and top academic research institutions across the country, including in critical logic and packaging capabilities, and is set up to immediately begin supporting the needs of the broader semiconductor ecosystem, including startups, small businesses, and the workforce. The site and its partners have a long record of accomplishment of groundbreaking research that has led to successful technology transfer, translating research into manufacturing and commercialization. For example, just last summer, IBM announced the successful development of the world’s first 2 nanometer (nm) microchip – with the R&D work done at the Albany Nanotech Complex, the same site that produced the world’s first 7nm and 5nm chips.

Specifically, Schumer highlighted that the bill includes:

$39 billion for the CHIPS for America Fund to provide federal incentives to build, expand, or modernize domestic facilities and equipment for semiconductor fabrication, assembly, testing, advanced packaging, or research and development.
$11 billion for Department of Commerce research and development including creating a National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) a public-private partnership to conduct advanced semiconductor manufacturing, with Albany Nanotech primed to be a top contender to serve as a major hub for the NSTC, and other specialized R&D programs that universities across the state are in a strong position to compete for.
$2 billion for the DoD CHIPS for America Defense Fund.
$200 million for the CHIPS for America Workforce and Education Fund to kick-start development of the domestic semiconductor workforce, which faces near-term labor shortages, by leveraging activities of the National Science Foundation.
A new Investment Tax Credit for semiconductor manufacturing facilities and equipment.
$10 billion Regional Technology Hubs to support regional economic development efforts around the country to not only research and innovate technologies, but also manufacture them here in America.
Increased investment for National Science Foundation (NSF) Research and Development Programs, including through a new technology directorate as proposed in Schumer’s original bipartisan Endless Frontier Act, and STEM education and training programs. Schumer said the region’s top research schools connected throughout the SUNY system, and others would be able to tap the increased investment for the NSF. Community colleges would also be able to utilize new investment for workforce training, including for the semiconductor industry.
$13 billion to build the STEM workforce. Authorizes funding for STEM education, including scholarships, fellowships, and traineeships to create workers in critical fields, including to establishing an artificial intelligence scholarship-for-service program, a national network for microelectronics education, and cybersecurity workforce development programs.
$2 billion to strengthen small manufacturers. Triples funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnership, to support small- and medium-sized manufacturers with cybersecurity, workforce training, and supply chain resiliency.
Over $800 million to grow Manufacturing USA. Supports the creation of new competitively-awarded manufacturing research institutes with expanded capacity for education and workforce development.

Schumer explained that Upstate New York is uniquely suited to bolster the nation’s chip industry with some of the most shovel-ready sites in the country including the White Pine Commerce Park in Central New York, Marcy Nanocenter in the Mohawk Valley, and STAMP in Genesee County. Each site holds large parcels of available land and access to cheap, reliable power and water, to quickly locate a semiconductor manufacturer and the necessary supply chain as the federal incentives from his legislation spur new domestic investment. Schumer’s legislation has already spurred chip industry investment in the Capital Region like GlobalFoundries’ announcement last year of building a second chip fab in Malta, focused primarily on auto and military chip production, creating thousands of jobs on top of the 3,000 employees that GlobalFoundries already employs in the area, and the funding from this bill will help accelerate the expansion. Plus, Cree-Wolfspeed’s $1.2 billion investment to build the world’s largest 200mm Silicon Carbide semiconductor facilities at the Marcy Nanocenter, which will create over 600 jobs, and onsemi’s acquisition of a facility in East Fishkill that is expected later this year, add further to the industry’s significant growth in Upstate New York.

Locally, the federal government has long tapped GlobalFoundries for their chip making capabilities. Earlier this year Schumer announced a $117 million Defense Production Act agreement between GlobalFoundries and the DoD to provide a strategic supply of U.S.-made semiconductors that are critical to national security systems. This announcement came on the heels of Schumer delivering $25 million in federal funding for a partnership between GlobalFoundries & PsiQuantum to expand R&D in the Capital Region and at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, NY to manufacture and test photonic quantum computing technology integral to national security efforts.

Senator Schumer has worked directly with Albany Nanotech, IBM, and other major industry and academic partners to craft the creation of the NSTC and NAPMP, which he successfully pushed to authorize in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. Since then, Schumer has worked non-stop to uplift Albany Nanotech and the Capital Region as the best candidate to lead the nation in semiconductor research. In March 2021, following a call with the CEOs of IBM and Intel, Schumer announced a new partnership that will bring hundreds of jobs to the Albany region to conduct new semiconductor research in the area, boosting it’s already robust local chip research presence. Then, after bringing the Commerce Secretary to Malta to announce GlobalFoundries second chip fab last year, Schumer had Secretary Raimondo meet with Albany Nanotech leaders to discuss the facility’s cutting-edge capabilities. The senator continued this momentum earlier this year by bringing the Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves to tour the facility as well and meet with Governor Hochul and industry leaders to reiterate how the Capital Region and Albany Nanotech are uniquely suited to quickly stand up the NSTC.

Schumer has a long history of fighting to advance semiconductor manufacturing and R&D and the broader tech economy at the federal level. In May 2020, Schumer introduced his bipartisan Endless Frontier Act to surge new investment into federal R&D through the creation of a National Science Foundation technology directorate focused on key technology areas like quantum computing, advanced energy, AI, high performance computing, and more. Schumer’s Endless Frontier Act also proposed a new $10 billion regional technology hub program to invest in regions around the country with great potential to lead the nation in technology research, development, and manufacturing. In June 2020, Schumer introduced his bipartisan American Foundries Act to authorize new federal incentives for expanding domestic semiconductor manufacturing and R&D. Schumer successfully added this bill as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In June 2021, Schumer then successfully passed through the Senate his U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), legislation he introduced that combined his Endless Frontier Act to make a significant investment in research, development, manufacturing and innovation with other competitiveness legislation. As part of this package, Schumer also included $52 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to implement the semiconductor-related manufacturing and R&D programs that he had successfully pushed to authorize in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act and that are at the heart of the bill which passed today. The House passed its companion legislation to USICA, the America COMPETES Act, this past January and negotiations continue to reconcile the differences between the two bills. The bill that has just passed through Congress combines the federal semiconductor incentives Schumer has been pushing with the investment in R&D, tech hubs, manufacturing, and other innovation programs from his Endless Frontier Act.

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