US to provide up to $389 million in CHIPS awards to 4 firms

The US Department of Commerce has announced the signing of four letters of intent to provide up to USD 389 million in federal R&D awards under the CHIPS and Science Act.

These incentives will accelerate R&D supporting the semiconductors and materials needed for a variety of applications, including the control, conversion, and delivery of power, according to a media release.

“The Trump Administration is accelerating American semiconductor innovation to enhance our domestic energy and power resources,” said Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. “These investments expand domestic research, secure critical supply chains, and create high-paying American jobs.”

Under the final awards, each company will conduct R&D to address critical projects spanning power semiconductor devices, modules and materials essential to the semiconductor supply chain.

Helion will receive up to USD 175 million to develop, scale and establish domestic capabilities in high-voltage power semiconductors and advanced energy power modules designed for high-peak-current pulsed-power applications in fusion power generation.  

Commonwealth Fusion Systems will receive up to USD 85 million for R&D to develop semiconductors for radio-frequency plasma heating, power electronics, embedded electronics for fusion diagnostics, and radiation-hardened electronics.

Vertical Semiconductor will receive up to USD 73 million to advance its vertical GaN power semiconductors, enabling more efficient and compact power delivery for advanced computing. 

Sibelco will receive up to USD 56 million to develop next-generation purification and finishing technologies for ultra-high-purity quartz used in crystal growth crucibles, processing glassware, and other hardware throughout the semiconductor value chain.  

“These CHIPS R&D awards will support breakthroughs in power semiconductor devices and critical materials,” said Bill Frauenhofer, Executive Director of Semiconductor Investment and Innovation at the Department of Commerce. “Accelerating domestic R&D across these technologies will strengthen America's ability to convert and deliver power for the grid, advanced data centers, defense systems, and emerging fusion energy.”