SEMI Foundation & U.S. National Science Foundation Launch NNME

The SEMI Foundation, serving as the Hub Operator for the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), launched the first four Regional Nodes of the NNME.

This marks a major national milestone in the effort to build America’s microelectronics and semiconductor workforce on an unprecedented scale.

The NNME is designed to serve as a national infrastructure for microelectronics talent development across the United States. 

The NNME was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and aligned with the CHIPS and Science Act. 

The four Regional Nodes are:

1. NNME Southwest, led by the Arizona Commerce Authority, serves Arizona, Southern California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
2. NNME Pacific Intermountain, led by Boise State University, serves Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Northern California, and Hawaii
3. NNME Northeast, led by NY Creates, serves Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia
4. NNME South, led by the University of Texas at Austin, and serves Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Alabama

“America’s ability to lead in semiconductors depends on whether we can build and sustain the workforce needed to power innovation here at home,” said Senator Todd Young. “The National Network for Microelectronics Education represents the kind of national, industry-connected workforce strategy needed to strengthen America’s competitiveness, expand opportunity, and prepare the next generation of talent for high-demand careers in microelectronics and advanced manufacturing.”

Under the NNME structure, the SEMI Foundation and NSF expect to support the four Regional Nodes with potential funding opportunities of up to $20 million per node over five years to accelerate scalable talent solutions aligned to industry demand and establish the gold standard for microelectronics education and workforce training across America.

The NNME was established to help close that gap through a nationally aligned, regionally activated strategy focused on expanding awareness, accelerating workforce readiness, modernizing education and training systems, and connecting learners directly to employment opportunities across the semiconductor ecosystem.