US Intelligence Community Launches Next-Generation Microelectronics Funding Program Created By Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s Legislation To Maintain Edge Against Chinese Government

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) hailed the launch by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) of a new initiative for early-stage next-generation microelectronics research in support of artificial intelligence. The program, which is now soliciting proposals for its grants and has a budget of a minimum of $15 million, was created by the Seeding Enterprises in the Microelectronics Industry (SEMI) Act which Reps. Krishnamoorthi and Chris Stewart (R-UT-02) introduced and secured the inclusion of in the FY21 Intelligence Authorization Act of December 2020. The new research program will help strengthen the American intelligence community's computing power by supporting the growth of domestic microelectronics research.

"We must not cede technical leadership to the Chinese government or the companies it controls, and that's why it's so important that IARPA has begun to solicit research proposals for advanced microelectronics to support artificial intelligence and machine learning under the provisions of my legislation," said Congressmen Krishnamoorthi. "The SEMI Act's seed funding will help revitalize crucial domestic research to meet our growing computing power needs to protect our country in the 21^st century."