Tech Diplomacy Now: Commerce Prepares to Allocate CHIPS Funding
We are entering a new chapter in American industrial policy as the Federal Government seeks to create a more resilient semiconductor ecosystem.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Top News of the Week
Announcements
Latest News
Technology Strategy and Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Critical Minerals
Synthetic Biology
Quantum
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Energy and Climate
Opinion and Commentary
Top News of the Week – Commerce Prepares to Allocate CHIPS Funding
Last year, Congress appropriated funds to the Commerce Department to protect the country’s semiconductor industry from national security threats. In response, Commerce set up the CHIPS program office which will oversee $39 billion worth of grants, $11 billion for semiconductor design research centers, and another $75 billion worth of loan guarantees. Last month, the CHIPS program office released its Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and they will begin accepting grant applications in September.
This will mark a new chapter in American industrial policy as the Federal Government seeks to create a more resilient semiconductor ecosystem that can provide chips for both national security purposes as well as fortifying the country’s economic security. Along with these incentives, the State Department has been negotiating agreements in Latin America to build out a secure semiconductor value chain in the Western Hemisphere (Costa Rica on July 14 and Panama on July 20).
Together with these ‘carrots,’ the Commerce Department is also sharpening its ‘sticks’ by tightening export controls to the PRC on the most advanced semiconductors.
More background:
CHIPS for America – Program Website
Department of Commerce and Department of Defense Sign Memorandum of Agreement to Strengthen U.S. Defense Industrial Base – U.S. Department of Defense, July 26, 2023
What the US is doing with semiconductors to stave off China threat – ABC News, July 25, 2023
Officials juggle several US goals as they award CHIPS money – Roll Call, July 25, 2023
US lawmakers urge Biden administration to tighten AI chip export rules – Reuters, July 31, 2023
Announcements
The Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday (Aug. 4) ratified faculty and staff appointments, recognizing efforts in discovery, learning and engagement that have advanced Purdue’s land-grant mission while elevating its reputation as a leading research university across the country and around the world.
Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy Senior Research Fellow Fabio Ribeiro has been named the W. Nicholas and Elizabeth H. Delgass Distinguished Professor in Chemical Engineering.
In the two decades since arriving at Purdue in 2003 as a professor of chemical engineering, Ribeiro has delivered foundational advances in the increasingly important field of catalysis and is now passionately leveraging these breakthroughs to solve the problem of our century: Energy Transition. Ribeiro serves as the director of the National Science Foundation-funded Engineering Research Center on the Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources (CISTAR) at Purdue. The nationwide CISTAR is a successful five-university and 32 industry partner collaboration to develop transformative technological innovations and build a new diverse and innovative workforce to responsibly realize U.S. shale gas potential in reducing carbon footprints.
He is a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Ribeiro has received many honors in recognition of his global voice in coalescing the international renewable energy research community and accelerating shared missions across countries.
Latest News
France is investigating suspected smuggling to China and Russia of advanced chip technology – AP, July 27, 2023
Kim Jong Un Flaunts North Korea’s Newest Weapons with Russia and China by His Side – WSJ, July 28, 2023
North Korea's Kim vows to boost cooperation with China to 'new high' – Reuters, July 28, 2023
Ruling parties of Japan and Taiwan agree to discuss regional issues – Japan Times, July 28, 2023
Technology Strategy and Policy
How Silicon Valley is helping the Pentagon in the AI arms race – Financial Times, July 30, 2023
Biden to Sign Order Curbing US Tech Investments in China by Mid-August – Bloomberg, July 28, 2023
China’s new scientists – Chatham House, July 24, 2023
Venture capital to China evaporates amid geopolitical hostilities and economic uncertainties – SCMP, July 28, 2023
U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations – NYTs, July 29, 2023
Artificial Intelligence
How the U.S. could squander its global AI lead – Axios, July 27, 2023
Companies double down on AI in June-quarter analyst calls – Reuters, July 31, 2023
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
TikTok Has Pushed Chinese Propaganda Ads to Millions Across Europe – Forbes, July 27, 2023
Huawei to restart 5G mobile chip output as early as this year – Nikkei Asia, July 27, 2023
Like a G60 — What’s China Planning with its Other NGSO? – SpaceRef, July 27, 2023
Critical Minerals
Pentagon Seeks Supply of Chip-Mineral Gallium After China Curbs Exports – Bloomberg, July 26, 2023
The Little Known Metals Giant that Rules a Global Market – Bloomberg, July 25, 2023
Synthetic Biology
Harnessing synthetic biology to make sustainable alternatives to petroleum products – MIT News, July 20, 2023
Virus Particles Get a Bioengineered Makeover – SynBioBeta, July 21, 2023
Synthetic human embryos created in groundbreaking advance – The Guardian, June 14, 2023
Flipping a Switch and Making Cancers Self-Destruct – NYTs, July 31, 2023
Quantum
Quantum Tech Will Transform National Security. It’s Testing U.S. Alliances Now. – NYTs, July 28, 2023
How Heidelberg University became entangled in China's quantum strategy – DW, July 26, 2023
The United States’ Quantum Talent Shortage Is a National Security Vulnerability – Foreign Policy, July 31, 2023
Advanced Aerospace Technology
China curbs exports of drone equipment amid U.S. tech tension – Reuters, July 31, 2023
Elon Musk’s Unmatched Power in the Stars – NYTs, July 28, 2023
Lift-off for Lingxi-03: China tests ultra-thin flexible solar wing for satellite network to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink – SCMP, July 27, 2023
Defending the Ultimate High Ground – CSET, July 2023
US risks falling behind China in rapid satellite launches, report warns – SCMP, July 25, 2023
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
China’s Tech Distress Grows as U.S. Chip Sanctions – WSJ, July 31, 2023
US, Europe Are Growing Alarmed by China’s Rush into Legacy Chips – Bloomberg, July 31, 2023
China’s AI chip champion Cambricon downsizes autonomous driving unit as it struggles to make a profit – SCMP, July 28, 2023
Intel’s new Chinese chip innovation centre is a collaboration with a Shenzhen district, deepening ties amid US scrutiny – SCMP, July 31, 2023
Energy and Climate
Honda joins new EV charging network in U.S. – Japan Times, July 27, 2023
China accused of using ‘wrecking tactics’ at climate talks – FT, July 28, 2023
Battery power: how China could take charge of the electric vehicle market – The Guardian, July 29, 2023
Opinion and Commentary
Our Oppenheimer Moment: The Creation of A.I. Weapons – Alex Karp, NYTs, July 25, 2023
China’s Threat to Ban Critical Minerals Exports Is a Bluff – Foreign Policy, July 27, 2023
Let the Tragedy in My Homeland Be a Lesson – NYTs, July 28, 2023
Beijing Is Still Too Confident About China’s Economy – Nathaniel Taplin, WSJ, July 31, 2023
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader of a new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies, and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.