DOD Establishes Microelectronics Commons Hub Network
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering David Honey announces the creation of the nine microelectronics innovation hubs at a press conference on Sept. 20.
Sgt. Jack Sanders / U.S. Air Force
Last week, the Department of Defense announced the eight regional “Hubs” that will form the core of the Microelectronics Commons it is establishing using the $2 billion appropriated to DOD by the CHIPS and Science Act.
Each Hub is led by a university or collaborative organization and also includes member organizations that vary in number across the Hubs from as few as seven to as many as 130. Together, the Hubs are receiving $238 million for fiscal year 2023 and will receive unspecified amounts for a further four years, at which point DOD expects they will become self-sufficient.
The Hubs will provide facilities that aim to facilitate hardware prototyping and talent development, with each focused on one or more of six areas: secure-edge and internet-of-things computing, 5G and 6G telecommunications, artificial intelligence hardware, quantum technology, electromagnetic warfare, and commercial lead-ahead technologies.
DOD states that it will soon move into the “project stage” of the Microelectronic Commons, which will involve proposals for efforts that leverage the Hubs.
