CORVALLIS, Ore. (July 9, 2025) – A consortium of AI and semiconductor focused companies, workforce development providers, community-based organizations and state and local agencies, led by Oregon State University’s College of Engineering received word this week that it is advancing to the next stage of consideration in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program. 

The semiconductor sector is one of the largest contributors to Oregon’s GDP, but in recent years, it has shown its vulnerability to foreign semiconductor companies.

“In just two years, we have built a thriving coalition that is already accelerating research, innovation, and workforce development in the region to help the US regain semiconductor supremacy,” said Oregon State University President Jayathi Murthy. “Through deep collaboration and new partnerships with industry, education, and government, we’ve laid the foundation for new workforce and education pathways that will train the next generation of high-tech leaders.” 

Focused on revolutionizing AI for improved semiconductor design and manufacturing, Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology, also known as FAST, is seeking an NSF investment of $160 million over the decade, building on the recent investments that the State of Oregon made through its Oregon CHIPS act and the co-investment in the region by the FAST partners.

“Oregon is a global force in semiconductor manufacturing,” said Sophorn Cheang, Director of Business Oregon. “The advancement of FAST is further evidence of Oregon’s strength, leadership, and innovation in the semiconductor industry. Our state is comprised of a diverse coalition of private and public partners, ensuring we are an ideal location for a Regional Innovation Engines program that builds a strong workforce and promotes economic growth.”

Federal funds have followed significant investments by the State of Oregon in the local semiconductor economy. This included Oregon Senate Bill 4 (SB4), passed in April 2023, and making  $240M available to 15 companies projected to invest over $40 billion in new semiconductor projects in Oregon.

FAST started in 2023 with an initial proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Late last year, NSF selected it to advance to the full proposal stage. Since then, the consortium has expanded and begun addressing critical workforce development needs. The consortium was informed Tuesday that it is one of 29 semifinalists (out of 71 submitted proposals) that will receive a virtual site visit from NSF as it works to identify the next wave of Regional Innovation Engines.

The project has four primary goals:

• Drive technology advances by harnessing artificial intelligence to improve chip design, boost performance, reduce manufacturing costs, and shorten product development cycles.
• Promote economic growth by stimulating high-tech job creation throughout the Cascades-Willamette Innovation Corridor. According to the Oregon Employment Department, semiconductor industry jobs have an average annual salary of $180,000, a full $100,000 higher than the average salary across other industries in Oregon.
• Enhance workforce development by recruiting and training a larger workforce to address the shortage of trained semiconductor technicians through new educational pathways. In Deloitte’s 2023 semiconductor industry outlook, they estimate that the industry needs to add a million skilled workers by 2030.
• Align regional assets and partnerships by catalyzing and sustaining high levels of coordination among key economic development agencies, academic institutions, research teams, entrepreneurial organizations, and funding partners to harness the full potential of the region to advance U.S. competitiveness in a rapidly advancing global industry.

“Oregon has been a national leader in semiconductor and high-tech manufacturing for decades,” stated Duncan Wyse, President, Oregon Business Council, Oregon Business Council. “FAST is bringing our vision of a regional innovation ecosystem to advance research and workforce development to life, proving what’s possible when cross-sector partners unite under a shared vision.” 

FAST is comprised of 95 companies, universities, government agencies, and community-based organizations focused on stimulating economic development across a dozen Oregon counties. It includes Fortune 500 companies like Intel, HP, Siemens, and AI heavyweight NVIDIA.  

It also includes five community colleges (Chemeketa, Mt. Hood, Portland, Linn-Benton, and Lane), three other universities (University of Oregon, Portland State University, and Willamette University), as well as government agencies and community-based organizations, as it seeks to stimulate economic development across a dozen Oregon counties – a region FAST has dubbed the Cascades-Willamette Innovation Corridor.

“The FAST Engine represents a timely and important opportunity to continue strengthening the workforce and driving technology innovation in Oregon,” said Intel’s Courtney Martin.

The NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program “envisions supporting multiple regional innovation ecosystems across the U.S, spurring economic growth in regions that have not fully participated in the technology boom of the past few decades.” In establishing the Cascades-Willamette Innovation Corridor, FAST reaches into a dozen Oregon counties – both urban and rural.

“From the Silicon Forest to urban and rural communities throughout Oregon’s Willamette Valley and High Desert, this initiative will accelerate innovation and advance our position as global leaders in high-tech manufacturing, unlocking long-term prosperity for people throughout the Cascades-Willamette Innovation Corridor,” said Skip Newberry, President and CEO of Technology Association of Oregon.

Selected NSF Regional Innovation Engines are eligible to receive funding over the next 10 years to establish dynamic innovation ecosystems, like FAST, to accelerate use-inspired research and translate scientific breakthroughs into new products on the market.

The virtual site visit will take place at the end of July, with the NSF expected to make funding decisions in early 2026.