Defense Industrial Base Assessment: U.S. Integrated Circuit Design and Fabrication Capability
Abstract
The capability to design and fabricate integrated circuit (IC) products is critical to the economic and national security of the United States. IC products are fundamental building blocks for commercial, industrial, and national security electronic systems. In recent years, there have been questions about the possible erosion of the U.S. manufacturing base and increasing reliance on offshore producers to supply microprocessors, memory chips, and other IC devices. In July 2007, the Department of Commerce's (DOC) Office of Technology Evaluation (OTE) in the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), with support from the U.S. Department of Defense, initiated a study to assess U.S. IC design and fabrication capabilities. Forty-nine fabricators and 106 fabless firms participated in an OTE survey and provided detailed information on their ability to create a range of conventional and radiation resistant IC devices across technology nodes, using standard and non-standard semiconductor materials. Data collected through the OTE survey covered the period of 2003 to 2006, with projections through 2011. Overall, companies reported broad capability in the United States to manufacture and design both conventional and radiation resistant ICs across almost all technology nodes, materials, wafer sizes, and device types. Based on projections through 2011, this core capability reportedly will be maintained despite some increases in outsourcing to non-U.S. locations. During the 2003-2006 period, U.S. manufacturing and design activity was supported by significant growth in corporate net sales, research and development (R&D) spending, and capital expenditures. The vast majority of R&D and capital expenditures was allocated to activities within the United States, with a small but growing portion directed to overseas operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA502658
Entities
People
- Brad Botwin
- Christopher P Nelson
- Mark Crawford
- Teresa Telesco
Organizations
- United States Department of Commerce