Der CHIPS Act: Förderung der Halbleiterherstellung in den USA und der EU

Introduction to the CHIPS Act

The CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law in 2022, represents a significant milestone in U.S. technology policy. This law aims to revitalise domestic semiconductor manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and boost American competitiveness in global technology. The act comes at a time when semiconductor shortages have disrupted global supply chains and shown weaknesses in U.S. manufacturing capabilities.

With an investment of approximately $52 billion, the CHIPS Act is one of the biggest government investments in industrial policy in recent decades. Recruitment in the semiconductor industry is expected to grow a lot as manufacturing facilities expand. This law marks a change from years of limited government involvement in specific industries, showing a new approach to securing critical technology supply chains in a competitive global environment.

The key objectives of the CHIPS Act include:

• Strengthening domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities
• Reducing dependence on foreign semiconductor sources
• Creating high-quality manufacturing jobs
• Enhancing national security through technology independence
• Supporting innovation in advanced semiconductor technologies
• Establishing resilient supply chains for critical components
• Maintaining technological leadership in an increasingly competitive global landscape
• Fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and government research institutions

Funding Structure and Investment Breakdown

The CHIPS Act sets aside about $52 billion in federal funding to support different parts of semiconductor development and manufacturing. This big investment is organised to address various needs within the semiconductor ecosystem. The funding is meant to rebuild domestic capabilities across the entire semiconductor value chain, from basic materials to final chip production.

The money is divided like this:

• $39 billion for manufacturing incentives
• $13.2 billion for R&D and workforce development
• 25% investment tax credit for capital expenses related to semiconductor manufacturing
• $2 billion specifically for legacy chip production critical for automotive and defence sectors
• $500 million for international information communications technology security
• $200 million for semiconductor workforce development initiatives

This investment approach tackles both immediate manufacturing needs and long-term research capabilities. Recruitment strategies in 2024 will need to change as companies grow their operations with CHIPS Act funding. Experts think that the combination of direct funding and tax breaks will encourage significant private investment, potentially turning the federal money into hundreds of billions in total semiconductor development.

Application Process and Eligibility Requirements

The CHIPS Act has a structured application process with specific eligibility rules to make sure funding goes to projects that match national priorities. Companies need to understand these requirements to benefit from this historic investment. The Department of Commerce has created guidelines that balance the need for quick deployment with careful evaluation of project viability and alignment with strategic goals.

The application process has multiple steps:

• Pre-application consultation and guidance
• Statement of interest submission
• Full application with detailed project plans
• Rigorous evaluation based on technical and financial feasibility
• Negotiation of terms and conditions
• Award and implementation monitoring
• Compliance verification and milestone achievement tracking
• Regular reporting on progress and economic impact

The CHIPS Act implementation is run mainly by the Department of Commerce, with help from the Treasury Department and IRS for tax credit aspects. Companies must submit detailed documentation including business plans, technical specifications, supply chain security measures, workforce development strategies, and environmental impact assessments. The eligibility requirements are designed to ensure funded projects contribute meaningfully to domestic semiconductor capabilities while providing economic benefits to communities and addressing national security concerns.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

The CHIPS Act is expected to create significant economic benefits across many sectors, with job creation being a main part of its impact. The law aims to create a ripple effect throughout the economy, supporting both direct manufacturing jobs and related industries. Economic analyses suggest that full implementation of the CHIPS Act could add up to $187 billion to the U.S. economy over the next five years through direct investments, supply chain development, and increased technological capabilities.

The expected economic impacts include:

The CHIPS Act is projected to create over 100,000 direct manufacturing jobs and hundreds of thousands more in supporting industries. It will revitalise regional manufacturing hubs and boost economic activity in communities with new facilities. The law will help U.S. technology companies compete globally, develop specialised supply chains around manufacturing centres, reduce costs from supply disruptions, and speed up innovation through increased R&D investment.

Recruitment specialists expect a surge in hiring across various skill levels, from advanced engineering positions to production and technical support roles. Each direct semiconductor manufacturing job typically supports about 5.7 jobs in the wider economy. This includes construction, materials supply, equipment maintenance, logistics, and professional services jobs. Communities with new semiconductor facilities often see broader economic benefits through increased housing demand, retail activity, and service sector growth.

National Security Implications

The CHIPS Act is a strategic response to growing concerns about technology supply chain vulnerabilities and their effects on national security. Semiconductor manufacturing has become critical to defence systems, infrastructure, and economic security. The concentration of advanced semiconductor production in sensitive regions has created vulnerabilities that the law aims to fix through domestic capacity building and supply chain diversification.

Key national security considerations include:

• Reducing dependence on foreign semiconductor sources, particularly from geopolitically sensitive regions
• Ensuring supply chain integrity for defence and intelligence technologies
• Protecting intellectual property and preventing technology transfer to competitors
• Maintaining technological leadership in advanced computing capabilities
• Securing critical infrastructure that relies on semiconductor technologies
• Developing trusted supplier networks for sensitive applications
• Creating redundancy in supply chains to prevent single points of failure
• Supporting allied nations in developing complementary capabilities

AI and advanced technology development depends heavily on semiconductor availability, making this aspect of the CHIPS Act particularly important for maintaining leadership in emerging technologies with security applications. Defence systems increasingly rely on advanced computing capabilities for everything from communications to autonomous systems and intelligence analysis. By ensuring domestic production capabilities for these critical components, the CHIPS Act strengthens national resilience against supply disruptions that could impact military readiness or critical infrastructure operations.

Global Competitiveness and Supply Chain Resilience

The CHIPS Act helps the United States strengthen its position in the global semiconductor industry while building more resilient supply chains. This part of the law addresses both economic and strategic concerns about the concentration of manufacturing capacity in specific regions. By encouraging domestic production and innovation, the Act aims to reverse decades of manufacturing migration while creating more diverse and reliable supply networks for critical technologies.

The current global semiconductor landscape shows significant concentration:

About 75% of chip manufacturing happens in East Asia. The U.S. share of global semiconductor manufacturing has dropped from 37% in 1990 to about 12% today. Advanced manufacturing is particularly concentrated in Taiwan and South Korea. Equipment and materials supply chains are similarly concentrated in specific regions. Critical bottlenecks exist in specialised areas like extreme ultraviolet lithography. Design capabilities remain strong in the US while manufacturing has moved elsewhere. Packaging and testing operations are heavily concentrated in Southeast Asia.

Strategic recruitment approaches will be essential as companies build more resilient supply chains with geographic diversity. The law encourages the development of complete ecosystem capabilities rather than isolated manufacturing facilities. This approach recognises that semiconductor production involves complex networks of suppliers, specialised equipment, materials, design tools, and technical expertise. By addressing these interconnected elements, the CHIPS Act aims to create sustainable manufacturing capabilities that can withstand global disruptions.

Research and Development Initiatives

A big part of the CHIPS Act funding is dedicated to advancing semiconductor research and development, ensuring the United States maintains technological leadership in this critical field. These R&D initiatives address both near-term manufacturing challenges and long-term innovation needs. By creating new research infrastructure and encouraging collaboration between industry, academia, and government laboratories, the law builds a foundation for continued innovation in semiconductor technologies.

Key R&D initiatives under the CHIPS Act include:

• National Semiconductor Technology Centre (NSTC) establishment
• Advanced packaging research programmes
• Manufacturing innovation institutes focused on semiconductor technologies
• University research partnerships and centres of excellence
• Prototype development and pilot production facilities
• Materials research for next-generation semiconductor applications
• Design automation tools and methodologies
• Emerging architectures including neuromorphic and quantum computing interfaces

Specialised recruitment for research positions will be important as these initiatives grow. The R&D parts of the CHIPS Act create a foundation for long-term competitiveness by addressing fundamental technological challenges while connecting academic research with commercial applications. These initiatives recognise that maintaining leadership in semiconductor technology requires continuous innovation across multiple technology generations, addressing challenges from basic physics to system architecture and manufacturing processes.

Conclusion

The CHIPS Act is a major change in U.S. technology policy, with big implications for semiconductor manufacturing, national security, and economic competitiveness. Through its approach addressing manufacturing capacity, research capabilities, and workforce development, the law aims to revitalise a critical industry. The $52 billion investment shows a significant commitment to rebuilding domestic semiconductor capabilities and reducing vulnerabilities in global supply chains.

Key takeaways from our analysis include:

• The $52 billion investment addresses critical vulnerabilities in semiconductor supply chains
• Implementation balances immediate manufacturing needs with long-term research capabilities
• Workforce development represents a crucial component for sustainable industry growth
• Environmental sustainability considerations are integrated throughout the programme
• International dynamics create both competitive pressures and cooperation opportunities
• Economic benefits extend beyond direct manufacturing to supporting industries and communities
• National security considerations remain central to the programme's strategic objectives
• Long-term success requires transition from government support to commercial sustainability

As the semiconductor industry evolves under this new policy framework, specialised recruitment expertise will be increasingly valuable. The success of this historic investment will ultimately be measured by its ability to create sustainable competitive advantages for the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem while strengthening national security and economic resilience. The CHIPS Act represents not just a response to current shortages but a strategic repositioning of U.S. industrial policy to address the technological challenges and opportunities of the coming decades.