We’re Featured in Forbes: Bringing Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Back to the U.S.

Posted on: July 31, 2025

We’re proud to be featured in a recent Forbes article highlighting our work in both semiconductor R&D and workforce development across Florida.

The tech sector drives the U.S. economy, which in turn is undergirded by the semiconductor chips that power servers, computers, phones and more. Even though these chips are mostly designed domestically, they’re not made in America: Nearly 90% are imported.

That’s an issue that Tawny Olore wants to help fix. She’s the CEO of the Florida Semiconductor Engine, one of 10 regional networks backed by a two-yer, $15 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

Half of that money is going towards research and development, for which it has five major projects. These include developing improved hardware security, designing 6G chips for the next generation of mobile internet and a project to build cryogenic, superconducting chips for AI and other forms of advanced computing.

The other half of the spend is geared towards workforce development programs to ensure that there are people with the skills needed for the jobs the Engine hopes to bring back to the U.S. For example, it helped to develop an Associate’s Degree for semiconductor engineering at Valencia College. The program, which is enrolling its first students this Fall, will train students to work in cleanrooms and operate the delicate equipment used to make chips.

“That’s really important and shouldn’t be diminished by the research and development projects that are so cool,” Olore said. “You’ve got to have people there to be able to fill those jobs.”

Stay tuned.