Annual Conference Recap - CHIPS Panel

March 2024

 

2024 ECEDHA Annual Conference: Revitalizing the Semiconductor Workforce through Education and Early Engagement 

 

 

At the 2024 ECEDHA Annual Conference, corporate, academic, non-profit, and government representatives presented on the CHIPS Act and the development of a skilled engineering workforce for semiconductor innovation and beyond. The panelists discussed how the CHIPS Act funding catalyzes strategic workforce development, ensuring a talent pool capable of driving technological innovation across ECE. The consensus was clear: fostering a diverse, well-equipped workforce is essential for sustaining innovation and growth in the semiconductor sector.

 

Panelists included:

• Joe Cole (Vice President, Aerospace & Government, Synopsys)

• Jerry Doorenbos (Chief Technologist for Sensing Business, Texas Instruments)

• Marla Dowell (Director of CHIPS Metrology Program and NIST Boulder Laboratory National Institute of Standards and Technology)

• Liesl Folks (Vice President for Semiconductor Strategy and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona)

• Melinda Gomez (Manager of Military Initiatives, SEMI Foundation)

• Mark Pierpoint (SVP Strategic Innovation & Partnerships, Keysight Technologies)

 

The CHIPS Act & Workforce Development Panel highlighted the urgent need for innovative educational strategies and industry partnerships to build a resilient and skilled workforce capable of sustaining the semiconductor industry's growth and innovation demands. Mark Pierpoint moderated the discussion and asked the panelists questions to share what immediate steps can be taken to invigorate the semiconductor workforce. The panelists collectively recognized the need for changes in recruitment and education, advocating for a lower emphasis on traditional credentials and a higher focus on practical skills and real-world experience. They called for integrating more hands-on design projects within undergraduate programs and stressed the importance of partnerships between industry and academia to enrich the educational pipeline from an early age.

 

Melinda Gomez emphasized the importance of early mentorship and industry exposure, detailing initiatives like "Ask the Expert" and "Flash Mentoring" sessions aimed at sparking interest in engineering among students. These efforts are part of a broader push to connect professionals with students early in their educational journeys.

 

The panel also discussed the need for more accessible educational pathways into engineering, particularly through practical, hands-on experiences that could be integrated into current curricula. Incorporating chip design projects at the undergraduate level was highlighted as a way to generate interest and competency in semiconductor design.

 

Pierpoint highlighted the diverse educational backgrounds among his staff, pointing out that while a minority possess advanced degrees, a majority of the engineering staff at Keysight continue to grow in the field through passion and on-the-job learning. This observation opened a discussion on how educational institutions can more effectively inspire and prepare students for careers in high-tech fields, especially at the K-12 level.

 

Liesl Folks pointed to the existing research on engaging middle and high school students with engineering concepts. She urged educators and industry professionals to leverage this knowledge and actively bring real-world engineering into classrooms. Folks pointed out that a challenge with the current state of technology is that the intricacies of devices are often hidden behind sleek designs, leaving students with little understanding of the underlying hardware they use every day.

 

 Pierpoint suggested that educators should also consider internships in industry, not just for their students but for themselves. By stepping into the industry, educators can gain insights and experiences that enrich their teaching and better prepare their students for technical careers.

The discussion underscored a critical consensus: to attract and educate the next generation of engineers, both academia and industry must collaborate more closely. By introducing students to the tangible aspects of technology and providing them with real-world challenges and solutions, the sector can inspire a robust pipeline of talent ready to advance the future of semiconductors.

 

Folks critiqued traditional engineering education, which often delays design experiences until the graduate level, suggesting that this is a bottleneck to industry entry. She championed including chip design projects, such as the Shipyard project at UC Berkeley and upcoming initiatives at the University of Arizona, into undergraduate curricula. Folks argued that such early exposure would generate greater enthusiasm and competence in semiconductor design among graduates.

 

Echoing Folks' call for earlier exposure, Joe Cole of Synopsis shared his company's approach to cultivating talent through a specialized curriculum that aligns closely with industry needs. He suggested that two-year degrees could be sufficient for certain design roles given appropriate training. He emphasized the necessity of preparing students for a rapidly evolving technological landscape where artificial intelligence and integrated systems redefine the skills needed in the semiconductor industry.

 

Marla Dowell emphasized the underutilized potential of the NSF intern program, which provides supplemental funding for students to engage in non-academic internships. This initiative is crucial as it introduces students to real-world experiences outside traditional academic settings, potentially increasing their interest and retention in the tech field. Dowell advocated for greater participation in this program, citing its success in bridging the gap between academic preparation and industry requirements.

 

Dowell also shared personal anecdotes to illustrate the importance of broadening hiring criteria beyond traditional academic metrics such as GPAs and specialized degrees. She highlighted successful cases where individuals from diverse backgrounds, not initially targeted for tech roles, made significant contributions to the field. This approach not only diversifies the talent pool but also challenges preconceived notions about the ideal candidate profile, enriching the workforce.

 

Folks introduced international collaboration and visa reform as critical elements in addressing the talent shortages in the U.S. semiconductor industry. She argued that while the U.S. cannot feasibly onshore all semiconductor manufacturing, it can enhance its supply chain resilience through global partnerships and educational collaborations. Folks pointed out the strategic importance of maintaining strong ties with countries that have robust semiconductor investments and are receptive to technology collaborations.

 

Jerry Doorenbos of Texas Instruments noted that while the legislation primarily promotes advancements in digital technologies, there is a critical role of analog technologies that bridge the digital and physical worlds. He shared insights from his experience in the sensing business, stressing that the CHIPS Act should also enhance technologies like amplifiers .

 

The conversation pivoted to the industry's workforce challenges. Pierpoint noted issues such as delayed factory openings due to labor shortages, emphasizing the need for a diverse skill set beyond Ph. D.-level experts. Gomez added that the industry needs to cultivate a broader talent base through innovative approaches like apprenticeships, "earn and learn" programs and collaborations with community colleges to create boot camp-style training programs.

 

Gomez also highlighted ongoing efforts to develop workforce capabilities across various states with a focus on Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, and California. These programs aim to prepare many new workers to meet the growing demands of new semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

 

Cole shared a personal perspective on alternative educational paths that align well with the industry's needs, such as paid college programs while working, which can be modeled to expand the talent pool significantly. He advocated for out-of-the-box thinking to address the staggering need for 23,000 skilled workers identified by his clients, emphasizing the importance of tapping into underutilized talent pools to avoid a potential disaster for the industry. By expanding the definition of potential and embracing non-traditional pathways, the industry can better meet its growing demands and ensure a robust and resilient future.

 

Overall, the panel underscored the CHIPS Act's potential not only to spur technological advancements but also to catalyze significant workforce development, ensuring the U.S. semiconductor industry can meet future challenges. The discussion concluded with a call to all stakeholders to participate in these initiatives, highlighting the collaborative effort required to foster innovation and growth in the sector.