In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Steve Crago, Director of the California DREAMS Hub, to discuss his remarkable career journey spanning marathons, microelectronics, and national defense innovation. From qualifying for the Boston Marathon to advancing computing architectures at USC’s Information Sciences Institute, Steve’s path reveals how personal discipline and professional vision intersect to shape both technology and leadership.

The conversation dives into the formation of the Microelectronics Commons Hubs under the CHIPS and Science Act, highlighting California DREAMS’ focus on radio frequency technology. Steve explains how decades of collaboration across Southern California’s universities, defense primes, and innovators have led to a hub built on trust, competition, and cooperation. At the heart of this transformation is Mosis 2.0, a pioneering platform designed to give innovators—from small startups to defense partners—access to critical fabrication and prototyping capabilities.

Ultimately, Steve shows how the DREAMS Hub and its partnerships are ensuring that U.S. microelectronics innovation remains strong and sustainable beyond 2028, by fostering collaboration, building infrastructure, and opening access to those who need it most.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• [00:46] Steve’s marathon journey—including qualifying for the Boston Marathon 12 times.
• [03:57] How his PhD research on computer architectures laid groundwork for today’s AI and memory systems.
• [08:58] His first DARPA project at USC ISI—using FPGAs for defense applications.
• [12:43] How Polymorphous Computing Architectures paved the way for multi-core processing and AI acceleration.
• [18:23] The vision and structure of the California DREAMS Hub and its focus on RF microelectronics.
• [31:26] What Mosis 2.0 is, and how it democratizes chip prototyping for startups and innovators.
• [39:57] The future of the Microelectronics Commons program beyond 2028 and why sustainability matters.

Let’s Connect:

• Daniel Marrujo
• Steve Crago
• TSS Website

Learn more about TSS: https://tss.llc/micro-journeys-podcast/

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