Circuit Talk

Faran Nouri of Lam Research joins John Cole on this week's episode of Circuit Talk: Funders and Founders. Nouri brings a wealth of information and a fresh perspective on the importance of corporate venture groups, the specific projects that an organization like Lam Research partners with, and her hope for the future of investment in the ecosystem thanks to the CHIPS Act and a renewed national focus on the ecosystem.

In this episode of Circuit Talk: Funders and Founders, John Cole is joined by Rob Snowberger and Rahul Sen, CEO and CTO of Nantero. Nantero, along with being an active member of The Semiconductor Alliance, is a start-up ingeniously disrupting the manufacturing ecosystem. With humble beginnings as an idea formed in class at Harvard to being selected by the Japanese government for their National Green Data Center, Nantero has unique insight into the critical role of start-ups in the semiconductor ecosystem. 

In this episode of Circuit Talk: Full Stack, host Nitin J. Shah welcomes Todd Holmdahl, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President. A longtime employee of Microsoft, Todd played an instrumental role in the development of Xbox, one of the industry’s best examples of full stack innovation. Beginning with an overview of full stack innovation and the essential role it plays in groundbreaking technology, Todd uses both his personal experience revolutionizing gaming with the Xbox, as well as detailing Apple’s intricate design of the iPhone to highlight the success that can be achieved through full stack innovation.

This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in the history, importance, and far-reaching impact of full stack innovation for the impending growth of the domestic semiconductor industry

Nitin is joined in episode two by Rick Gottscho, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Lam Research. Gottscho details the legacy of innovation from Lam Research, noting specifically how their work both touches all semiconductors in everyday devices, as well as how their manufacturing is done primarily in America with an impact felt across the globe.

Gottscho gives an overview and deep dive into his vision of the “semiverse,” a concept that could pave the way for experimentation and coordination among a network of interconnected laboratories and research centers. By utilizing digital twinning and operations through the cloud, this concept could pave the way for interactions and innovations between entities spread throughout the nation providing their unique capabilities to unite for full stack innovation.

To get an on-the-ground perspective on the critical fight for semiconductor workforce development, Nitin brings Jim Vandevere, President of BRIDG, a nonprofit focused on technology commercialization in Orlando, FL to join him on the podcast. After an overview of the work BRIDG does in their development of semiconductor capabilities, specifically advanced packaging, Vandevere details some of their critical work in workforce development. With a uniquely large quantity of higher education institutions (public, private, and community), as well as access to local high schools and military veterans, Vandevere presents the case that BRIDG is well-suited to shape the semiconductor workforce of tomorrow.

Deirdre Hanford, Chief Security Officer at Synopsys, joins Nitin in episode four to discuss her work in the semiconductor industry, and where she sees it growing in the future. In a wide-ranging discussion around her thoughts on the industry as a whole, Hanford touches on Synopsys’ work with electronic design automation (EDA), IP building blocks, and software security. These areas of focus pave the way for a robust discussion around innovations in cloud infrastructure, which Hanford believes holds a key to workforce development, enabling greater equity among designers around the globe. An essential piece of the semiconductor ecosystem puzzle, Hanford’s insights as CSO of Synopsys are essential listening.

In episode one of Circuit Talk: Funders and Founders, MITRE Engenuity's John Cole is joined by Meghali Chopra, CEO of Sandbox Semiconductor. A benevolent disruptor in the semiconductor ecosystem, Sandbox Semiconductor seeks to revolutionize the way that process engineers conduct experiments on innovations within the field. Chopra and Cole speak on the difficulties of breaking into a field so cautiously protective of IP, as well as the benefits to be shared by producing anonymized case studies.

A window into the future of innovation for the semiconductor industry, this conversation with Meghali Chopra is an inspiring listen for anyone interested in the success of an innovator changing the game and defining new paths to succeed in this critical technology.

 In Episode 7, the finale of MITRE Engenuity's Circuit Talk, Dr. Nadia Scahdlow and Pavneet Singh welcome Susie Armstrong, Senior Vice President at Qualcomm. A veteran of the technology industry, she is uniquely placed to provide her current assessment on the real engineering and financial challenges that the U.S. chip industry faces. We will learn how the U.S. fares in the global market, as well as what lessons we can learn from other countries as the U.S. orients itself to compete over the coming decades.

For more information about Semiconductors and other MITRE Engenuity projects, please visit https://mitre-engenuity.org

Music provided by bensound.com

In episode 6, Prof. Zak Holman from Arizona State University joins Dr. Nadia Schadlow and Pavneet Singh to pose questions and unpack the challenges and opportunities in the University setting for discovering future semiconductor technologies. Where is the Academy in uncovering future materials and processes for semiconductor technology? What does University need from Government and Industry to make their work more fruitful? What are the gaps in STEM talent or federal funding that can be alleviated? How should we create safe and productive collaborative environments with international partners? Listen in to hear these answers and more.

To sign up for the June 29th Circuit Talk Live event, please visit https://mitre-engenuity.org/circuit-talk

For more information about Semiconductors and other MITRE Engenuity projects, please visit https://mitre-engenuity.org

Music provided by bensound.com