Key facts
- US government will receive minority equity stakes in companies receiving funds.
- Helion to receive $175 million for fusion power semiconductors.
- Vertical Semiconductor to advance gallium nitride power semiconductors for AI data centers.
- Sibelco to develop purification for ultra-high-purity quartz for the semiconductor supply chain.
The US Commerce Department announced on Thursday its intention to award $389 million in research and development funding to four companies focused on power semiconductor devices and critical materials. This initiative is part of a broader $10 billion fund approved by Congress in 2022 to bolster American semiconductor innovation. As a condition for receiving the funds, the US government will obtain minority, non-controlling, and non-voting equity stakes in the recipient companies. The awards aim to enhance domestic energy and power resources through advancements in semiconductor technology.