Oregon lands $15M to grow chip industry

Driving the news: The grant, announced Tuesday, was awarded to the Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST), a consortium of more than 100 partners across higher education, government, the tech industry and nonprofits.

• FAST was one of 12 organizations that won semiconductor awards and could be eligible for up to $160 million over the next decade.

Zoom in: The money will go toward identifying innovations, putting research into real-world applications, supporting startups and creating career pathways to grow local talent.

Between the lines: Oregon's "silicon forest" exported more than $11 billion in computer products in 2025, per the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

• But the industry also saw waves of layoffs last year and has been slow to take advantage of the artificial intelligence boom, which has resulted in shrinking revenue as fast-moving competitors have gained market share.

What's next: The initial award runs for two years and teams that demonstrate significant progress will be eligible for additional funding.