[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33248-33250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14869]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Request for Information: Basic Research Initiative for 
Microelectronics

AGENCY: Offices of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR), Basic 
Energy Sciences (BES), Fusion Energy Science (FES), and High Energy 
Physics (HEP); Office of Science, Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Request for information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The DOE Office of Science (DOE-SC) is considering the launch 
of a multi-program basic research initiative in support of 
microelectronics and semiconductor sectors. The participating program 
offices in DOE-SC invite interested parties to provide input on the 
topical areas, innovation mechanisms, impact, and potential 
collaborations, including public-private partnerships, that could be 
implemented under this initiative. DOE-SC is particularly interested in 
ways in which unique DOE facilities, expertise and capabilities can be 
leveraged to support U.S. continued global innovation and leadership in 
this field.

DATES: Written comments and information are requested on or before 
August 30, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The DOE Office of Science is using the http://www.regulations.gov system for the submission and posting of public 
comments in this proceeding. All comments in response to this RFI are 
therefore to be submitted electronically through http://www.regulations.gov, via the web form accessed by following the 
``Submit a Formal Comment'' link near the top right of the Federal 
Register web page for this RFI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
may be submitted to Dr. Andrew Schwartz, (301) 903-3535, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For decades DOE-SC has been at the leading 
edge of microelectronics and semiconductor-based technology 
innovations, both as a consumer and as an engine of scientific 
understanding that has enabled many of the

[[Page 33249]]

technological breakthroughs adopted by industry. Since the invention of 
the integrated circuit in 1960, advances in microelectronics have 
followed Moore's Law and other scaling laws, leading to circuit density 
and device performance improvements of 10\9\ over this time period. In 
turn, strong commercial demand fueled the pace of scaling, and assured 
that the needs of DOE-SC facilities were met.
    Today, the end of Moore's Law, along with the emergence of new 
computing workloads, new materials and devices, and new models of 
computation, have resulted in an unprecedented need and opportunity to 
``redesign'' the innovation process. As highlighted in the SC-sponsored 
Basic Research Needs for Microelectronics workshop,\1\ to enable 
continued advances in computing and power technologies, a fundamental 
rethinking is needed of the science behind the materials and chemistry, 
physics, synthesis and fabrication technologies, architectures, 
algorithms, modeling, simulation, and design software tools. Could we 
replace the historical roadmaps with co-design collaborations among 
software developers, computer architects, circuit designers, device 
physicists, materials scientists, and chemists to guide a new R&D 
strategy? The outcome of such an ``end-to-end co-design framework'' 
could fundamentally reshape future high performance computing, sensing, 
data analytics, artificial intelligence, power conversion and control, 
and other electronics-intensive applications.
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    \1\ https://science.osti.gov/-/media/bes/pdf/reports/2018/Microelectronics_Brochure.pdf.
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    DOE-SC supports robust basic research portfolios and scientific 
user facilities for chemical, physical, mathematical, computational 
sciences, and modeling/simulation. DOE-SC is poised at the convergence 
of these scientific disciplines, in a unique position to play a 
critical role in the advancement of microelectronic technologies over 
the coming decades. In addition, the success and impact of DOE-SC 
facilities (e.g. high-performance computers, x-ray and neutron 
scattering centers, and high energy physics experiments) will be 
dependent upon the resultant capabilities in computing, sensing, power, 
and communications.
    DOE-SC is considering the launch of a basic research 
Microelectronics R&D initiative with emphasis on the following broad 
areas:

 Materials, chemistry, surface science, and plasma science/
technology
 Device physics and circuits
 Component integration, architecture, and algorithms
 Next-generation tools for synthesis, fabrication, and 
characterization
    Investments in these areas will provide foundational support for 
U.S. leadership in key technology growth areas, including the 
following:

 Memory and Reconfigurable Systems
 Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
 Edge Computing, Sensors, and the Internet of Things
 Power Electronics, the Electricity Grid, and Cyber Physical 
Systems
 Energy Efficiency of Computation and Packaging

    Request for Information: The objective of this request for 
information is to gather input about the topical areas, organization, 
impact, and potential collaborations including public-private 
partnerships that could be implemented under this initiative. The 
participating program offices of DOE-SC are specifically interested in 
receiving input pertaining to any of the following questions:
    (1) Topical Areas and Scope: Are the topics identified above 
appropriate? Do DOE-SC expertise and capabilities in these areas offer 
unique opportunities? Are there other topical areas that DOE-SC should 
consider including?
    (2) Collaboration, Partnerships, and R&D Performers: What 
partnership and collaboration models would be most effective in 
furthering microelectronics R&D in the U.S.? What mechanisms should be 
used to foster innovation? What types of organizations and institutions 
should be involved? What are the optimal roles for industry and 
particularly public-private partnerships in such work? What approaches 
or concerns with respect to intellectual property rights should be 
considered?
    (3) National Impact and Unique DOE Role and Contribution: How can 
DOE-SC contribute to advancement of the field in ways that are not 
possible with other existing or envisioned programs (supported by DOE, 
other Federal agencies, or non-Federal sources)? How can this 
initiative effectively complement and expand upon existing research 
programs and facilities supported by ASCR, BES, HEP, and FES?
    (4) Program Planning and Evaluation: What strategic planning inputs 
and processes might maximize the impact of the DOE-SC investments in 
microelectronics? How can DOE-SC best review progress and coordinate 
with other federal agencies funding microelectronics R&D?
    (5) Other: What key obstacles, impediments, or bottlenecks to 
progress should be considered? Are there other factors, issues, or 
opportunities, not addressed by the questions above, which should be 
considered in the establishment of a DOE-SC microelectronics R&D 
initiative?
    The proposed initiative will focus on long-term fundamental R&D and 
therefore DOE is not interested in receiving input related to near-term 
incremental improvements to current state-of-the-art commercial CMOS 
technology nodes. DOE is also not interested in feedback on work that 
is primarily supported by other U.S. government agencies, such as Fabs 
and Trusted Microelectronics.
    DOE-SC is not announcing an intention or an interest in procuring 
goods and services for its use. This RFI makes no statement about the 
possibility that DOE-SC might issue one or more solicitations for 
either procurement or financial assistance activities in the future. 
DOE-SC seeks input about how best to create a public benefit through 
fostering revolutionary advances in the state of the art in this field.
    Comments containing references, studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of 
the referenced materials. Note that comments will be made publicly 
available as submitted. Any information that may be confidential and 
exempt by law from public disclosure should be submitted as described 
below.
    Confidential Business Information: Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information he or she believes to be confidential and 
exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via email: One copy 
of the document marked ``confidential'' including all the information 
believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked ``non-
confidential'' with the information believed to be confidential 
deleted. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential 
status of the information and treat it according to its determination. 
Factors of interest to DOE when evaluating requests to treat submitted 
information as confidential include: (1) A description of the items, 
(2) whether and why such items are customarily treated as confidential 
within the industry, (3) whether the information is generally known by 
or available from other sources, (4) whether the information has 
previously been made available to others without obligation concerning 
confidentiality, (5) an explanation of the competitive injury to the 
submitting person which would result from public disclosure, (6)

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when such information might lose its confidential character due to the 
passage of time, and (7) why disclosure of the information would be 
contrary to the public interest.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on July 3, 2019.
Chris Fall,
Director, Office of Science.
[FR Doc. 2019-14869 Filed 7-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P