Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1488725
86 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2022 Now we need to take the next step. Mak- ing chips in America doesn't solve the supply chain security and resiliency issues. Why not? Because when the new chips are made here, they will still rely on PCBs and advanced pack- aging done almost exclusively in Asia. How can we restore domestic production of microelectronics? Here are three places where government and industry need to act: Innovation Just as chips have evolved, PCBs have become highly complex microelectronics con- structed with custom combinations of woven glass, copper foil, resin, and other highly engi- neered materials. PCBs are modern marvels, but as semiconductors evolve, so must the PCBs that support them. PCB manufactur- ers must invest in R&D to stay current. is past year, Congress started to address R&D for PCBs through HR 7677, the Supporting Amer- ican Printed Circuit Boards Act, a bill that will re-emerge in the 118th Congress. Government support for R&D is important because the U.S. competes against countries that have been incentivizing innovation and low-cost produc- tion for decades. It is time for the U.S. to step up and do the same. Talent e men and women who design, build, test, and inspect PCBs are the most impressive peo- ple I've had the pleasure to work with. Unfortu- nately, their ranks have thinned as the industry contracted over the past two decades. When manufacturing and R&D migrated overseas, so did much of the know-how. As a nation, we need to invest in the manufacturing and scien- tific skills we need to be competitive. is is a long-term issue. If we don't address the short- age of qualified workers now and provide them with clear career pathways, we will have a hard time attracting the next generation to this industry. e talent pipeline is just as crucial as any piece of machinery we might buy or any building we might erect. Investment Government incentives alone are not enough to scale up and sustain a robust and resilient microelectronics industry in the U.S. e present business case is challenging. To attract commercial investment, prospective investors need to see both the right conditions and a promise of future returns. Future returns depend on projecting aggregate demand. For example, if we were to put together the domes- tic demand for 5G, medical, finance/bank- ing and telecommunications, and other crit- ical infrastructure, I believe we would see a viable investment opportunity. Government and industry should agree on the critical infra- structure that requires domestically produced PCBs and other microelectronics. en legis- lators and regulators could take coordinated action to support this industry and protect our nation's critical infrastructure. Reshoring microelectronics manufacturing has a multitude of benefits, all of which make a compelling argument for government and industry action. As the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, our efforts in Wash- ington, D.C., haven't gone unnoticed. We con- tinue to educate, advocate and lobby for more government cooperation. Join us today as we work toward a stronger future for this critical industry. PCB007 Travis Kelly is CEO of Isola- Group and current chairman of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America. To read past columns, click here. Making chips in America doesn't solve the supply chain security and resiliency issues.