Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1519075
38 PCB007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2024 What needs to happen is clear: IC substrates and PCBs need their own version of the CHIPS Act. jobs in a world where technology can mean the difference between victory and defeat. However, while defense applications are crit- ical to national security, the volume represents only a small slice of the overall IC substrate and PCB markets. e need for trusted and secure microelectronics goes far beyond defense sys- tems. Water systems, the power grid, air traffic control, banking, medical devices, and the rest of our critical infrastructure depend on com- ponents that come from far away countries that are sometimes global competitors. What needs to happen is clear: IC sub- strates and PCBs need their own ver- sion of the CHIPS Act. is is precisely why we are advocating for HR 3249, the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates (PCBS) Act. e PCBS Act calls for a 25% tax credit for compa- nies buying American-made PCBs and substrates, along with a $3 billion investment in related research and develop- ment, physical plant, and workforce development efforts. ere are companies all over America that would benefit from the boost that the PCBS Act will provide. PCBAA will remain vigilant in educating, advocating, and championing legislation and policies that will create more domestic manu- facturing and create trusted, secure, and resil- ient supply chains. I invite you to join PCBAA today and add your voice to our effort to rein- vigorate this essential industry. PCB007 Travis Kelly is CEO of Isola-Group and current chair of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America. To read past columns, click here. the PCBs. is means that semiconductor fabs have the attention of legislators and policymak- ers, but IC substrates and PCBs are an aer- thought at best. e CHIPS Act was advertised as a way to create a secure, trusted, and resil- ient supply chain. What has actually happened is a disconnect between stated government goals and the reality of the CHIPS Act. In fact, we don't solve the supply chain prob- lem; we make it worse. As things stand now, we are all in to make semiconductors in the U.S. but have not given equal attention to the rest of the technology stack. So, when those new American-made chips roll out of the fabs, they will end up shipped to Asia to be mated with Asian- made IC substrates and PCBs and then shipped to final assembly with an end-use electronic device. e sup- ply chain becomes more, rather than less, compli- cated when we address only one-third of the technology stack. is disconnect is precisely why PCBAA was formed. Companies producing American-made IC substrates and PCBs need government investment to scale up to do two things. First, we should match the production of the semiconductor industry to avoid making long trips across the world. Sec- ond, we need to reduce our dependence on foreign nations for these critical microelec- tronics. Being reliant on other countries for most of these components is an economic and national security risk that is not being ade- quately addressed. ere have been hopeful signs at the Defense Department. In recent months, the Defense Production Act Investment Account has con- tributed millions of dollars to several compa- nies that produce what is needed for defense applications. We are hopeful that Congress will fully fund this account and provide what our men and women in uniform need to do their