IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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60 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2026 foundation of all electronic platforms, the technol- ogy race against our global competitors must refo- cus on building a vibrant, innovative domestic PCB industry to further enable this competition against our adversaries. As our nation prepares to send astronauts around the moon for the first time since 1972, that complex feat depends on thousands of PCBs from liftoff to touch down. When the Artemis mission lifts off in March, every one of those PCBs must withstand the extreme environmental stresses of space travel and be trusted and secure. PCBs con- nect semiconductors to the operational systems that will take our astronauts to space and return them safely to Earth. PCBs also power the satel- lites we depend on for security, navigation, and weather data. In addition to space travel, AI is driving an explo- sion of data center growth worldwide. The U.S. has the most data centers in the world, with hundreds more in the pipeline. Every acre of compute needs thousands of PCBs connecting semiconductors that manage the data used for national defense, telecommunications, air traffic control, banking, medical devices, and the electricity grid. Data cen- ters often have American flags on the outside, but Chinese components inside. There are real risks when we allow an adversarial nation to provide key components controlling our critical infrastruc- ture. Meaningful support of AI will require signifi- cant investments in U.S. capacity to make PCBs. Friendly countries around the world are invest- ing billions in their PCB industries. Governments in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, India, and Viet- nam have all made significant investments in PCB manufacturing, attracting private investors. These countries are at the end of long and vulnerable supply chains and do not produce the trusted and secure PCBs required for our nation's defense and critical infrastructure. There will only be more demand for space mis- sions, AI servers, and complex defense and infra- structure systems. They all need PCBs to function. The U.S. government should invest as other na- tions have, paving the way for the American PCB industry to be reshored and restored. America's investment in semiconductors must be followed by a commensurate commitment to the rest of the technology stack, specifically substrates and PCBs. Owning the future here on earth or amongst the stars means building big and making American manufacturing great again. But, without a visionary industrial policy, dreams of American technologi- cal leadership will remain just out of reach. H.R. 3597, the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates (PCBS) Act, would help put the U.S. back in a com- petitive position. Join PCBAA to help us educate legislators and policymakers in Washington about the role of PCBs in our nation's future. For more information, visit pcbaa.org. I-CONNECT007 Shane Whiteside is chair of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America and president and CEO of Summit Interconnect. To read past columns, click here. A M E R I CA N M A D E A DVO CACY