Ecosystem for Low-dimensional Electronics: Growth, Assembly, Nanoelectronics, and Translation

Microelectronics powers industry and drives worldwide innovation. However, current microelectronics manufacturing methods can no longer keep pace with the demand for smaller-scale microelectronics technologies at the scale needed. The ELEGANT program advances innovation in low-dimensional materials – materials that are extremely thin in at least one dimension – for semiconductor manufacturing and simultaneously bridges the gap between laboratory demonstrations and the development of industry-relevant platforms.

ELEGANT will position the U.S. for success in translating advanced microelectronics technologies into next-generation capabilities for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, advanced communications, and other key technology areas critical to national security and economic competitiveness.

NSF has released an Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering (OTASO) seeking Expert Performer Teams in five translation themes, defined by a specific translation endpoint rather than a technical discipline, as follows:   

• Theme 1: Manufacturable materials platform. 
• Theme 2: Process technology and process design kit.
• Theme 3: Device, circuit and full-chip demonstration. 
• Theme 4: Manufacturing readiness and transition.  
• Theme 5: AI-enabled acceleration. 

Detailed information about each theme is included in the OTASO. In addition, the OTASO seeks an Ecosystem Coordinator responsible for coordinating the ELEGANT ecosystem of performers. The Ecosystem Coordinator will be accountable for the effective support and coordination of the ELEGANT ecosystem, including supporting NSF oversight, facilitating collaboration among Expert Performer Teams, and ensuring progress toward meeting program objectives and translation endpoints throughout the period of performance. 

This solicitation is open to two categories of proposers: organizations proposing to serve as the Ecosystem Coordinator and organizations proposing to serve as an Expert Performer Team within one or more of the five translation themes. An organization may submit a proposal as Ecosystem Coordinator or as an Expert Performer Team, but not both. All offerors must be U.S.-based incorporated entities — institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, or formally established consortia of such entities. All proposing organizations must be actively registered in SAM (www.sam.gov) prior to submitting a proposal.

NSF Program Director: Michael Huff, Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships
Email: mahuff@nsf.gov