The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced a new program that will move low-dimensional chip tech from lab to manufacturing platforms that U.S. manufacturers can use in order to develop and deploy advanced microelectronics.
The NSF announced on September 23, 2026, that its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, or TIP, will lead a program called the NSF Ecosystem for Low-dimensional Electronics: Growth, Assembly, Nanoelectronics, and Translation, or NSF ELEGANT. It is well to be noted that the program is focusing on future potential when it comes to advanced communications, high-performance computing as well as artificial intelligence, as well as other areas that are critical to U.S. security and economic strength.
Why is NSF interested in low-dimensional semiconductor manufacturing?
NSF stated that the fabrication techniques of today can no longer produce ever smaller microelectronics in the volumes the industry needs. ELEGANT’s goal is to advance low-dimensional materials for chip fabrication and bridge the gap between laboratory results and platforms that can be used for commercial production.
Says Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for TIP, “NSF ELEGANT aims to de-risk advanced microelectronics manufacturing technology to the point where industry can make a timely, credible, evidence-based commitment to its adoption.”
How Will Industry Partners Influence NSF ELEGANT?
With the move from low-dimensional chip tech from lab to manufacturing, the structure and metrics of the program are contingent upon ongoing industry participation, Gianchandani said. Industry partners will review the results of each performer at each phase so that the technologies that proceed are those manufacturers are ready to take on.
How Can Industry Get Involved in the Program?
NSF has introduced another offering for transaction agreement solutions, or OTASO. In this process, NSF will select a coordinator of the overall ecosystem along with teams of expert performers throughout five translation themes –
- Manufacturing materials platform
- Process technology, process design kit
- Device, circuit, and full chip showcasing
- Readiness & transition for manufacturing
- Acceleration by AI
Where Does ELEGANT Fit into NSF’s Broader Milestone-Based Funding Push?
ELEGANT follows a trend in other recent TIP efforts of favoring flexible, milestone-based awards over traditional grants. NSF’s $1.5 billion X-Labs initiative was announced in May. X-Labs provides funding for independent research organizations through other transaction agreements, including Phase 1 awards of up to $50 million per year. The agency ran a $20 million pilot earlier this September to help deep-tech small businesses bridge the gap in commercialization.
The directorate has three strategies –
- Accelerating the development of essential and emerging technologies,
- Taking U.S. innovation to greater parts of the country, and
- Building a competitively prepared workforce.