Washington, USA: Partha Pande, the interim dean of Washington State University's (WSU) Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, has been selected to join Washington State’s CHIPS and Science Act working group. The group, formed by Governor Jay Inslee earlier this year, is tasked with advancing the state’s involvement in opportunities created by the federal CHIPS and Science Act, which focuses on strengthening semiconductor manufacturing and research in the U.S. The legislation provides funding to increase domestic research and production of semiconductors.
Pande, a professor and the Boeing Centennial chair in Computer Engineering, is one of 11 members chosen for the working group. These individuals are recognized as prominent figures in Washington’s semiconductor sector, which contributes $4.5 billion to the economy and supports nearly 8,600 jobs across the state, as reported by the Washington State Commerce Department.
With over 18 years of experience at WSU, Pande has been a leader in pioneering research in Network-on-Chip (NoC) technology, which improves communication within many-core chips. This innovation could lead to significant energy efficiency advancements in data centers and high-performance computing systems. Pande is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and was recently inducted into the Washington Academy of Sciences.
“The CHIPS and Science Act represents a transformative investment in science and technology nationwide, fueling innovation in semiconductor technology and growing the engineering and computer science workforce,” said Pande. “I’m honored to be part of this working group and look forward to contributing my expertise to benefit Washington in this crucial initiative.”
The working group’s work supports Washington’s growing involvement in semiconductor research and development. In 2023, WSU became a founding member of the Northwest University Semiconductor Network, aimed at training the next generation of semiconductor professionals in the U.S.
