North Carolina Construction News staff writer
The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded $285 million to the Semiconductor Research Corporation Manufacturing Consortium Corporation (SRC) to establish the SMART USA (Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA) Institute in Durham. This new center will focus on advancing semiconductor technology, a critical industry for U.S. manufacturing.
This funding is part of a broader $1 billion investment in SMART USA. The institute will use digital twin technology — virtual models of real-world objects or systems — to improve semiconductor design, manufacturing, and testing. By using digital replicas, engineers can test and refine designs more quickly and cost-effectively before building them in the real world. This technology will help reduce production costs, speed up development, and improve efficiency…