The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has recommended policies to the US Department of Commerce outlining actions required to meet the goal of doubling semiconductor exports by 2014.
The SIA report modeled doubling of chip exports to $76bn in 2014 through a combination of market growth, increased market share overseas by US-headquartered companies, and increased activity in the US.
According to SIA, the policy recommendations put forwarded include, funding for basic research at national laboratories and the US universities; enacting tax policies that will retain and attract investment in R&D and manufacturing facilities in America; reforming US export controls and streamlining the licensing process.
The association also recommends government to provide incentives to promote energy efficiency and development of renewable energy sources and avoid climate change policies that add costs, limit flexibility, and otherwise make the US companies less competitive.
The firm suggested that enhancing the US workforce through education reform, expanding research programs at universities, and immigration reform to make it easier for foreign students graduating from US universities with masters and PhD degrees to obtain green cards, are also essential to double semiconductor exports.
George Scalise, president of SIA, said: "The semiconductor industry strongly supports the goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years as outlined by President Obama in his State of the Union Address. Over the past five years, semiconductors have been America’s number-one export product, averaging $48bn per year in international sales."
"Projected growth of the global semiconductor market will drive US semiconductor exports to $56bn in 2014 if we merely maintain our current market share. To achieve the goal of doubling total exports, we will have to grow our market share and increase activity in the US Doubling exports will require strengthening the competitiveness of US-based companies and adopting policies to encourage investment in research and manufacturing in America."
