The Microelectronics Commons: A Keystone for National Security Innovation

By Doug Droege
Senior Director, Corporate Technology Strategy, L3Harris

That's the philosophy behind one of the most important initiatives in U.S. national security today - the Microelectronics Commons. This effort aspires to nothing less than securing the nation's technological backbone to keep us ahead of current and future adversaries.

The Microelectronics Commons is a network of eight innovation hubs in different regions across the country that are conducting prototyping research and development in specific disciplines. L3Harris is a member of all of them.

Created by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2021, the initiative serves as a collaborative ecosystem, bringing together government, academia and industry to address the challenges facing the semiconductor supply chain. It focuses on advancing research and development, fostering innovation and securing the manufacturing processes of microelectronics within the nation's borders.

As an industry partner in The Commons, L3Harris is building upon decades of expertise in microelectronics powering innovations in aerospace and defense to ensure the initiative succeeds. This week's Microelectronics Commons Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., was a great opportunity to take even more concrete strides toward rejuvenating America's semiconductor industry, ensuring a secure, resilient and innovative supply chain.

Microelectronics technology creates integrated circuits that are smaller, lighter and lower power than traditional electronics. These smaller, more capable circuits are vitally important because there is a wide swath of technology that needs them. Applications like artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, quantum technology, 5G/6G and others across all domains - air, sea, land, space, cyber - are vital to national security.

Microelectronics are integral to defense systems, including communication devices, navigation systems and space vehicles. Component reliability and security are paramount, as any vulnerability could be exploited, compromising national security. The Microelectronics Commons aims to eliminate these risks by ensuring a domestic supply of trusted components, reducing dependence on foreign sources, and enhancing the United States' ability to respond to emerging threats with agility and technological superiority.

We take this ability to counter national security threats very seriously at L3Harris. We offer a lot to these efforts to push microelectronics innovation, including years of experience and the infrastructure and investment to design and produce advanced integrated circuits. By collaborating with the government and academia, L3Harris is translating cutting-edge research into ready technologies. We are ramping up our microelectronics manufacturing capabilities to make sure we meet every need to support national security goals.

Speaking of goals, Michael Jordan had more than 12,000 field goals in his career, but still emphasized the importance of teamwork. He also had six NBA championships, a rare feat that he knew he could not do without his teammates.

The Microelectronics Commons is more than just a strategic initiative; it is a safeguard for the nation's future. We will continue to secure our nation's technological superiority by fostering a robust and secure microelectronics industry - a testament to the power of collaboration.