Natcast, the purpose-built, non-profit entity designated by the Department of Commerce to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) established by the CHIPS and Science Act, today announced Dr. Craig Child as Director of the CHIPS for America Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Accelerator, an NSTC Facility (EUV Accelerator), located at NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex in Albany, N.Y.
In this role, Dr. Child will lead Natcast on-site staff and enable NSTC Members and Natcast researchers to leverage state-of-the-art EUV technology in advancing innovation and U.S. economic and national security. The EUV Accelerator is anticipated to be operational in July 2025.
“We are pleased to welcome Craig to the Natcast team to lead our work at the EUV Accelerator,” said Deirdre Hanford, Natcast CEO. “Craig’s proven leadership, industry experience, and breadth of technical expertise will be instrumental in enabling the operations of this facility. This investment in shared national infrastructure and assets provides access to leading-edge tools and resources, and it is integral to advancing U.S.-led innovation and strengthening America’s position as a global leader in semiconductor R&D and manufacturing.”
As the EUV Accelerator’s on-site executive representative for Natcast and NSTC Members, Dr. Child will oversee and facilitate collaboration among industry, academia, government, other ecosystem partners, and Natcast researchers to conduct R&D essential to reducing the barriers and time to commercialize innovative semiconductor technology. This activity aligns to the goals outlined in the NSTC Strategic Plan released in October 2024 and will support the forthcoming NSTC Research Agenda to be released in the coming months.
“EUV lithography is at the heart of advanced semiconductor scaling, and the research we conduct at the EUV Accelerator will shape the industry for decades to come,” said Robert Chau, Senior Vice President of Research at Natcast. “With Craig at the helm, NSTC Member and Natcast research conducted at the EUV Accelerator is poised to push the limits of chip manufacturing and technology integration in the U.S.”
Dr. Child joins Natcast from IBM Research, where he managed a team of 25 engineers and was responsible for all IBM Research Quality and Reliability activities. With more than two decades of experience in semiconductor R&D, Dr. Child has led advanced technology development at IBM Research, GlobalFoundries, AMD, and Intel, specializing in EUV lithography, BEOL integration, and process innovation. Dr. Child holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Physics and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and is an inventor on multiple patents.
“I’m honored to join Natcast to lead the on-site team at the EUV Accelerator at such a pivotal moment for semiconductor research and innovation in the United States,” said Dr. Child. “EUV lithography is essential to advancing next-generation chip manufacturing, and I look forward to working alongside world-class scientists, engineers, and industry partners at this state-of-the-art facility to accelerate U.S.-led innovation of this critical technology.”
On October 31, 2024, Natcast and the Department of Commerce announced NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex as the anticipated location for the EUV Accelerator. This state-of-the-art site enables Natcast and NSTC Members to have access to leading-edge EUV technology and resources and to cultivate collaboration and innovation among a vibrant ecosystem.
The EUV Accelerator is one of three announced CHIPS for America R&D flagship facilities. Together, these facilities will provide a home for conducting world-class R&D, fostering innovation and collaboration, and reducing the time between early-stage research and commercialization. These efforts will advance America’s global leadership in design, materials, and process innovation while strengthening the country’s economic and national security. Learn more about the three CHIPS for America R&D flagship facilities at natcast.org/facilities.
