US to award $389m in R&D funds for power semiconductors and critical materials
The US Commerce Department plans to award $389 million in research and development funding to four companies working on power semiconductors and critical materials, with the government taking minority, non-voting equity stakes as a funding condition.
WASHINGTON — The US Commerce Department said on Thursday it plans to award $389 million in R&D funding to four companies working on power semiconductor devices and critical materials, with the government receiving minority, non-controlling, non-voting equity stakes as a funding condition.
The department signed letters of intent for the four awards. Helion will receive up to $175 million to develop high-voltage power semiconductors and advanced energy power modules for fusion power generation, accompanied by $50 million in new private investment. “Building fusion power plants at scale requires us to accelerate the development of technologies like semiconductors that are critical to making fusion possible,” said Helion chief executive David Kirtley.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems will receive up to $85 million for semiconductors used in radio-frequency plasma heating, power electronics, fusion diagnostics and radiation-hardened electronics. “These innovations will be a vital part of our global effort to deploy commercial fusion,” said chief executive Bob Mumgaard.
Vertical Semiconductor, a spin-out from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will receive up to $73 million to advance vertical gallium nitride power semiconductors for AI data centre racks. Sibelco North America will get up to $56 million to develop next-generation purification for ultra-high-purity quartz in the semiconductor supply chain.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the awards would “accelerate American semiconductor innovation to enhance our domestic energy and power resources”. It has awarded 19 R&D grants in recent months from a $10 billion fund approved by Congress in 2022.
Sources
- Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-award-389-million-rd-funds-power-semiconductors-critical-materials-2026-10-22/
- The Standard: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/innovation/article/346266/US-to-award-US389-million-in-RD-funds-for-power-semiconductors-critical-materials
- WNCY: https://wncy.com/2026/10/22/us-to-award-389-million-in-rd-funds-for-power-semiconductors-critical-materials/
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