(IDAHO FALLS, Idaho) – The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has been chosen to serve as the chief digital officer for the Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA Institute (SMART USA). This Manufacturing USA Institute, funded by the National Institute for Standards and Technology CHIPS for America program and launched in 2025, is led by Semiconductor Research Corporation Manufacturing Consortium Corporation.
The SMART USA program is partnering with the Department of Energy to tackle the semiconductor industry’s toughest challenges, leveraging the department’s decades-long investments in high-performance computing. This initiative will advance American digital twin technology, build a digital backbone, and apply it to the semiconductor supply chain to reboot domestic manufacturing competitiveness and ensure economic and national security.
“INL was selected for its vast expertise in digital twinning, high-performance computing, digital engineering, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing,” said Chris Ritter, INL’s Division Director of Scientific Computing and AI, who will lead INL’s part of the effort. “We will also be in charge of developing tools and methodologies to provide agile responses to supply chain disruptions, ensuring continuous and efficient semiconductor production.”
As the electronics industry grows, efficient and secure semiconductor manufacturing will become more vital. SMART USA and INL will employ digital twin technology to reduce the significant time and costs associated with chip design and production.
A digital twin is like a virtual copy of something real, such as a machine, building or even a whole system. This virtual version is constantly updated with data from the real thing, allowing it to predict what might happen and help make better decisions. Essentially, it’s a high-tech way to monitor and improve real-world objects and systems.
With years of experience in developing digital twin technology, INL is positioned to lead this initiative. INL computer scientists have created digital twin initiatives across key focus areas: nuclear operations, energy systems, advanced materials, fuel cycles and cyber-physical security. These include the AGN-201 digital twin, the first digital twin of an operating nuclear reactor. INL developed the AGN-201 twin in partnership with Idaho State University, where the physical reactor is located. The twin receives live data and allows the digital users to detect when nuclear reactor operators make changes or adjustments to the real-world 5-watt reactor.
Additionally, INL will lead the Rocky Mountain region’s Digital Innovation Semiconductor Centers. In this role, the lab will work with Boise State University, the College of Eastern Idaho, the University of Utah, other regional universities, Mountain West-based semiconductor companies like Micron and Texas Instruments, and nearby national laboratories such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to build a highly-skilled semiconductor workforce across the region.
“We are thrilled to embark on this exciting partnership with Idaho National Lab. Collaborating with Chris Ritter and the team at INL opens up incredible opportunities for innovation and advancement in our field,” said Todd Younkin, executive director for the SMART USA Institute and president and CEO of Semiconductor Research Corporation. “INL’s pioneering work in digital twins, which integrate physical assets with computational capabilities, is set to revolutionize semiconductor manufacturing.”
A crucial part of this new project’s scope is to bolster domestic manufacturing competitiveness to secure economic and national security interests, with the overarching goal of returning semiconductor manufacturing to American soil. INL’s leadership ensures that the Mountain West Region will be at the forefront of these new technological innovations and the growing workforce and opportunities the semiconductor industry will bring.
NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Michelle Goff, (208) 932-6581, [email protected]
Abby Todd, (208) 604-2229, [email protected]
About SMART USA
SMART USA (Semiconductor Manufacturing for Advanced Research with Twins),a Manufacturing USA® institute, advances America’s semiconductor manufacturing through digital twin technology. Founded in 2025 by the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), SMART USA operates as a separate non-profit member collaborative. Learn more at www.smartusatwins.org. Follow us on LinkedIn.
