FCRP is the parent organization of C2S2. The FCRP is itself one program inside the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), the world’s leading advanced semiconductor university research consortium.

C2S2 is one of five national US research centers— called Focus Centers— supported by the FCRP. The five centers span the entire “ semiconductor food chain”, from basic device physics to high-level integrated hardware/software systems:

The Five National Focus Centers

About FCRP: A Brief History

In 1997, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), in cooperation with members of the U.S. semiconductor equipment, materials, software and services industry, and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), launched a new initiative to expand pre-competitive, cooperative, long-range, applied microelectronics research at U.S. universities.

This initiative, called Focus Center Research Program (FCRP), was structured to address industry and DoD needs using the research university system, i.e. long-range, innovative applied research. As such, each Focus Center:

• concentrates attention and resources on those areas of microelectronics research that must be addressed to maintain the historic productivity growth curve of the industry
• strengthens the university research infrastructure and expands its capabilities in silicon related research; achieves critical mass through relatively large blocks of funding together with the active participation of industrial visiting scientists;
• provides the optimal balance of creative freedom and targeted objectives.

Focus Centers are “virtual” in that they consist of multiple universities. This allows for tapping of the best expertise at a number of institutions in order to build the greatest overall capability in a particular technology area. Each center is managed by a full-time university center director and addresses one of the major technology focus areas of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS).