Semiconductor Industry Association unveils plan to double chip exports by 2014

SAN JOSE, USA: The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has submitted a report to the US Department of Commerce outlining actions required to meet the goal of doubling semiconductor exports by 2014.

“The semiconductor industry strongly supports the goal of doubling US exports over the next five years as outlined by President Obama in his State of the Union Address,” said SIA president George Scalise. “Over the past five years, semiconductors have been America’s number-one export product, averaging $48 billion per year in international sales.”

The SIA report models a doubling of chip exports to $76 billion in 2014 through a combination of market growth, increased market share overseas by US-headquartered companies, and increased activity in the US.

“Projected growth of the global semiconductor market will drive U.S. semiconductor exports to $56 billion in 2014 if we merely maintain our current market share,” said Scalise. “To achieve the goal of doubling total exports, we will have to grow our market share and increase activity in the US Doubling exports will require strengthening the competitiveness of U.S.-based companies and adopting policies to encourage investment in research and manufacturing in America. The document we have submitted to the Department of Commerce outlines policy recommendations to meet these goals,” Scalise concluded.

The SIA policy recommendations included:
* Putting funding for basic research at national laboratories and U.S. universities on path to double by 2016.
* Enacting tax policies that will retain and attract investment in R&D and manufacturing facilities in America.
* Reforming US export controls and streamlining the licensing process.
* Providing incentives to promote energy efficiency and development of renewable energy sources.
* Avoiding climate change policies that add costs, limit flexibility, and otherwise make US companies less competitive.
* Enhancing the US workforce through education reform, expanding research programs at US universities, and immigration reform to make it easier for foreign students graduating from US universities with masters and PhD degrees to obtain green cards.