Florida is emerging as a key player in the U.S. semiconductor and microelectronics industry, with efforts focused on workforce development and innovation. The Florida High Tech Corridor and the University of South Florida (USF) have partnered to train graduate students for roles in this critical sector.
The partnership supports students in USF’s National Science Foundation (NSF) National Research Traineeship (NRT) program, which centers on semiconductor design, manufacturing, and packaging. This initiative aims to address national concerns about domestic semiconductor capacity by developing highly skilled talent.
“The future of the semiconductor industry depends on people as much as technology,” said Corridor CEO Paul A. Sohl. “By investing in the training of the next generation of leaders, we’re ensuring Florida has the talent needed to drive innovation, strengthen our economy, and compete globally in this vital sector for decades to come.”
A recent highlight for these efforts was at the 2026 Florida Semiconductor Summit in Orlando, where USF’s STEP-UP program received the Florida Semiconductor Institute’s Workforce Development Program of Excellence Award. The award recognized initiatives that expand job-ready talent pipelines through leadership in learning, measurable trainee outcomes, and impactful career pathways.
The Corridor is providing supplemental financial support to NRT trainees who do not qualify for external fellowships. This funding complements a five-year, $3 million NSF grant awarded to USF in 2024 that established an experiential education and research program led by Professor Ashok Kumar from USF’s College of Engineering.
“A much-publicized semiconductor chips shortage has impacted several critical industries. A skilled and diverse pipeline of workers is critical to building a sustainable domestic semiconductor industry and to achieving the CHIPS Act economic and national security goals,” said Kumar, principal investigator of the NSF NRT. “This NRT grant will provide to better prepare master’s and doctoral students for the interdisciplinary talents required in semiconductor chip development.”
Graduate trainees benefit from annual stipends totaling $68,000—half from NSF NRT funds and half from The Corridor—alongside paid tuition and fees. They also gain hands-on research experience, interdisciplinary training across engineering fields, professional development opportunities such as entrepreneurship training, leadership skills building, communication workshops, project management instruction, summer internships, international research experiences, and eligibility for a Semiconductors & Microelectronics Technology Certificate.
An advisory board made up of industry leaders from both academia and private sectors guides these programs. Engagement with organizations like the Florida Semiconductor Institute and the Florida Semiconductor Engine at NeoCityFL further supports workforce readiness.
