SMART USA Institute Cancelled December 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we report on the news about the SMART USA Institute. On December 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce notified SRC that the SMART USA Institute contract would be terminated “for convenience" and federal funding for the Institute would be withdrawn. The DOC acknowledged that SMART USA built an effective organization and met all performance targets.

"Federal contracting decisions evolve over time,” said David N. Henshall, Chief Operations Officer for SMART USA, and Senior Vice-President for SRC, “and 'termination for convenience' is an established mechanism in those agreements and is not a reflection of the significant work we were doing. What's clear is the industry's continued need: the challenges in microelectronics and advanced packaging remain, and SRC's programs provide a durable path forward for collaborative R&D and talent.” 

While this notice has created challenges for our community, it does not dampen our spirit to collaborate, innovate, and drive the future of advanced packaging and microelectronics. As a long-standing leader in semiconductor research, SRC will continue in its mission to unite the industry and academia through programs such as JUMP 2.0 and GRC, driving innovation in microelectronics and advanced packaging. 

SRC is working closely with both NIST as well as SMART USA's 121 members to ensure continuity and clarity. All Institute operations will cease by mid-February. Non-members who are interested in participating in ongoing and future SRC endeavors are encouraged to stay tuned to our messaging channels to get advised of upcoming opportunities. 

Todd Younkin, Executive Director of SMART USA and President and CEO of SRC, emphasized continuity and optimism, remarking, “While this transition is challenging, it does not define our future. We have united the semiconductor community for decades, and will continue to do so. SRC will continue to drive industry-led innovation, fostering strong ecosystems and collaborations. That includes empowerment of the next generation of semiconductor professionals, who must deliver the next era of compute and communications. Together, we will turn this moment into momentum.” 

Direct inquiries to media@src.org.