History & Milestones | Semiconductor Industry Association WSTS Login Contact History SIA: Uniting the Industry for nearly 50 Years Since 1977, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has been the voice of the U.S. semiconductor industry, one of America’s top export industries, and a key driver of America’s economic strength, national security, and global competitiveness. SIA Milestones Below are some of the industry’s major milestones over the last 40+ years that SIA helped to advance. 2025 Strengthened Semiconductor Investment Credit Successful semiconductor investment tax credit strengthened by increasing the rate from 25% to 35% in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) 2024 Building Chips in America Act Legislation enacted to streamline review of new chip manufacturing projects, ensuring facilities get up and running in an expeditious and environmentally responsible way. 2022 CHIPS & Science Act Secures enactment of legislation authorizing the CHIPS for America Act, an important first step to securing investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research 2020 Response to COVID-19 Ensures industry was allowed to continue operations as governments around the world implemented closures and other important restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 2020 United States-Mexica-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Helps secure congressional ratification and implementation of USMCA, which includes a range of industry trade priorities 2019 “Winning the Future” Policy Blueprint SIA outlines industry priorities related to research, domestic manufacturing, workforce, and trade/IP protection 2018 DoD Research Initiative DoD partners with industry, academia on $1.5+ billion research initiative to spur transformative chip technologies 2017 DoE Supercomputing Initiative DoE launches initiative to deploy America’s first exascale supercomputers 2017 Corporate Tax Reform Landmark corporate tax reform enacted, boosting global competitiveness of U.S. chip companies 2016 Trade Secrets Legislation Legislation to protect trade secrets enacted 2016 Chemicals Reform Landmark chemicals reform legislation enacted 2016 White House Working Group on Semiconductors White House Working Group on Semiconductors launched to address industry challenges 2015 R&D Tax Credit R&D Tax Credit made permanent 2015 DoD Procurement Rule DoD strengthens procurement policies to combat counterfeit semiconductors 2015 Information Technology Agreement Updated ITA updated to include new ICT products including advanced semiconductors 2014 DoD Anti-Counterfeiting Policy DoD enacts policy to help eliminate counterfeit semiconductors from the military supply chain 2014 Export Control Reforms Export control reforms related to radiation hardened chips take effect 2013 STARnet Semiconductor Technology Advanced Research network (STARnet) launched 2013 Helium Legislation Legislation to secure supply of helium enacted 2010 SIA Moves to Washington SIA relocates from San Jose, Calif., to Washington, D.C. 2007 Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force SIA creates Anti- Counterfeiting Task Force (ACTF) to combat counterfeit chips 2007 America COMPETES Act America COMPETES Act signed into law 2005 Tariffs Elimination WSC regions eliminate tariffs on Multi-Chip Package ICs (MCPs) 2004 Nanoelectronics Research Initiative Nanoelectronics Research Initiative (NRI) formed to explore post-CMOS technology 2000 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors First International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) released 1999 U.S. Information Technology Office SIA Joins U.S. Information Technology Office (USITO) in Beijing 1997 Information Technology Agreement SIA leads creation of Information Technology Agreement (ITA) eliminating duties on IT products 1997 Focus Center Research Program SIA establishes Focus Center Research Program (FCRP) an industry-government-university partnership 1996 World Semiconductor Council World Semiconductor Council (WSC) established 1993 U.S. Regains Leadership SIA efforts allow U.S. to regain world market share leadership 1988 National Advisory Committee on Semiconductors Congress launches National Advisory Committee on Semiconductors (NACS) 1987 Trade Sanctions Against Japan U.S. imposes $300 million in trade sanctions against Japan 1987 SEMATECH SEMATECH founded to advance semiconductor research 1986 Semiconductor Trade Agreement Semiconductor Trade Agreement seeks to end Japanese dumping and open Japan’s market 1986 Japan Overtakes U.S. Japan overtakes U.S. as world’s top semiconductor producer 1985 U.S.-Japan Agreement U.S. and Japan eliminate tariffs on semiconductors 1984 Semiconductor Chip Protection Act Semiconductor Chip Protection Act becomes law 1984 Trade and Tariff Act Trade and Tariff Act becomes law 1982 Semiconductor Research Corporation SIA forms Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) to advance research at U.S. universities 1981 R&D Tax Credit Federal R&D Tax Credit enacted 1977 SIA Founded SIA founded by five microelectronics pioneers: Wilfred Corrigan, Fairchild Semiconductor; Robert Noyce, Intel; Jerry Sanders, AMD; Charles Sporck, National Semiconductor Corporation; John Welty, Motorola 1101 K Street NW Suite 450, Washington, DC 20005 E-mail Sign up for SIA News © 2026 Semiconductor Industry Association. 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