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During a Tuesday event at Seton Hall, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th District, announced a nearly $1 million grant for the school, as well as new legislation aimed at expanding the competitiveness of American businesses.

Sherrill presented the $963,000 Community Project award on the two-year anniversary of the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act. The funding aims to upgrade research and training at Seton Hall to expand advanced technology innovation and development.

“During the past two years, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act has fueled historic growth in American manufacturing and supply chains, critical semiconductor research and development — all while creating good-paying jobs and lowering prices for New Jersey,” said Sherrill.

She noted New Jersey’s innovation legacy, pointing to Bell Labs as a prime example.

“So, to be here and to continue that innovation, to get this kind of support for innovation here at Seton Hall in such a critical area – one of the top areas that we in the United States want to compete in globally. And to see you training the next generation of people that will take us into the future is so exciting,” said Sherrill.

The right place

“The CHIPS Act isn’t just about building factories and producing chips. It’s about fostering a new generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators who will develop groundbreaking research and applications,” said Seton Hall Provost and Executive Vice President Katia Passerini. “This commitment to education and training is the cornerstone of what our country must do to remain at the competitive edge in a global market – an important goal that Seton Hall is thrilled to be participating in, thanks to its role in educating students who will change our future.”

Passerini said that this funding brings opportunities and challenges.

“But the benefits are significant – increased funding in STEM progress, access to cutting-edge research facilities, and enhanced collaboration with industry leaders in the semiconductor field,” she said. “And these resources will provide our students with hands-on experience and the practical skills that are necessary to thrive in a competitive job market. This emphasis on STEM will open doors to more internships, more research projects, and more job placements.”

Seton Hall Professor Jose Lopez, renowned for pioneering work in plasma physics and microplasma, emphasized the critical role microchips and semiconductor technologies play in the modern world. He also noted that more scientists and engineers per square mile call New Jersey home than any other state and of at least 37 countries.

“New Jersey and our local community, in collaboration with Seton Hall, is the right place to continue to create the future of not only our nation – but also the rest of the world,” said Lopez.

Building on CHIPS

“I am excited to partner with Dr. Lopez to expand on that progress by securing nearly $1 million dollars in federal funding that will not only help Seton Hall remain on the cutting edge of research, but also give New Jersey students the experience they need to become industry leaders,” said Sherrill.

Sherrill also introduced new legislation: the Ensuring America’s Competitiveness and Technological Leadership Act. The move represents the third pillar of her American Jobs and Competition Plan. The legislative package aims to combat the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) while strengthening economic and national security.

The bill would create an interagency national strategy on economic competitiveness and technological leadership.

“My legislation will help build on the CHIPS and Science Act by developing a whole-of-government strategy to support U.S. businesses on the world stage and combat unfair trade practices by foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party,” said Sherrill.

Finding support

The legislation has been endorsed and applauded by a number of top business groups and other organizations.

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Bracken said his organization supports the bill. He stressed that now, more than ever, leaders from both parties need to come together to focus on bipartisan economic growth policies that create prosperity for all and enable the country to remain a global economic leader.

“This type of collaboration sounds simple, but it has been so elusive for so many years,” said Bracken. “The New Jersey Chamber has also been calling for a similar bipartisan initiative for New Jersey that would complement this effort. We commend Rep. Sherrill for her leadership and hope the proposal is enacted because our country is at a critical juncture and desperately needs a shared economic vision that is reviewed regularly.”

“By implementing a comprehensive strategy focused on economic competitiveness and technological leadership, we can create high-quality jobs, boost our economy, and secure our technological edge for future generations,” said Peter Connolly, CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP).

Finding partners

“Any initiative which helps strengthen our businesses and workforce should be lauded and supported across the board, we commend Rep. Sherrill for leading this effort,” said Anthony Russo, president of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ).

“Community colleges are critical institutions to innovation and economic growth and are committed to working with a wide array of government and industry partners to support our nation’s economic and technological competitiveness,” said Aaron Fitchner, president of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. “The national competitiveness strategy, envisioned by this proposed legislation, will guide and support the important work of community colleges, and will connect their efforts to other critical policies and strategies.”

“I urge leaders in the private sector to join me in supporting this vital bill for the sake of our nation’s future prosperity, ensuring that the U.S. remains at the forefront of innovation and sets the standards for the technologies that will shape the 21st-century global economy,” said Connolly.