The “Semiconductors X Space” initiative seeks to position Florida as a global leader in semiconductor innovation for space applications, leveraging the state’s academic expertise (e.g., Florida Semiconductor Institute, Astraeus Space Institute, Florida University Space Research Consortium), proximity to Kennedy Space Center, Space Florida, and extensive industry ties (e.g., L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, Skywater, Renesas, Blue Origin, Amazon Kupier, SpaceX).
Here, X is a placeholder symbol, indicating the opportunistic intersections between semiconductors and space. For example, X can mean “Enabling,” “Exploring,” “Made In,” and “Securing.” The workgroup will define research priorities foster cross-university collaboration, establish technical leadership, and eventually pursue funding from DoD, NASA, NSF, and private sectors. Four thrusts are proposed to integrate existing foci with new topics to address the full spectrum of space semiconductor challenges, from reliable electronics to secure data systems.