To the Editor:
Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent announcement of a $10 billion partnership to bolster the NanoTech Complex in Guilderland is more than just a financial investment. It’s a strategic leap into securing America’s technological future.

This historic investment, involving key players in the semiconductor industry such as Micron, IBM, and Tokyo Electron, is a visionary move that positions New York, and indeed the entire United States, at the forefront of semiconductor research and development.

And it couldn’t come at a better time — new research from the State of Science in America shows that the United States is rapidly losing ground in the race for global leadership in science and technology.

Semiconductors are the lifeblood of our modern digital world. They power everything from smartphones to sophisticated computing systems that drive our economy and fortify our national security. The creation of the High Numerical Aperture Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography Center at the NanoTech Complex is not just an upgrade of existing capabilities — it’s a quantum leap into the future of semiconductor manufacturing.

For too long, we’ve witnessed the migration of semiconductor fabrication overseas, particularly to China and Taiwan. By investing in the NanoTech Complex, New York’s leaders are taking decisive action to bring this vital industry back home.

The promise of 700 new high-paying jobs is just the tip of the iceberg. The ripple effect of this investment will extend far beyond the immediate job creation.

It will catalyze innovation, attract more investment, and inspire a new generation of technologists and scientists. It will foster an ecosystem of technological excellence that will fuel economic growth for decades to come.

With this investment, the Empire State is poised to reclaim its position as a global leader in the tech race. As Senator Chuck Schumer has stressed, the microchips our military depends on “should be stamped ‘Made In NY,’” not manufactured overseas.

However, to sustain and amplify the benefits of such a monumental investment, we need policies that encourage the development of new technologies and protect our innovation ecosystem. This means avoiding overregulation that could inadvertently favor foreign competitors.

Legislation like Senator Schumer’s CHIPS and Science Act, which encourages research and incentivizes investment in emerging technologies, is paramount. Unfortunately, the aggressive policy agenda taken up by government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission threatens to undermine those investments and ultimately further erode America’s technological edge.

We must not repeat past mistakes where shortsighted decisions led to a loss of millions of manufacturing jobs and technological ground to international competitors.

For government leaders, the focus must be unwavering: foster innovation, protect our national security and cyber infrastructure, and reinforce America’s future as a global tech leader. In a world increasingly defined by technological prowess, the nation that leads in research and development will ultimately dictate the course of the future.

Doug Kelly

Chief Executive Officer

American Edge Project

Editor’s note: The Washington Post reported in 2022, “Backed by millions from Facebook-parent company Meta, American Edge has launched a full-throated campaign to combat antitrust legislation in Washington, placing op-eds in regional papers throughout the country, commissioning studies, and collaborating with a surprising array of partners, including minority business associations, conservative think tanks, and former national security officials. It’s a political playbook more common to other industries, including pharmaceuticals, tobacco and telecommunications.”