NBMC R&D Funding Program

SEMI NBMC brings together scientists, engineers and business development professionals to collaboratively initiate research and development of electronic technologies to improve human performance monitoring and performance augmentation. The goal is to accelerate innovations driving healthcare and medical electronics innovation by proactively building the ecosystem.

SEMI NBMC has also recently launched a program for funding 50% of the cost of human performance monitoring internships - or any internship focused on development of wearables.  This funding is relatively easy to apply for and outside of the our traditional contracts for R&D work.  Learn more about the internship program.

The technical program is funded with the assistance of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL),and relies on a competitive bid and evaluation process, using subject matter experts from our NBMC Technical Council and Governing Board, while being administered by SEMI NBMC staff and contracting office. 

Each new RFP cycle begins with a thorough gap analysis with inputs from industry experts and consideration of the priorities of the funding agency. The analysis is used to create a Request for Proposals (RFP) which is distributed first to members and then publicly.  

The selection process is typically done in two stages. The first stage is submission and evaluation of White Papers which are evaluated and selected by the Technical Council and other SMEs. The highest-ranking White Paper submitters are then offered the invitation to develop and submit full proposals. This stage requires the submitting company to become a SEMI Member (and then, NBMC member).

Full proposals are evaluated by the Technical Council and other Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and possibly selected, based on available funds.  Proposals evaluated based upon factors such as innovation, level of risk, cost effectiveness, performance history and the ability to provide a substantial cost share.  These projects are then recommended to the Governing Board for final approval. 

The typical funding is structured has a 50/50 or 60/40 cost share with the industry participant. See the project history section of our website for more information on the projects that have been funded to date.

Once selected, SEMI NBMC and the selectee create the Development Agreement and a project team is formed from a subset of member companies to:

• define the statement of work in concert with the chosen supplier
• oversee the development program
• provide beta-site evaluation of the developed equipment/materials
• generate the next request for proposal topics and target requirements

Projects typically run 12-18 months with quarterly reviews by the project team and SEMI NBMC staff.