The United States has long excelled at frontier research, producing discoveries that shape industries and define global technology leadership. Yet, too often, breakthroughs in labs and universities fail to leap to commercial products. This gap, the so-called “valley of death,” is where promising ideas stall for lack of funding, expertise, or infrastructure. For semiconductors and advanced computing, the stakes are particularly high. Building commercialization support directly into research ecosystems can help close this gap. Shared facilities, mentorship programs, and early-stage funding mechanisms are crucial to lowering barriers for innovators. Erik Hosler, an advocate for semiconductor innovation ecosystems, underscores that research without commercialization pathways risks stalling before impact. His perspective reflects a growing recognition that U.S. competitiveness depends not only on discovery but also on deployment.
Commercialization infrastructure ensures that public research delivers economic and strategic value. It allows startups to prototype, scale, and attract investment without navigating insurmountable obstacles. By embedding support mechanisms into the R&D process, the U.S. can increase the return on its research investments, foster entrepreneurship, and strengthen supply chain resilience. The challenge is not whether the ideas exist, but whether the ecosystem can help them succeed beyond the lab.
The Valley of Death Problem
Despite its research strength, the U.S. has a persistent commercialization gap. Breakthroughs in materials, architectures, and manufacturing techniques often stall at the proof-of-concept stage. Early-stage ventures face steep prototyping costs and limited access to specialized equipment. Venture capital tends to focus on software, leaving hardware startups struggling to attract investment.
This problem is particularly acute in semiconductors, where the capital requirements are immense. Building even small-scale prototypes requires access to expensive tools that few startups can afford. Without shared facilities or bridging funds, many innovations remain stuck in academic journals or early prototypes. The result is lost opportunities for new companies, jobs, and strategic advantages.
Bridging the valley of death requires not just more research funding but infrastructure that helps discoveries develop into market-ready products. It means creating pipelines where ideas are supported through prototyping, validation, and pilot-scale production before seeking private capital. Without these intermediate steps, even well-funded projects risk stalling before they can demonstrate commercial viability.
Shared Resources and Facilities
One of the most effective ways to support commercialization is through shared resources. National labs, university consortia, and public-private partnerships can provide startups with access to pilot-scale manufacturing, advanced prototyping tools, and testing facilities.
For semiconductors, it could mean providing access to cleanrooms, lithography tools, or advanced packaging lines that no single startup could afford. By pooling resources, these facilities reduce duplication while lowering costs. They also serve as collaborative hubs, where researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry partners can interact.
Examples already exist in areas like biotech and renewable energy, where shared pilot plants have accelerated the path from lab to market. Replicating this model for semiconductors would strengthen the U.S. innovation pipeline and ensure that ideas do not die due to a lack of infrastructure.
Mentorship and Networks
Access to equipment and facilities is vital, but guidance can be equally important. Many innovators are skilled scientists or engineers but lack experience in business development, intellectual property strategy, or regulatory navigation. Without mentorship, they face steep learning curves that can delay or derail commercialization.
Incubators and accelerators help fill this gap. By pairing entrepreneurs with experienced mentors from industry, they provide practical insights into scaling companies and entering markets. Networks also connect startups with investors, customers, and partners who can validate and support their work.
For semiconductors, where cycles are long and risks are high, mentorship can help startups make strategic decisions about technology roadmaps, partnerships, and funding. Embedding these networks into R&D ecosystems ensures that innovators receive not just resources but also the guidance needed to succeed.
Commercialization Pathways and Funding
Financing the journey from research to commercialization remains a critical challenge. Traditional research grants support discovery, while venture capital targets scalable businesses. The gap between the two is often unaddressed, leaving promising technologies stranded.
Bridging funds are essential. Public-private seed funds can provide stage-gated support for startups as they move from prototype to pilot production. Programs that match government funding with private capital can de-risk early investments and attract more participants.
Commercialization pathways also require clear structures. Partnerships with established companies can provide distribution channels, while procurement programs can create guaranteed demand for emerging technologies. By building structured pathways into R&D programs, policymakers can ensure that innovation flows into the marketplace rather than stopping at the laboratory door.
From Research to Impact
The ultimate measure of innovation is not discovery alone but impact. Breakthroughs must translate into economic growth, improved resilience, and societal benefits. Without commercialization, research remains unrealized. The true value of discovery emerges only when ideas are scaled into solutions that reach industries, communities, and everyday life.
Erik Hosler explains, “It must impact society at large. The value of the computations it performs exceeds the cost to build and operate the computer.” His point underscores why commercialization is essential. Research investments are justified only when they produce benefits that extend beyond academia. Embedding commercialization into R&D ensures that discoveries create jobs, strengthen industries, and enhance competitiveness.
This perspective shifts how research ecosystems are designed. Support structures must anticipate the commercialization journey from the start, aligning resources, mentorship, and funding so that innovators are prepared to cross the valley of death.
Turning Ideas into Impact
Commercialization is the bridge between discovery and competitiveness. Without it, even the most promising research risks languishing in obscurity. For the U.S. to maintain leadership in semiconductors and advanced computing, it must embed commercialization support into R&D. Shared resources, mentorship, and structured funding pathways are essential components of this strategy.
Building resilient ecosystems requires more than funding science. It requires enabling innovation to reach the marketplace. It means creating infrastructure that supports startups, de-risks investment, and ensures that breakthroughs translate into societal value.
Turning ideas into impact is not automatic. It is the product of deliberate policy and collaborative ecosystems. By strengthening commercialization pathways, the U.S. can ensure that its research investments produce lasting benefits for the economy, national security, and global competitiveness.
