USPTO Semiconductor Tech Pilot Program

From the USPTO: The Semiconductor Technology Pilot Program is designed to support the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act of 2022 by expediting the examination of patent applications for innovations that increase semiconductor device production, reduce semiconductor manufacturing costs, and strengthen the semiconductor supply chain. This program aligns with and supports Executive Order 14080, dated August 25, 2022, and is intended to encourage research, development, and innovation in the semiconductor manufacturing space, as well as provide equitable intellectual property protection to incentivize investments in the semiconductor manufacturing area. 

Under the program, qualifying applications for certain semiconductor devices and associated processes will be granted special status - effectively, prioritize for examination.

Eligible patent applications must contain at least one claim that covers a process or an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device and that corresponds to one or more of the technical concepts within H10 (Semiconductor Devices; Electric Solid-State Devices Not Otherwise Provided For) or H01L (Semiconductor Devices Not Covered by Class H10) in the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system. 

A petition form is required but no fee. The program runs until the earlier of December 2, 2024, or the date when a total of 1,000 applications have been approved under the program. 

https://www.uspto.gov/patents/initiatives/patent-application-initiatives/semiconductor-technology-pilot-program