Abstract: Described is a circuit board having protection against electrostatic discharge. The board includes a plurality of interconnect traces and an electrically conductive ground plane formed on a substrate such that a gap is created between the interconnect traces and the ground plane. A resistive electrostatic discharge protection material is positioned to bridge the gaps between the ground plane and the interconnect traces, such that the electrostatic discharge protection material electrically insulates the interconnect traces from the ground plane at voltages below a predefined threshold voltage and establishes an electrical connection between the interconnect traces and the conductive plane at voltages above the threshold voltage. A process of manufacturing the circuit board includes forming interconnect traces and a ground plane such that there is a gap between the ground plane and the interconnect traces.