Plug and Play accelerateAZ, a program of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), announced NXP® Semiconductors as the newest corporate partner in the Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator program, joining previously-announced partners Intel, Honeywell Aerospace, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense.
Plug and Play accelerateAZ will connect Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator program startups to NXP Semiconductors to foster further collaboration. The Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator partnership builds on NXP’s relationship with Plug and Play as an anchor partner in STARTUP AUTOBAHN, Plug and Play’s flagship open innovation platform that connects startups with industry-leading corporate partners.
“We are excited to partner with Plug and Play, an important facilitator in bringing together startups, innovative corporations, government agencies and leading universities. We believe that this is an important initiative that will continue to help foster Arizona’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem,” said Jim Norling, Vice President of Product Management, Radio Power, NXP Semiconductors. “Innovation is core to who we are at NXP and we look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with startups, as well as further advance our partnerships with Arizona State University and the Arizona Commerce Authority, which will continue that spirit of innovation.”
“We are excited to welcome NXP Semiconductors as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator program,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “NXP Semiconductors is a key contributor to Arizona’s semiconductor growth, joining other corporate partners to support Arizona startups. We are grateful to NXP, Saeed Amidi and Plug and Play for their continued partnership and look forward to supporting even more Arizona startups.”
“Alongside the Arizona Commerce Authority, we are building a community that fosters innovation and supports Arizona startups attracting innovation leaders from around the globe,” said Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play. “We are proud to expand our existing partnership with NXP from STARTUP AUTOBAHN to now include the accelerateAZ program. This reflects our shared commitment to driving progress and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs. We are grateful for the partnership and eager to see the positive impact it has on the startup ecosystem in Arizona.”
Since launching the Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator program in April last year, Plug and Play accelerateAZ has selected two cohorts of 26 startups that completed curriculum focused on workforce training, supply chain visibility, predictive maintenance, robotics, and automation.
In December, Plug and Play accelerateAZ announced a new Sustainability program that will support the growth of Arizona sustainability-focused startups. The new program, which will launch in Spring 2024, will support startups in the areas of renewable energy, water resiliency, sustainable mining, circular materials and carbon neutrality. The program will accelerate two batches of startups per year, connecting them to leading corporate partners to foster collaborations.
Plug and Play is a global innovation platform that runs programs in over 50 locations worldwide. This office in Arizona brings together stakeholders around the state who want to bring innovation to the forefront of their business. Plug and Play works with program partners to find the startups most relevant to solving problems in a specific industry. The first program focuses on advanced manufacturing and includes topics surrounding the supply chain, mobility, and IoT.
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