At the inception of the semiconductor industry in the 1950s, the United States represented 100% of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity due to its origins in the U.S. defense industry. Today, that number has dropped to 8%. With the increasing cost of integrated device manufacturing in the 1980s, the semiconductor industry was prompted to outsource fabrication to … [More]
Semicon Valley: The Emergence of Arizona’s Semiconductor Landscape
Becoming a powerful force in the industry’s global footprint
From Mines to Microchips
Mining helps drive and build technology and is the very foundation of almost everything around us, from the copper, gold and silver used in electrical equipment, smartphones and healthcare equipment to the critical minerals that build the batteries, wind turbines and solar panels. Copper is crucial in semiconductor development, especially in advanced chip manufacturing … [More]
SHIELD USA Boosts Cutting-Edge Microelectronics Development in Arizona
Arizona State University has secured up to $100 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce as part of the CHIPS for America program for the SHIELD USA initiative. This initiative positions ASU as a key player in reshoring advanced microelectronics packaging to the United States, with the potential to transform the semiconductor landscape. The grant, awarded … [More]
Down but Not Out: Intel’s Arizona Fabs Remain Central to Its Global Strategy
Intel, a key player in the global semiconductor industry and an anchor for Arizona's tech economy, is at a critical juncture. Despite financial challenges and significant layoffs announced earlier this year, Intel's future remains tied to the success of its Arizona operations, particularly its massive investments in Chandler. These new fabs, built as part of a larger strategy … [More]
New Legislation Clears Path for Arizona’s Expanding Chip Industry
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly’s bipartisan Building Chips in America Act — a critical piece of legislation aimed at cutting the bureaucratic red tape that slows down the construction of semiconductor factories in the U.S. while proclaiming to maintain the bedrock protections for clean air and clean water — was signed into law by President Biden on October 2nd. The enactment of … [More]
ASU’s SWAP Hub Projects Secure $30 Million in Federal Funding
The Southwest Advanced Prototyping Hub, based at Arizona State University and comprised of more than 170 members — 75 large companies, 28 academic institutions and more than 60 small businesses — has been awarded nearly $30 million in federal funding for five projects aimed at strengthening U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Hubs such as this serve as a crucial link between … [More]
Intel’s Challenge: Layoffs amid Semiconductor Expansion
Intel Corp., a major player in Arizona’s semiconductor industry, recently announced plans to cut 15% of its global workforce, roughly 15,000 jobs. This decision comes as the company grapples with financial challenges, including a $1.6 billion loss in the second quarter of 2024. The cuts are part of a broader restructuring aimed at saving $10 billion by 2025. What does this … [More]
Hyperion Technologies Looks to Make Peoria Home
The latest company to invest in Arizona's growing semiconductor industry is Hyperion Technologies, a leader in manufacturing high-density interconnect IC substrates (HDI-IC substrates). Although Hyperion may not yet be a household name, its recent announcement to build a 600,000-square-foot facility in Peoria aims to fill a crucial gap in the U.S. semiconductor supply chain and … [More]
Arizona’s Semiconductor Boom Sparks Environmental Concerns
Scrutiny on balance between economic progress and environmental stewardship
As Arizona’s semiconductor industry grows, so do environmental concerns. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Intel, two of the largest chip manufacturers in the state, are both building massive facilities as part of the U.S. government’s CHIPS and Science Act initiative. However, a coalition of environmental and labor groups known as CHIPS Communities United is urging … [More]
The Perfect Storm: How Supply Chain Disruptions Are Impacting the Semiconductor Industry
The semiconductor industry, a cornerstone of modern technology, is facing unprecedented supply chain disruptions. These disruptions are not only affecting the availability of consumer electronics but also have far-reaching consequences for industries reliant on semiconductor technology. The following explores the multifaceted challenges currently impacting the semiconductor … [More]
Precision Cleaning: Strengthening Arizona’s Chip Future
While big names like Intel and TSMC often dominate the headlines, the latest news comes from a new company announcing its move to the Greater Phoenix area. KoMiCo, a leader in precision cleaning and advanced coatings for semiconductor equipment, has announced plans to open a new facility in Mesa by 2026, creating more than 200 jobs. The facility, located in the Superstition … [More]
Amkor’s Expansion: Securing America’s Chip Supply
Amkor Technology, Inc. has signed a preliminary memorandum of terms with the U.S. Department of Commerce, setting the stage for a significant expansion in Peoria, Arizona. Under the CHIPS and Science Act, this agreement will provide Amkor with up to $400 million in direct funding and access to $200 million in loans to support the project. Amkor plans to invest approximately … [More]
Arizona Startup Crystal Sonic Makes (Sound) Waves in Silicon Desert
Collaborations also help advance technology
In the Connect Labs by Wexford in Downtown Phoenix, a passionate group of scientists, engineers and semiconductor materials industry experts are building the next generation of semiconductor manufacturing technology — using sound waves. This Arizona hard-tech startup, Crystal Sonic, is focused on reducing cost and waste. As the Arizona semiconductor industry continues to grow … [More]
Meeting the Infrastructure Demands of the Semiconductor Industry in Arizona
In recent years, Arizona has emerged as a focal point for the semiconductor industry in the United States. With its strategic location, favorable business environment and growing workforce, the state has attracted major investments from leading semiconductor companies. However, this rapid growth has also highlighted the critical need for robust infrastructure to support this … [More]
SEMICON West: Stronger Together
SEMICON West 2024 highlighted technological advancements and future supply chain challenges, crucial for the semiconductor industry's projected $1 trillion growth by the decade's end. This year's theme “stronger together” rang true and was echoed by Bertrand Loy, president and CEO of Entegris, and Scott Jensen, director of workforce strategy for CHIPS at the U.S. Department of … [More]
Sustainable Surge
The semiconductor industry’s efforts include addressing environmental challenges
Once deemed the “least sustainable city in the world” by New York University sociologist Andrew Ross in his book Bird on Fire due to concerns over sustaining a metropolitan area in the desert, Phoenix is known today as the Silicon Desert, a semiconductor super hub helping lead the charge to bring manufacturing back to the United States. This shift raises a critical question: Is … [More]
Creating the Next Generation of Chip Experts
Chandler Unified School District has joined forces with the University of Arizona to develop a specialized semiconductor program for high school students. This initiative joins the ranks of Maricopa Community College's Semiconductor Technician Quick Start program, ASU's certificate programs, and various other technical education opportunities geared toward filling the workforce … [More]
Axus Technology Expands
Axus Technology is a global original equipment manufacturer located in Chandler, Arizona, with next-generation chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) processing and cleaning tools. It plans to expand now that it has secured $12.5 million in funding from IntrinSiC Investment LLC. With solutions that range from entry-level tools to high-volume manufacturing systems, the new … [More]
