The City of Phoenix, in partnership with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and other regional partners, welcomes SEMICON West – the world’s premier microelectronics industry conference – to the Phoenix Convention Center on October 7-9. After being held for decades in San Francisco, Phoenix will now play host to the event on a rotating basis, with it scheduled to return in 2027 and 2029.
Mayor Kate Gallego said: “Phoenix is proud to welcome SEMICON, deepening our ties with international partners in Asia, Europe, and beyond. This achievement highlights our City’s strength as a center of innovation, our world-class workforce, and our role in advancing technology that impacts the entire globe. SEMICON will energize our economy, support local businesses, and cement Phoenix’s place as America’s semiconductor capital.”
The conference is expected to have more than 35,000 attendees, which would make it the most attended SEMICON West to date, and generate millions of tourism dollars for the local economy. Its historic move underscores Phoenix’s growing reputation as a hub of semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technology in the U.S., while also reflecting the City’s leadership in workforce development, global supply chain integration, and innovation.
Christine Mackay, Director of the City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department, and incoming CEO of GPEC said: “Bringing SEMICON to Phoenix is the result of years of collaboration and determination. This move validates our position as a global leader in semiconductors, and ensures that Phoenix residents and businesses will benefit from new opportunities, investment and visibility on the international stage.”
The conference provides an opportunity to highlight Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 75, which serves the Greater Phoenix region and enhances Arizona’s semiconductor ecosystem by providing cost savings and other efficiencies to advanced manufacturers. As Grantee, the City of Phoenix administers FTZ 75. In 2023, FTZ 75 reported over $22 billion in merchandise received and more than $3 billion in exports. Semiconductor, aerospace, and electronics firms actively leverage its benefits, from duty deferral and streamlined customs procedures to accelerated time-to-market, making Phoenix a powerful platform for global tech growth.
Overlapping with the programming at SEMICON, the Phoenix Workforce Coalition will host a Community of Practice discussion titled “Future of Workforce in the Semiconductor Industry” on October 10 from 8:30 a.m.-noon at South Mountain Community College, 7050 S. 24th St. This dynamic half-day session will bring together employers, educators, city leaders and workforce partners to co-design the next phase of Phoenix’s semiconductor talent pipeline.
SEMICON connects the entire extended electronics design and manufacturing supply chain in one place at one time.
