Chip Power
Chips power more than the devices — from smart phones to medical applications to home appliances and to cars –— that define contemporary life; here in Arizona, they also power our community.
TSMC first announced its plan to bring cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing capability to the U.S. in May 2020. According to the Arizona Commerce Authority, since 2020 Arizona has attracted more than 60 expansions in the semiconductor industry, representing roughly 25,000 projected new jobs and more than $205 billion in investment — more than any other state. These expansions span leading-edge manufacturing, R&D, equipment, materials suppliers, advanced packaging, workforce and more, positioning Arizona as the hub of the semiconductor value chain.
TSMC Arizona has been prominently featured for the size of our investment and number of jobs created, but the semiconductor industry is strong around us and continues to expand. Its strength comes from the depth and breadth of that industry and the ecosystem around it. Some of that is showcased in this month’s cover story, which, among others, includes Saras Micro Devices, which provides power delivery solutions, Everspin Technologies, which offers memory storage products, Foam Packaging Specialties, which offers packaging solutions for sensitive products, and Intel, with a storied 45 year history in our state.
Phoenix this month is hosting SEMICON West as the industry’s signature event moves for the first time out of its home in San Francisco, and the event will alternate between the two cities from this year forward. The span and strength of the event is credit to Joe Stockunas, CEO of SEMI Americas, who is featured in this edition’s From the Top profile.
In the Semi Insights section feature article “Waste Reduction Is Key for the Semiconductor Industry,” Bob Cappadona gives an inside look at the role played by Veolia, which provides municipal water and wastewater treatment services, in supporting the region’s growing semiconductor industry — an industry that relies on ultra-pure water and innovative management strategies.
Although advances from the industry and within it have immense effect on our daily lives, knowledge of them can be lost to the general consumer. Professionals in communication are needed to bridge that chasm, as Martijn Pierik explains in his feature article “The Power of Communications.”
This October edition addresses other operational elements of business: “Not Just Dollars: Why U.S. firms should consider transacting in foreign currencies” is this month’s Economy feature; “Layoff Logic: How to Avoid a Short Circuit with a Lawful Workforce Contraction Strategy” is this month’s Legal feature, delving into the challenges of a fluctuating demand and labor regulations.
And John Mitman, for this month’s Roundtable feature, tackles a topic that impacts the semiconductor along with many other industries in “Import Tariffs: The Hidden Costs of Staying Competitive.”
Semiconductors reach into every aspect of our lives, and many of the other articles in this October issue underscore that as they cover topics from healthcare to commercial real estate. This October edition of In Business Magazine celebrates the semiconductor industry as a powerhouse for our economy and a building block for our future. I am pleased to help bring you this edition and hope you enjoy the read.
Sincerely,
Rose Castanares
President
TSMC Arizona
Rose Castanares is a 27-year veteran of TSMC and is currently president of TSMC Arizona, where the company is now producing the most advanced semiconductor technology on American soil. Castanares previously served as senior vice president of Business Management for TSMC North America, and her career includes leadership roles at Chartered Semiconductor, GTE, National Semiconductor and Siliconix. Castanares earned her Bachelor of Science in material engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this edition are those of Greater Phoenix In Business Magazine or the respective authors and are not attributable to TSMC.
