New Initiative to Boost Semiconductor Workforce Across the Southwest
In a significant move to enhance the semiconductor workforce, the University of Arizona has teamed up with 46 members from five states, including Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Southern California. This collaborative effort aims to establish a scalable training system for microelectronics that can be adopted nationwide.
On May 27, leaders from the government, industry, and academia unveiled a coalition that will spearhead a regional initiative to bolster semiconductor talent throughout the Southwest. The Arizona Commerce Authority, alongside partners such as the National Network for Microelectronics Education, SEMI Foundation, and the National Science Foundation, has recognized NNME Southwest as an official NNME Regional Node. This designation marks it as one of the country’s pivotal hubs for semiconductor workforce development.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs emphasized the state’s commitment to nurturing a skilled workforce that meets employer demands, stating, “In Arizona, we’re focused on creating a pipeline of skilled talent that supports the needs of employers and grows our economy. The NNME Southwest Node builds on this momentum and further strengthens Arizona’s position as a global chip-making hub.”
The consortium, which includes colleges, K-12 schools, STEM programs, employers, economic development agencies, and community organizations, will align educational curricula with industry requirements. This alignment is expected to map career pathways in the semiconductor sector and enhance the talent pipeline’s strength and consistency.
David W. Hahn, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the U of A College of Engineering, expressed enthusiasm for the ongoing partnerships, saying, “The University of Arizona is extremely pleased to continue our strong partnerships with the Arizona Commerce Authority and the many other members of the NNME Southwest Hub. We are grateful to the SEMI Foundation for selecting NNME Southwest as one of the first four hubs in this critical nationwide network, focused on educating the workforce for the semiconductor manufacturing industry sector.”
As part of this initiative, the University of Arizona is set to receive $1.5 million over five years to enhance semiconductor cleanroom training. Additionally, the SEMI Foundation has chosen the university’s educational platform, SemiSphere, to link educators across this network.
Hahn elaborated on the platform’s potential, noting, “This important tool will bring together instructors and semiconductor experts from both education and industry to create and share information, best practices and teaching materials that will benefit learners from middle school through graduate school.” He added that SemiSphere aims to make semiconductor manufacturing technology education more accessible and consistent nationwide.
NNME represents a national initiative to fortify and expand America’s microelectronics workforce. Backed by the National Science Foundation and Department of Commerce and operated by the SEMI Foundation, the network unites industry, education, workforce organizations, and government partners to create clearer pathways into semiconductor and microelectronics careers.
According to Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, “Industry drives everything we do in Arizona, and that’s especially true with the NNME Southwest Regional Node. Our region is home to one of the fastest-growing and most complete semiconductor ecosystems in the country, powered by world-class employers, educators and workforce partners.”
NNME Southwest’s industry partners encompass prominent technology leaders, including Intel, TSMC, Amkor, Micron Technology, Applied Materials, Lam Research, Nikon Precision, Synopsys, Arm, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Teledyne Technologies, HRL Laboratories, among others within the semiconductor ecosystem.
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