Arizona to lead Southwest regional hub for chip industry workforce consortium
- The Arizona Commerce Authority will lead a new regional consortium for microelectronics education and workforce development.
The SEMI Foundation on Tuesday announced the launch of NNME Southwest, which serves Arizona, Southern California, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. NNME Southwest is among the first four regional nodes for the National Network for Microelectronics Education, a national ecosystem that intends to align industry workforce demand with education, training and career pathways, according to the agency.
NNME Southwest brings together 47 members across five states that span postsecondary institutions, microelectronics employers, workforce organizations, K-12 and STEM partners, economic development agencies and community-based organizations. The consortium will align curriculum with employer needs, coordinate career pathways and expand access and hands-on learning opportunities.
NNME Southwest industry partners include global technology leaders – many with a major presence in Arizona – such as Intel Corp., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Amkor Technology Inc., Micron Technology, Applied Materials, Lam Research, Nikon Precision, Synopsys, Arm, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Teledyne Technologies and HRL Laboratories with others across the semiconductor ecosystem.
“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,” Sandra Watson, CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said in a statement provided to the Business Journal. “The ACA is proud to lead this initiative and work alongside our partners across the Southwest to build a scalable, industry‑aligned workforce system that strengthens talent pipelines and supports the continued growth of America’s microelectronics leadership.
Four regional NNME nodes could each get $20M funding
The other regional nodes include NNME Intermountain, led by Boise State University; NNME Northeast, led by NY Creates; and NNME South, led by the University of Texas at Austin.
Collectively, the four NNME regional nodes represent a national network of more than 325 organizations, including K-12 school districts, colleges and universities, workforce development organizations, economic development agencies, community-based organizations and semiconductor employers.
“The launch of these regional nodes constitutes the activation of national infrastructure built to meet the most consequential economic and technological challenge of our time,” Shari Liss, vice president of workforce development and initiatives at SEMI and the SEMI Foundation, said.
Under the NNME structure, the SEMI Foundation and NSF expect to support the four regional nodes with potential funding opportunities of up to $20 million per node over five years to establish the “gold standard” for microelectronics education and workforce training across the U.S. according to SEMI.
California-based SEMI Foundation is the hub operator of the NNME, which is supported by federal CHIPS Act funding via the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The NNME will support workforce development across the semiconductor ecosystem, including manufacturing, advanced packaging, facilities operations, equipment maintenance, integrated circuit design, materials, and emerging technologies.
“America’s leadership in semiconductors depends on our ability to develop our talent,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for technology, innovation and partnerships. “The NNME represents an important investment in America’s innovation capacity, talent readiness, and long-term competitiveness. These regional nodes will strengthen regional ecosystems to prepare the next generation of America’s semiconductor design and manufacturing workforce.”
NNMEs to close workforce gap for chip industry
The announcement comes as the semiconductor industry is experiencing historic growth across the U.S., including Arizona, where TSMC is investing $165 billion in its north Phoenix fab site. At the same time, the semiconductor industry is projected to face a shortfall of 127,000 to 157,000 microelectronics workers by 2030, according to the SEMI Foundation.
The NNME will focus on closing the workforce gap with a nationally aligned strategy that focuses on expanding awareness, accelerating workforce readiness, modernizing education and training systems and connecting learners to job opportunities in the semiconductor ecosystem.
SEMI in October initially revealed plans at SEMICON West in Phoenix for the NNME, as previously reported by the Business Journal, and opened requests for proposals for organizations interested in becoming part of the network to support workforce development initiatives across the nation.
SEMI said it will work closely with employers and the four regional nodes to coordinate workforce standards, technical competencies and industry needs, while spearheading education and training programs tailored to regional demand, according to the organization.
“This is about creating opportunity, accelerating innovation, and ensuring all Americans can participate in the future of the microelectronics economy,” Michelle Williams, executive director of the SEMI Foundation, said.