Investing in Tech

LG Energy Solution to ramp up investment in planned Valley battery manufacturing plant

March 28, 2023

South Korean battery giant LG Energy Solution Ltd. has confirmed its plans to move forward with building a battery complex in Arizona and will be significantly increasing its investment in the project. LGES, one of the largest battery makers in the world, said Friday that now it plans to invest $5.5 billion to construct two manufacturing plants in Queen Creek, a town located just south of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Boeing will be building dozens of Apache helicopters in Mesa

March 23, 2023

The Boeing Co. will be building 184 AH 64E Apache attack helicopters in Mesa under a $1.9 billion contract modification that brings the value of an existing deal with the U.S. Army to $2.1 billion. The modification, which was awarded on March 17, can still increase to more than $3.8 billion in the future, Boeing said. Boeing (NYSE: BA) was the sole applicant for the contract after bids were solicited via the internet, the Department of Defense said.

University of Arizona Center for Innovation generates $35.3 million economic output

March 20, 2023

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation had an economic output of $35.3 million in 2021, according to a new analysis of the center’s impact. Part of Tech Parks Arizona, the UArizona Center for Innovation, or UACI, is a business incubator network that empowers science and technology startups in Southern Arizona and around the world to bring their ideas to market.

Microsoft agrees to make data centers air cooled amid water infrastructure challenges in Goodyear

March 14, 2023

Redmond, Washington-based tech giant Microsoft Corp. has agreed to switch its cooling system for future data centers in Goodyear and invest more than $40 million to expand the city’s wastewater capacity through an updated development agreement that the city that was approved last week.

Boeing, U.S. Army Apaches achieve 5 million flight hours

March 7, 2023

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the AH-64 team are observing a unique milestone as the U.S. Army’s AH-64 Apache attack helicopters have officially reached five million flight hours. The accomplishment is equivalent to flying nonstop for more than 208,333 days or 570 years and nine months. Additionally, 1.3 million of those five million flight hours were accomplished during combat.

Pipeline AZ’s IT/Cyber Career Network offers valuable career resources

March 3, 2023

Like most of the country, and the world, the IT and cybersecurity industries are among the fastest-growing in Arizona. There’s never been a better time to pursue a career in these fields, as there are tens of thousands of open jobs projected in Arizona through 2024 alone. That’s why the Arizona Technology Council has partnered with Pipeline AZ to create a valuable IT and cybersecurity resource center for job seekers.

REACH grant provides scholarships for engineering and AI students

February 27, 2023

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) recently received grant funding from the US National Science Foundation to support CGCC students who are working towards their Associate’s Degree Program in Engineering and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning. CGCC strives to provide students with learning and experiences which will advance students’ personal and professional growth.

Thunderbird at ASU launches virtual reality experience in Phoenix ahead of Super Bowl

February 17, 2023

Visitors to downtown Phoenix can catch a glimpse of the city’s past and future landmarks through an augmented reality experience hosted by the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. Thunderbird, in partnership with the city of Phoenix, created the immersive virtual reality experience, ‘Phoenix: The Global City of the Future,’ which takes place Feb. 10-11. The augmented reality experience features sites selected by local historians, including the Rosson House Museum at Heritage Square, Orpheum Theatre, Hotel San Carlos, Burton Barr Library and Union Station in the Warehouse District. It also features “future-forward” sites such as Thunderbird Global Headquarters, according to an ASU announcement.

My View: Arizona poised to lead in reshoring US mineral production

February 16, 2023

When looking for an industry critical to sustaining Arizona’s economy, the answer is at your feet. Actually, it starts deeper than that. Reports from the past few years estimate Arizona’s mining industry provides a total economic impact of close to $8 billion annually and employs nearly 40,000 Arizonans. Minerals like copper, nickel, cobalt and lithium are critical manufacturing inputs for some of the state’s most productive industries ranging from aerospace and defense to electronics to clean energy. But as these industries boom, so does our demand for the critical mineral inputs that power them.

TSMC board approves company’s investment of billions in Arizona

February 16, 2023

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is moving forward with its plans to invest up to $3.5 billion for its Phoenix factory, according to a new Reuters report. The chip giant, which makes a large portion of the world’s semiconductor chips, said on Tuesday that its board had approved a plan to increase the capital investment for its Arizona factory by up to $3.5 billion. The approval comes two months after TSMC confirmed its plans to triple its investment in Arizona to $40 billion, a significant increase from its initial $12 billion investment. The potential $3.5 billion is part of the overall $40 billion investment.

Investing in Tech

Register for the Council’s upcoming Phoenix and Tucson tech events and Optics Valley optics + photonics events.

Subscribe to AZTC Email Communications