Freepoint Eco-Systems LLC (“Freepoint”) announced the development of a commercial-scale advanced plastics recycling facility located in Eloy, Arizona. The ISCC Plus Certified facility will recycle end-of-life waste plastic otherwise destined for landfills or incineration. It will span 40 acres of currently undeveloped land and have the capacity to recycle approximately 180,000 tons of waste plastic per year, making it one of the largest advanced recycling facilities in the world. Read more >>
Salt River Project celebrates National Drive Electric Week
Salt River Project is celebrating 2023 National Drive Electric Week from Sept. 22 through Oct. 1. According to SRP, drivers have been rapidly switching to electric vehicles for a variety of reasons, including car maintenance and gas. Electric vehicles require less maintenance than traditional vehicles because they do not need regular oil changes. Drivers have also been able to enjoy incentives for battery chargers and an increase in charging stations at businesses throughout the Valley. Read more >>
Freepoint Eco-Systems to construct advanced recycling facility in Arizona
Valley residents continue to make the switch to electric vehicles at a rapid rate
Whether tired of high gas prices or not being able to drive in the HOV lane, Valley residents continue to make the switch to electric vehicles at a rapid rate. People living in SRP territory have surpassed EV adoption targets in the last few years, with more than 40,500 EVs leased or purchased in SRP’s service territory as of this April. SRP hears from customers that the switch to EVs has not only been easy, but they are pleasantly surprised at the cost savings they experience. Below are some of the well-loved programs and offerings SRP residential and business customers continue to take advantage of as they go electric. Read more >>
Nikola Corporation appoints new chief operating officer
Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via its HYLA brand, today announced the appointment of Mary Chan as Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective October 9, 2023. In her capacity as COO, Chan will lead the company’s engineering, program, product, supply chain, and manufacturing teams. Her appointment aligns with the vision of President and CEO Steve Girsky to streamline decision-making processes and bolster Nikola’s reputation for excellence in engineering and manufacturing. Read more >>
Arizona added 2,374 clean-energy jobs in 2022, near pre-pandemic levels
Arizona added more than 2,300 clean-energy industry jobs last year, falling just shy of the state’s pre-pandemic employment levels but matching the nation for job growth in the sector, a new report said. The annual Clean Jobs America report by Environmental Entrepreneurs – or E2 – said the bulk of the 61,583 clean-energy jobs in the state were in energy-efficiency fields, like efficient lighting, heating and insulation. But Arizona also had almost 12,000 jobs in renewable energy industries and more than 4,000 in clean vehicles. Read more >>
Phoenix gets $10 million grant to plant more trees, cool the city and fight the heat
The city of Phoenix got a ton of green earlier this week — in the form of both plants and money. The United States Forest Service awarded the city with $10 million for tree-planting efforts, officials said. They hope this will promote equitable cooling throughout the Valley. Equitable cooling is a hot topic in the sustainability world. Tree equity refers to the unequal distribution of trees throughout communities. According to data from Maricopa County, 27 people died from heat-related illnesses in the 85007 ZIP code last year. Read more >>
Amphenol Industrial Operations expands in Mesa with new solar product factory
An East Coast manufacturer continues to expand in the East Valley. New York-based Amphenol Industrial Operations, a division of Connecticut-based Amphenol Corp. (NYSE: APH), is set to open a solar product factory in Mesa during the fourth quarter of 2023. The new 58,000-square-foot space will be used for manufacturing solar junction boxes, connectors, and other advanced interconnect assemblies in support of the solar energy industry. It is expected to create up to 50 jobs. Read more >>
Climate tech company CarbonCapture partners with ASU to design regional hub
A Los Angeles-based startup is partnering with Arizona State University to design a regional carbon dioxide capture hub that could spur significant job creation and position the Grand Canyon State as a leader in the climate tech industry. CarbonCapture — which makes direct air capture machines to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — ASU and industry partners are in discussions with the U.S. Department of Energy for potential funding to conduct an engineering and design study for a multi-site hub in the Southwest. Read more >>
Supply agreement advances domestic battery supply chain for use at Arizona KOREPlex
KORE Power, Inc. will use ENTEK lithium separators manufactured in Terra Haute, Indiana in the battery cells that the company produces at the Arizona KOREPlex, according to a supply agreement announced Tuesday. Under the agreement, KORE will purchase separators for both NMC and LFP battery cells from ENTEK when ENTEK’s Indiana facility comes online in 2025. Under the terms of the agreement, ENTEK will supply enough separators for the KOREPlex’s initial 7 GWh capacity and will allow for a second phase which could more than double that supply. Read more >>
Tempe-based Erthos raises $24 million in funding to scale large solar projects
A Tempe-based solar panel startup has raised a new round of funding and inked an agreement for a 180-megawatt solar plant in Mississippi, bringing its total projects under contract to 18 nationwide. Erthos secured $24 million in equity financing led by Capricorn Investment Group, a sustainability-focused venture capital firm that was an early backer of Tesla, SpaceX and Helion. The new round of capital will accelerate Erthos’ growth and support upcoming large scale projects, according to a company release. Read more >>
City of Phoenix named top green fleet on 2023
The City of Phoenix won the Top Green Fleet Award for 2023 from the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). The annual Green Fleet Awards honor organizations that make a positive impact on the environment with their groundbreaking green initiatives. “Earning the Top Green Fleet of 2023 award is a testament to our city’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, and Phoenix is honored to be named a leader among leaders,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. Read more >>
Report reveals Arizona ranks third for most new clean energy jobs in BIPOC communities
Arizona ranks third for the most new clean energy jobs in BIPOC communities, with 12,720 jobs and companies investing upward of $8 billion. That’s according to a new report from climate action advocacy organization Climate Power. The “Clean Energy Boom In Communities of Color” report also indicates that a majority of clean energy projects are in communities of color — 201 out of 272 projects tracked nationally, to be exact. Read more >>
Electric truck maker with presence in Goodyear partners to make battery cells in the US
Daimler Truck, the German company that makes electric big rigs for the U.S. market in Portland, Oregon, and has a parts distribution center in Goodyear, is in a new joint venture to manufacture battery cells in the United States. Daimler and partners Cummins (NYSE: CMI) and Paccar (Nasdaq: PCAR) said they expect to invest $2 billion to $3 billion into the Accelera joint venture, which will supply cells for electric commercial vehicles and industrial applications. Read more >>
Embracing diversity in health care: Banner is unlocking the power of inclusive care for the LGBTQ+ community
Dr. Varun Monga and Dr. Venkata Buddhavarapu, alongside other clinicians in the United States, have co-authored a transformative publication titled “Gender Inclusive Care Toolkit for Hospitals” in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. This toolkit paves the way for a new era in patient care, setting a gold standard for gender inclusivity in medical practice to address disparities in health care. Through a rigorous examination of care principles and practical applications, Drs. Monga and Buddhavarapu and the collaborative team provide insights and resources that can be adapted across various health care settings. Read more >>
ASU receives $39.8M federal grant to create microelectronics innovation hub
Arizona State University has landed a $39.8 million federal grant to create a regional network for microelectronics education, research and development in the Southwest. The U.S Department of Defense on Wednesday announced it awarded $238 million in CHIPS Act funding to eight recipients nationwide — including ASU — to establish regional innovation hubs through what’s known as the Microelectronics Commons program. Read more >>
EPS Global guest blog: Beating the supply chain crunch, a case study for open networking
In this episode of The Critical Lowdown, Alan Fagan, who manages Sales for North America at EPS Global, moderates a panel featuring Jeff Hummel, Technical Services Supervisor and Nathan Gerencser, Senior Network Engineer both from MetaLINK; and Vince Schuele, Senior Network Architect from IP ArchiTechs. Listen to the full podcast or read the transcript. Read more >>
DoorDash widens grocery delivery service in Phoenix
Third-party delivery service DoorDash Inc. (NYSE: DASH) announced Monday it has signed deals with eight new supermarket chains, including some in Arizona, to increase its on-demand grocery delivery offering. DoorDash is already a key delivery partner with Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (Nasdaq: SFM), Albertsons and Safeway and with Raley’s Cos., the parent company of Bashas’, Food City and AJ’s Fine Foods. Now the company and its team of independent contractors will be delivering groceries in the Phoenix area from El Super. Read more >>
Arizona Tech Investors to back dozens of companies as organization grows membership
One of the state’s most prominent angel investment groups is growing its membership and is poised to back dozens of companies in the coming year. Arizona Tech Investors, which is celebrating its 14th year in operation this month, will screen more than 100 startups and invite 15 to 20 of the most promising, investment-ready companies to pitch in front of its membership, according to the organization. The companies represent a variety of sectors, including software, health care technology, renewable energy and more. Read more >>
Intel sells $430M piece of subsidiary to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is selling a 10% stake in IMS Nanofabrication, its second big sale of a piece of the Austria-based supplier of advanced chip-manufacturing technology in the past three months. The agreement announced Sept. 12 is with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM: NYSE), the world’s largest semiconductor maker, at the same $4.3 billion valuation that was used in Bain Capital’s 20% purchase revealed in June. Both Intel and TSMC have substantial footprints in the Valley. Read more >>
Lyft launches Women+ Connect
While women make up nearly half of Lyft riders, they account for just 23% of drivers on the Lyft platform, based on a recent survey.* Introducing Women+ Connect, a new feature that matches women and nonbinary drivers with more women and nonbinary riders. This highly requested feature offers more control over the driving experience for women and nonbinary people, allowing them to feel that much more confident. And with fewer barriers to driving, more women can access flexible earning opportunities — whether they’re driving to build a business, support their family, or simply to enjoy earning good money while meeting great people. Read more >>
Tucson’s IRLabs announces new name and positions for growth
Infrared Laboratories, Inc., a Tucson-based optics and cryogenics company, is pleased to announce it has adopted its common nickname, IRLabs, as its new company name. This name change is representative of the company’s positioning for future growth with new leadership, new branding and a new website. Since 1967 the company has been well known in global astronomy and scientific research sectors as experts in solving the complex challenges of detecting ultra-low levels of infrared light and cooling for ground- and space-based telescopes. Read more >>
Parsons Foundation donates $300,000 to Junior Achievement of Arizona
A recent study found 8 out of 10 American workers live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. These issues are even more critical for low-income and ethnically diverse students, as they are least likely to learn financial and career readiness concepts at home or school. The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation grant of $300,000 over two years to Junior Achievement of Arizona will ensure financial literacy–including money management skills such as budgeting, saving and responsible use of credit–are taught to K-12 students throughout Maricopa County. Read more >>
Five startups selected for University of Arizona accelerator program
The University of Arizona has selected five startups, including two from the Valley, for the inaugural cohort of its Crucible at Forge accelerator program. The Crucible at Forge is an eight-week program intended to support growth of advanced startups by preparing them for investment. Startup founders in the cohort will receive rigorous professional development, mentorship, milestone evaluations, pitch practice sessions, investor introductions and opportunities to highlight their work. As a capstone to the program, startups will pitch their companies to investors for feedback and potential funding opportunities, according to the University of Arizona. Read more >>
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce invests in entrepreneurial women with Wells Fargo’s help
Rachel Martinez is a researcher turned entrepreneur who initially found a career in libraries. She enjoys researching different topics and helping people from different backgrounds learn. The pandemic in 2020 rocked the field of higher education where she and her co-worker, Julie Allen, worked. That led to them creating Watch Me Learning Services in 2022. The instructional design agency provides online learning, training and professional development experiences for small- to medium-sized businesses. Martinez and Allen’s combined backgrounds and knowledge of training in academia and industry drive the experiences they create for their clients. Read more >>
Grand Canyon University expecting record enrollment
Grand Canyon University is expecting another record-breaking class of new students in 2023-24 despite the continued downward trajectory of college enrollments across the country. GCU is projecting a more than 14% increase in new students from last year, including a class of more than 11,000 incoming traditional-age (21 and under) students attending both the Phoenix campus and online. That will increase total projected enrollment to more than 118,000 – approximately 25,800 on the ground campus and more than 92,000 studying online. Read more >>
Phoenix Community Alliance celebrates 40 years in Downtown Phoenix
Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA), the business leadership and membership affiliate of Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI), has spent decades activating, advocating and building Greater Downtown Phoenix into what it is today, and now it’s time to celebrate 40 years of change-making and strategic growth. Since August 1983, the organization has played a significant role in the development of landmark institutions that have contributed to the resurgence of Downtown Phoenix. Read more >>
Tempe Chamber and Rio Salado College partner on Tempe Workforce Skills Accelerator, presented by Amazon
The Tempe Chamber of Commerce and Rio Salado College have partnered to create the Tempe Workforce Skills Accelerator, which will offer three microcredentials to Tempe businesses to upskill their workforce. Through a partnership with the Tempe Chamber Foundation and Amazon, there will also be 20 scholarships available to underwrite the costs for those employers that would experience financial hardship from enrolling their employees. Read more >>
Greater Phoenix Chamber announces 11 finalists for Athena Awards
The Greater Phoenix Chamber announced the 11 women chosen as finalists for its prestigious 36th Annual ATHENA Awards, continuing its strong tradition of recognizing outstanding Valley businesswomen. The ATHENA Businesswoman of the Year Award recognizes a woman in the public and private sectors and highlights an upcoming leader in the Valley as an ATHENA Young Professional. ATHENA finalists are chosen for their excellence in business and leadership, dedication to the community, and support and mentorship of others. Read more >>
Salt River Project is celebrating 2023 National Drive Electric Week from Sept. 22 through Oct. 1.
According to SRP, drivers have been rapidly switching to electric vehicles for a variety of reasons, including car maintenance and gas.
Electric vehicles require less maintenance than traditional vehicles because they do not need regular oil changes.
Drivers have also been able to enjoy incentives for battery chargers and an increase in charging stations at businesses throughout the Valley.
SRP customers can save $250 on Level 2 chargers from the SRP Marketplace and those who bought chargers from somewhere else could be eligible for rebates.
Businesses can apply for rebates as high as $2,500 to have charging ports installed in certain areas.
For those curious about electric vehicles, SRP is hosting an event on Sept. 30 for people to test drive and learn more about the cars.
On Thursday, gas prices in Arizona spiked to an average of $4.65 a gallon while the national average reached $3.86, according to AAA.
Arizona had the sixth-highest average in the nation.
Dr. Varun Monga and Dr. Venkata Buddhavarapu, alongside other clinicians in the United States, have co-authored a transformative publication titled “Gender Inclusive Care Toolkit for Hospitals” in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. This toolkit paves the way for a new era in patient care, setting a gold standard for gender inclusivity in medical practice to address disparities in health care. Through a rigorous examination of care principles and practical applications, Drs. Monga and Buddhavarapu and the collaborative team provide insights and resources that can be adapted across various health care settings.
“Incorporating a comprehensive LGBTQ+ needs and gender inclusive care toolkit, The Lancet Regional Health – Americas article underscores the vital steps hospitals must take to provide equitable and compassionate health care for all,” said Dr. Gagandeep Dhillon, Assistant Medical Director at University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center hospital, the lead author of the article.
Another co-author, Dr. Harpreet Grewal from Sacred Health Hospital, Florida, said, “In the 21st century, health care must be at the forefront of embracing diversity and inclusivity. Our ‘Gender Inclusive Care Toolkit for Hospitals’ is not just a guide; it’s a pledge to create an environment where every patient is acknowledged, respected, and cared for as they truly are.” He continued, “This initial work symbolizes our commitment to empathy, and patient-centered excellence.”
The article emphasizes the importance of addressing gaps in health care quality that disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ individuals due to factors like biases and inadequate provider preparation. The doctors also discussed practical strategies health care systems can adopt to cultivate a more inclusive environment, such as offering specialized training for health care professionals and implementing unbiased policies. By tackling these important concerns and offering feasible solutions, authors underscore their commitment to providing a fairer and more equitable health care for everyone.
Dr. Varun Monga, co-author on manuscript and a psychiatrist from Phoenix-based Banner Health said, “Our aim is to provide guidelines to help bridge the gap in health care access and ensure that every individual regardless of their sexual identity or gender orientation receives the comprehensive care they deserve.”
Dr. Venkata Buddhavarapu, co-author, and an Internal Medicine physician at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona mentioned, “Health care systems may not be equipped to deal with the nuances that come with caring for the LGBTQ+ patient population. Our toolkit may help strategize an effective method to improve awareness.”
Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. In addition to 33 hospitals, Banner also operates an academic medicine division, Banner – University Medicine, and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, behavioral health services, a research division and a nursing registry. To make health care easier, 100% of Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits and patients may also reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations and can book appointments online with many Banner-employed doctors. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming.
Freepoint Eco-Systems LLC (“Freepoint”) announced the development of a commercial-scale advanced plastics recycling facility located in Eloy, Arizona.
The ISCC Plus Certified facility will recycle end-of-life waste plastic otherwise destined for landfills or incineration. It will span 40 acres of currently undeveloped land and have the capacity to recycle approximately 180,000 tons of waste plastic per year, making it one of the largest advanced recycling facilities in the world.
“The development of our Arizona advanced recycling facility represents an expansion of our advanced recycling footprint in the United States. From construction to the launch of operations, the Arizona facility will positively impact plastic recycling and the local community through job creation and greenhouse gas reduction. We are thrilled to be building a facility in Eloy, Arizona in close coordination with city, county and state representatives,” said Jeff McMahon, Managing Director of Freepoint.
Freepoint uses proven technology to convert waste plastic into feedstock that is used to create new plastic products. The process not only reduces plastic waste, but also decreases drilling for oil, thereby leaving oil in the ground. Furthermore, the carbon footprint of plastic produced as a result of Freepoint’s recycling process will be up to 90% less than the carbon footprint of disposed plastic made directly from fossil fuels. Freepoint’s flagship advanced recycling facility in Hebron, Ohio is currently under construction with commercial operations expected to launch in the second half of 2024.
Freepoint will create 200 construction jobs in Arizona in 2024/25 to build the facility, as well as approximately 100 full-time circular economy jobs once the facility begins commercial operations. The Arizona Commerce Authority recently recognized Freepoint as one of the innovative companies bringing new investments and high quality jobs to Arizona.
“Ultimately, this facility will contribute to the development of a more sustainable circular economy,” added McMahon.
“Eloy is pleased to be working with Freepoint on this new project,” said Eloy Mayor Micah Powell. “Sustainable, green jobs will continue to play a vital and growing role in our economy. Freepoint is creating quality jobs for Eloy and area residents while providing a product that will benefit the Eloy economy and the environment. Our staff has enjoyed working with Freepoint, and we look forward to working closely with the team to get the facility online.”
“Freepoint’s new recycling facility represents a significant win for Pinal County and rural Arizona,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Freepoint’s advanced recycling facility further positions Arizona as a sustainability leader, creating quality jobs and fueling continued economic growth in Eloy.”
Commercial operation of the Eloy, Arizona facility is expected to begin in the first half of 2026.
Whether tired of high gas prices or not being able to drive in the HOV lane, Valley residents continue to make the switch to electric vehicles at a rapid rate. People living in SRP territory have surpassed EV adoption targets in the last few years, with more than 40,500 EVs leased or purchased in SRP’s service territory as of this April.
SRP hears from customers that the switch to EVs has not only been easy, but they are pleasantly surprised at the cost savings they experience. Below are some of the well-loved programs and offerings SRP residential and business customers continue to take advantage of as they go electric.
SRP customers save on Level 2 chargers.
EV drivers who are SRP customers can save $250 instantly when they purchase a Level 2 charger from SRP Marketplace. And even if SRP customers recently purchased eligible chargers from somewhere else, they can still apply for a rebate.
SRP experts can discuss this and other incentives and options available to SRP customers considering going electric including added benefits like less required maintenance (no oil changes) and Arizona’s expanding network of public charging across the state.
At-home charging is easier than ever.
To charge at home often requires the addition of a 240-volt connection which must be professionally added. By visiting srp.net/chargerinstall, SRP customers can connect with a Qmerit expert who will gather information about their home and charging needs, then provide an upfront pricing estimate and connect them with a certified installer for a custom proposal. Once approved, an installation date is set and includes a one-year warranty. The process for adding at-home fast charging starts with filling out only one form or making only one call.
Local events for those considering transitioning to electric.
- Ride and Drive’ event on Sept. 30 in Phoenix: Community members are invited to come out to test drive an EV of their choosing and learn more about driving electric. SRP will support the event and have information on EV price plans and customer incentives: Phoenix Ride and Drive — Scottsdale Electric Vehicle Association
- E-Tech Signature Series Event on Nov. 2 in Tempe: SRP business customers are invited hear from local experts and learn about commercial electrification programs including current rebates and programs available for businesses considering switching to electric equipment, such as electric forklifts, truck charging bays and custom conversion projects. SRP business customers can register for the event here: srp.net/e-tech2023
Drivers know where to find chargers.
“Range anxiety” is becoming a thing of the past as more public EV chargers become available across the state and county. SRP has a relationship with PlugShare to help spread useful information to EV drivers on finding available public chargers and planning road trips. Drivers can get started by downloading the PlugShare app or visiting the website: www.plugshare.com
Business customers save on installing charging ports.
More Valley businesses are installing EV chargers for employee charging or public use in their parking lots. This includes everything from shopping malls, apartment complexes, restaurants and more. SRP business customers receive a rebate of $1,500 per charging port or $2,500 if the charging station is installed in a disadvantaged area.
Arizona State University has landed a $39.8 million federal grant to create a regional network for microelectronics education, research and development in the Southwest.
The U.S Department of Defense on Wednesday announced it awarded $238 million in CHIPS Act funding to eight recipients nationwide — including ASU — to establish regional innovation hubs through what’s known as the Microelectronics Commons program.
The Southwest Advanced Prototyping Hub — led by ASU — will provide a collaborative forum for regional technology leaders, including Sandia National Laboratories, University of Colorado Boulder, University of New Mexico, and private sector firms, to accelerate and enhance microelectronics research efforts, according to a university announcement.
The hub will consist of nearly 70 corporate, startup, academic and national lab partners from the semiconductor and defense sectors throughout the Southwest.
“This is the first major national security-oriented research and development laboratory ever built in the state of Arizona, and Arizona State University is extremely honored to play a key role in making this happen,” Michael Crow, president of ASU, said in a statement. “There is important work ahead, and this opportunity would not exist without the leadership of Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. They were critically important to the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act and have been tremendous supporters of industry investment and expansion in Arizona. ASU has been deeply invested in this work, but without the senators and the 70 partners who are a part of this effort with us, we wouldn’t be here.”
The Microelectronics Commons program is intended to scale semiconductor technology and expand workforce needed in the sector by building partnerships in research and development, manufacturing, and government.
Hubs to focus on US military microchips
With a total of $2 billion in federal funding through 2027, the Microelectronics Commons program aims to leverage the eight hubs to accelerate domestic hardware prototyping and “lab-to-fab” transition of semiconductor technologies to mitigate supply chain risks and expedite access to cutting-edge microchips for the military, according to the Department of Defense.
The hubs will be advancing technology in the following areas: secure edge/Internet of Things computing; 5G/6G wireless; artificial intelligence hardware; quantum technology; electromagnetic warfare and commercial leap ahead technologies.
The Department of Defense said funding for the regional innovation hubs marks the largest award to date under the CHIPS Act.
“The Microelectronics Commons is focused on bridging and accelerating the ‘lab-to-fab’ transition, that infamous valley of death between research and development and production,” Kathleen Hicks, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, said during a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday. “While America is a world leader in the innovative research and design of microelectronics, we’ve lagged in the ability to prototype, manufacture and produce them at scale. That’s what the CHIPS Act is meant to supercharge.”
Arizona’s microelectronics sector employs 22,000
In December, Crow appointed Sally Morton, executive vice president of ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise, and Kyle Squires, dean of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, to lead a team of faculty, staff and strategic partners in a proposal for a regional innovation hub in the Southwest.
ASU will prioritize connecting students, researchers and designers at universities and companies in the region with prototyping capabilities, further advancing a model established by the university’s MacroTechnology Works, a facility that accelerates semiconductor and energy device research in the U.S., the Business Journal previously reported.
The microelectronics industry employs more than 22,000 people in Arizona, and the state’s broader semiconductor supply chain ecosystem includes leading equipment manufacturers, chemicals and materials suppliers, semiconductor packaging firms and defense electronics companies.
“ASU’s SWAP Hub will allow university researchers, students and industry partners to rapidly scale new tech ideas and inventions to return the U.S. to its place as a leader in the high-tech industry,” Fred DuVal, chair of the Arizona Board of Regents, said in a statement. “On behalf of the Arizona Board of Regents, congratulations to ASU and its education and industry partners.”
Sen. Mark Kelly, a chief negotiator in the CHIPS and Science Act, worked closely with ASU and business and industry groups to boost Arizona’s role in semiconductor research and development.
“Today’s historic investment will enable researchers to discover, test and commercialize breakthrough technologies in the United States. That’s why I created the Microelectronics Commons, so that America, not China, builds the next generation of microchips,” Kelly said in a statement. “This will put our growing microchip industry and ASU’s research and innovation in the driver’s seat to power our economy and strengthen our national security.”
More information on the program will be shared at the Microelectronics Commons annual meeting in October.
In this episode of The Critical Lowdown, Alan Fagan, who manages Sales for North America at EPS Global, moderates a panel featuring Jeff Hummel, Technical Services Supervisor and Nathan Gerencser, Senior Network Engineer both from MetaLINK; and Vince Schuele, Senior Network Architect from IP ArchiTechs.
If you would prefer to listen to the full podcast, you can listen here.
TRANSCRIPT OF: BEATING THE SUPPLY CHAIN CRUNCH – A CASE STUDY FOR OPEN NETWORKING
Alan Fagan: Hi, I’m Alan Fagan and I manage North American sales for EPS Global. We’re a value-added distributor with a focus on Open Networking and we partner with the best hardware and software manufacturers to build solutions for our customers. Currently we’re seeing a huge interest in Open Networking from Service Providers, and today I’m delighted to be joined by one of our customers, MetaLINK; and a partner of ours, IP ArchiTechs, and we’re going to talk about a project for MetaLINK that we all collaborated on and we hope to pass on valuable lessons from it. I’ll now hand over to Jeff and Nathan to tell us a little bit about MetaLINK.
So, Nate, I’ll let you give a little intro.
Alan Fagan: Thanks, Nate. And Vince, if you could tell us a little about yourself and a little bit about IP ArchiTechs?
Vince Schuele: Thanks Alan. My name Vince Schuele and I’m a Senior Network Architect with IP ArchiTechs. We’re an independent consulting firm that specializes in Disaggregated Solutions. We don’t actually sell any hardware, we focus on the business objectives and goals to help people realize their return on investment faster.
AF: Thanks Vince. Getting into the specifics around this project, what problems were you having and how were you trying to solve them?
We partnered with a carrier in order to achieve that, and we were given a timeline which was very short. That’s when we reached out to IP ArchiTechs to ask: “What are the possibilities in this short amount of time?”
AF: Thanks, Nate. You talked about the growth that you’ve seen and the need for additional bandwidth. The last couple of years has hit home how important broadband access is, with the pandemic and people working from home. Did you see a direct impact from that from that on your business?
AF: Broadband has gone from being from what would have probably been considered a luxury pre-pandemic, something nice to have; to now it’s something that’s absolutely essential, it’s like needing electricity or light.
AF: It sounds like the main drivers for you guys approaching IP ArchiTechs was lead time? 18 months? Which wasn’t going to work, and then the cost on top of this.
Vince, when MetaLINK approached you, what did you think of the issue that they had, and how you did you think you could resolve it?
VS: They came to us and said they had a pretty tight timeline to get this capacity upgrade and they were trying to do this within a few months, which required a specific set of protocols.
We went to the drawing board and said, what’s available and can still deliver the services that they need, and allow them to upgrade and achieve that timeline?
We knew they needed BGP and MPLS, we had to deliver Layer-2 VPN. There’s a wide suite of Whitebox options that meet that requirement, and in the Service Provider realm – OcNOS from IP Infusion has a pretty feature rich deployment to satisfy all those requirements.
EPS Global has done a great job to date of delivering hardware to meet to meet our customers requirements across the globe. That was why we looked to you. We said “we need this hardware solution and this Operating System, can you deliver it in time to meet the customer’s requirement?”
AF: I think we engaged with you for the first time in December of 2021, and correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe we had the network deployed by the end of February or at least part of it, is that correct?
AF: Obviously that compares very favorably to the legacy vendors that you had been talking to?
AF: Judging by that, we were able to solve the lead time issue; but also from a cost perspective, I think you were able save a lot of money as well. Once you got into the Open Networking space, were there any other things that you found out that were pleasant surprises, or even nasty surprises? Hopefully there was more pleasant than nasty!
We have found along the way that not necessarily every switch model has the exact same underlying firmware, there’s a couple different bugs to fix with one of the models that the other models don’t have. But when we encountered some of these bugs, the IP Infusion guys have been able to turn around a patch for it in record time.
I can think of some legacy hardware where we’ve had bugs that have been ongoing for a year, 2 years, or even some that are still outstanding, whereas with these guys they’re like: “we can work between the Whitebox switch and our software to figure out what’s wrong, and we can get that patched up in pretty short order“. That has been refreshing, and their support has been a lot easier to engage with compared to some of the legacy guys that we’ve worked with before. Sometimes you’re jumping through 85 levels of support hell to get to where you need to be.
AF: A lesson I learned years ago was always do business with people who your business is important to. And I think for IPI, someone like MetaLINK is a very important customer. It’s tougher to be a really important customer for someone like a Cisco or a Juniper, someone at that scale. It’s tough to really get the answers.
Could you tell me a little bit about what the solution looked like that we came up with, what hardware, what software?
Most of the AS5916-54X’s end up with a few extra 100G ports, but then we also ended up with, 48x 10G ports. We can add a whole bunch of 10 Gig services or our ports at 10G speed at least to the solution. And, keep building that transport network up until we get to the point where, maybe we go to 200G or 400G, or whatever is the best when we hit that that next bump in performance.
VS:If I can jump into the technical details a little bit here. One of the big things originally was we’re running a ERPS ring which could be cumbersome to manage, especially as it continues to grow, and you try to add new nodes. How do we still deliver those Layer-2 services but use routing? That’s where we blended on segment routing to go with using EVPN for Layer-2 extensions or Layer-2 VPN so we can go and we can kind of simplify the protocol stack and make the operation and maintenance a lot easier and cleaner across the board. So you can focus on getting to that next step faster because you have less time spent just doing normal maintenance of the older solutions, for example I go and I lag together a whole bunch of DWDM circuits now if I just turn off another routed link and it’s in place. It’s not this big, long drawn-out process.
AF: Do you have advice for other companies that look like yourselves and are considering Open Networking? I’ll open that question for you as well, Vince. I mean, what advice would you give to Service Providers? There’s so many Service Providers that are faced with the same issues that you guys were faced with last year – having loads more bandwidth to provide, but dealing with the supply chain crunch and wondering about how to manage it.
VS: That would be the biggest thing that I would say too is, don’t be afraid to look. Not everybody has the problems of the Tier-1’s, we’re not all Lunin and Telia or early on. That set of equipment and Service Provider that’s geared towards the Tier-1’s looks very different than what is a very valid and robust solution for the Tier-2’s and regional ISPs.
Being able to still deliver that same Quality-of-Service out to their customers without having to go through that same sort of traditional experience that Nathan was talking about, where you go to the vendor, you get the support, you get the hardware. It’s a little different here, but if one switch model doesn’t work, I can pull from a whole other set of switches that’s on the same silicon, it might be a different manufacturer, but there’s other options on the shelf.
I don’t have to wait 18 months to deliver bandwidth, I can do it in 3-4 weeks, once we had their core moved over, now we’re talking weeks to add new switches and new routers, not months or whatever the lead time is on “insert vendor here”.
AF: I think that’s a key point Vince. Jeff and Nate’s experience really shows this, that you’re not on your own. I think that’s a fear that some people have when they’re entering into the Open Networking space, that they’re on their own, and that no one really owns this, because the switch comes from somewhere; the software comes in somewhere else. I have to figure this out by myself.
That’s not the case. if you’re working with someone like IP ArchiTechs who understands the landscape and understands the solutions and then can work with someone like ourselves at EPS Global who actually has the inventory on hand, have the switches on hand, have the partnerships with the software companies, and can actually deliver in a very timely manner. You’re not on your own, there’s help out there. We’re here to help, and I think that’s a that’s a really important message.
This probably sounds like a bit of a dumb question now at the stage that we’re at in the discussion, but would you ever go back to the old way of doing things?
Nathan kind of touched on it earlier, the experience you have with the larger providers, maybe waiting a week or more to even be addressed by their support team, we immediately had a subject matter expert from the software company working directly with the hardware manufacturer and whenever they needed to get particular information or whatever, Nathan was able to work directly with Vince, and that all took place within days. I mean, literally days. And by the end of those days we had a solution. To me it’s amazing.
Going back would be very hard for me to turn tail and say, well, I want to go back to the old way. It’s like, no, I’ve had better now!
AF: Anything you want to add to that Nate?
AF: Again, I think that really speaks to the idea that you’re not on your own or left to figure this out alone. I really feel from talking to customers that it’s a concern that they have, particularly if they’ve been used to the Cisco service comfort blanket that they’re paying huge amounts of money for. But your advice earlier is very important – now that there’s a certain level of comfort with Open Networking, it is worth giving it a try, don’t be afraid to take that first step., it’s really important advice, give it a try.
VS: If I could jump in here… I think one of the things we kind of keep touching on here is the idea that in disaggregated networking there’s no support channels, but that’s just completely false. In fact I’d say it’s exactly the opposite. There’s more support – that level of support and coordination that Nathan and Jeff have been talking about throughout this podcast.
AF: Yes, absolutely. I think the proof is in the experience that they’ve had. So what’s next, guys? What’s next for MetaLINK?
AF: Thanks a lot, guys. We talked at the top of this about hoping that there’s valuable lessons to be learned from the experience, and I really think there is. I think there’s so many companies like yourselves out there, there’s so much demand for an Open Networking and equipment, and we’re here to help. Anyone who’s listening to this who wants to find out more, please feel free to reach out to IP ArchiTechs or EPS Global and we can help you achieve the results that our customer MetaLINK has over the last number of months.
So thanks again, guys. Really appreciate the time.
About EPS Global:
EPS Global is a leading value-added distributor, delivering end-to-end open disaggregated network and wireless solutions to ISPs across America and throughout South America, Europe, and Asia since 1999. EPS Global sits at the center of the open networking ecosystem, bringing together open networking hardware and software to provide turnkey solutions for any use case. Providing network design, tech support, hardware configuration, bundling of solutions for hassle-free, consolidated shipments, as well as stock availability, local language and currency support from each of our 28 locations, they are ready to support your deployment today.
For the ninth year in a row, Arizona State University is No. 1 in innovation among American universities, ahead of Stanford, MIT and Caltech, in the newly released annual “Best Colleges” 2024 rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
The continued recognition underscores ASU’s commitment to being a New American University — an enterprise dedicated to the simultaneous pursuit of excellence, broad access to quality education, and meaningful societal impact — and joins a series of top rankings that ASU has earned in high-impact areas.
“The world is changing faster than ever, and outmoded approaches are not enough to counter the increasingly complex problems facing our planet,” said Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow. “ASU’s innovation mindset attracts creative and dynamic minds who tackle society’s biggest challenges — from ending health disparities to ensuring a habitable planet to advancing our national security — in ways both inventive and effective.
“Bolstered by collaboration across disciplines and sectors, we are perpetually inspired to demonstrate how optimism and ingenuity can yield better outcomes for all.”
ASU has ranked No. 1, ahead of MIT and Stanford, every year since the “most innovative” category was created by U.S. News & World Report magazine. Institutions are nominated by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans across the country, and schools are chosen based on who is making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology and facilities.
Latest rankings
In the new U.S. News & World Report rankings, the university placed in the top 20 in other notable categories, including tied for No. 13 among U.S. universities in undergraduate teaching; tied No. 16 for senior capstone programs; and tied for No. 16 for first-year experiences.
ASU also had distinguished rankings among several of its undergraduate degrees and programs including:
Business
For undergraduate rankings, the W. P. Carey School of Business was tied for No. 29 in the country, ahead of Brigham Young University, Babson College and the University of Rochester. The school also had 10 undergraduate disciplines or departments ranked in the top 30, including: No. 2 for supply chain management and logistics; No. 9 for analytics and No. 9 for business management information systems.
Engineering
The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering tied for No. 34 overall and placed in the top 20 for public engineering schools, ahead of the University of Florida, the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of California, Irvine. Four undergraduate programs ranked in the top 20 for their categories: civil engineering (No. 16), cybersecurity — computer science (No. 16, tied), computer engineering (No. 16, tied) and electrical engineering (No. 17, tied).
Education
The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College ranked in the top 20 for two undergraduate programs: elementary teacher education and secondary teacher education, which both ranked No. 13.
Find the full rankings on the U.S. News & World Report website.
Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via its HYLA brand, today announced the appointment of Mary Chan as Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective October 9, 2023.
In her capacity as COO, Chan will lead the company’s engineering, program, product, supply chain, and manufacturing teams. Her appointment aligns with the vision of President and CEO Steve Girsky to streamline decision-making processes and bolster Nikola’s reputation for excellence in engineering and manufacturing.
“I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Mary for over a decade, and I cannot think of a more qualified individual to assume the role of COO at Nikola,” said Nikola President and CEO Steve Girsky. “Mary brings a solid understanding of business, combined with extensive experience in technology and transportation, spanning both engineering and management. Her expertise will be a tremendous asset to the Nikola team.”
“My career has been dedicated to pioneering smart transportation and wireless communications across automotive, telecommunications, and high-tech industries,” said Chan. “Joining Nikola represents the culmination of this journey, and I’m excited to be part of the team that will drive trucking to a zero-emissions future, encompassing trucking products, customer solutions, and the corresponding energy infrastructure.”
Chan was a Managing Partner at VectoIQ, where she assisted with the public launch of Nikola Corporation. She served as President of the Global Connected Consumer group at General Motors (GM) and built the next generation of connected infotainment products and OnStar broadband data services. She led the industry’s first launch of 4G LTE connectivity across GM’s global brands in the U.S., China, Europe, and Mexico.
Chan joined GM from Dell Inc., where she was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobility Solutions & Services.
Prior to Dell, Mary held various EVP and SVP executive positions at Alcatel-Lucent and Lucent Technologies Inc. as President of 4G/LTE Wireless Networks and President of Global Wireless Networks. She led the Wireless Business Unit with responsibilities across product management, R&D, and system deployment with a revenue stream greater than $7B.
Chan was previously named the “Top Woman in Wireless” by the Fierce Wireless Industry Daily.
Chan serves as an independent Board of Director for Magna International, SBA Communications, and CommScope. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University.