In Business PHX
With Moore’s Law being stretched to its maximum, research and innovation are turning to advanced packaging to make electronics more powerful and enhance the capabilities of the tiny devices that drive the technology-based products consumers enjoy and that national defense systems rely on.
Arizona State University is a key partner for the semiconductor packaging industry helping develop innovations that create more dynamic packaging opportunities. The university is one of a few in the country that teaches advanced packaging to its students, creating the skilled workforce that industry will need as it continues to grow and diversify.
“ASU’s competitive advantage in advanced packaging stems from our scale, the innovativeness of our faculty and our partnerships, which extend both locally with companies like Deca Technologies, NXP and others,” says Zachary Holman, a professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at ASU. “Advanced packaging will allow the semiconductor industry to keep growing, even though shrinking transistors is no longer the path forward. Here in Arizona we have an excellent advanced packaging industry, and it’s growing.”
Find more on this topic and learn about ASU’s projects and services here.
inBusiness PHX
“Solar for All Arizonans is a critical program that will lower energy costs for thousands of Arizonans,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “In addition to directly providing Arizona families with clean, affordable electricity, Solar for All Arizonans will open new opportunities for our home grown solar industry, and create good-paying jobs in communities all across the state.”
The innovative Solar for All Arizonans program will provide numerous benefits for families throughout Arizona, including over $164 million in bill savings for participating families, freeing up household budgets for food, medicine, and other essential expenses. OOR will partner with electric utilities, especially Tribal utility authorities, to deploy neighborhood-scale solar and provide utility bill credits for thousands of Arizonans renting in multi-family housing. Additionally, over 300 rural households will benefit from solar plus battery systems for their homes, protecting them from electricity service disruption.
“The Governor’s Office of Resiliency is pleased to partner with financing institutions and community-based organizations to provide distributed solar and battery benefits to Arizonans in all parts of the state,” said OOR Director Maren Mahoney. “Energy access and affordability is critical in Arizona, especially during our long, hot summers. Arizona is a leader in clean energy generation, and this program will open new pathways for families previously unable to tap into the many benefits of our flourishing clean energy economy.”
The Office of Resiliency expects to begin the Solar for All Arizonans program by the end of 2024.
ASU News
The U.S. has work to do in the development of technologies that are going to help the country to reach the goal of being 100% carbon-pollution free by 2035, according to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. In moving toward this goal, the nation needs more people who have the knowledge to advance progress in this area.
“Clean energy systems are keywords used by federal agencies when talking about reducing or completely removing the traditional oil-based or fossil-fuel-based economy, which will happen by 2040,” says Arunachala Mada Kannan, a professor of engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. “We need to do a lot of things before that comes to fruition, but the key aspect is the energy source. If you tackle that, everything will fall into place.”
Meeting this challenge is the reason why the new Master of Science in clean energy systems is launching this fall in The Polytechnic School, part of the Fulton Schools, with Kannan as the program chair.
In the U.S., most clean energy systems education comes in the form of concentrations of other degree programs. Kannan says that to his knowledge, this is the only graduate program dedicated to clean energy systems.
“A systems approach is required to create real solutions to these global energy opportunities,” says Kurt Paterson, director of The Polytechnic School. “From the first electron generated to the last inch of wiring, we need engineers who think across technologies, policy, economics and access.”
The interdisciplinary graduate program benefits students seeking to further their education in this high-demand field, particularly those who earn undergraduate degrees in chemical, mechanical, electrical and materials engineering disciplines. The program’s main focus is on the design, applications, operations and maintenance of solar photovoltaics, batteries, fuel cells and smart zero-emission vehicles enabled by cyber-resilient power electronics systems.
For students earning a bachelor’s degree at ASU, the program offers an accelerated master’s degree option that allows students to earn their master’s degree immediately following their undergraduate work in a shorter time period.
One of the advantages students will have in this program is that all the faculty members have their own state-of-the-art research labs.
“The faculty is at the forefront in solving current issues associated with the smarter materials or systems, and students are very excited to learn from them,” Kannan says.
This new degree follows the model of other programs in The Polytechnic School that provide engaged learning, systems perspectives, industry engagement and research that drives business and society.
“Our clean energy systems faculty, students and graduates will help Arizona develop a world-leading, sun-driven economy. The benefits are wide-ranging and substantial,” Paterson says.
One key focus of the program is the study of autonomous zero-emission vehicles. Phoenix is at the forefront of autonomous vehicle testing, and has been since 2015 when the Valley’s involvement in the development and testing of these vehicles began, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
“Phoenix is one of the few cities in the country that has almost all autonomous vehicle companies fully testing their vehicles,” Kannan says.
This provides many employment opportunities for graduate students to put their education to work.
Another advantage for students in the degree program is the chance to collaborate with other schools at ASU as well as industry partners. Local companies that may be interested in the same areas can give students experience working on battery or fuel cell systems to enable urban air mobility applications. This creates possibilities for internships that can lead to job opportunities. The Polytechnic School is actively seeking industry partners for these work-based integrated learning experiences.
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be prepared to work in many different settings, such as large corporations, government agencies and small businesses, as well as go on to pursue advanced degrees. With the emphasis on project-based, hands-on learning infused with the development of entrepreneurial mindsets, some graduates may even start companies of their own.
As governments and businesses around the world rapidly invest in clean energy, this degree program will prepare the next generation of engineers to influence this historic transformation, all while helping create a more stable environment, equitable access to energy and thriving economies.
Says Paterson, “Can you imagine a better way to make a career?”
KEO Marketing
We are proud to announce that KEO Marketing, representing eSkill Corporation, has been honored with the prestigious Netty Award for Best SEO Optimization. This recognition is a testament to the exceptional results our SEO program has delivered, boosting our leads by an impressive 32% despite the heightened competition in the digital landscape.
The Netty Awards, a beacon of excellence in the digital realm, have bestowed their coveted recognition upon KEO Marketing and eSkill Corporation. These awards, spanning over 100 categories, serve as a testament to the innovative spirit and technical prowess of the winners, setting a high standard for the industry.
Eric Friedman, the CEO of eSkill, expressed his pride at KEO Marketing’s accomplishment, stating, “We are thrilled that our marketing agency, KEO Marketing, has been acknowledged by the Netty Awards. This recognition is a validation of the tireless efforts and deep expertise our team has poured into our SEO initiatives over the past year, and the significant marketing and sales results we have achieved.”
Netty Awards recipients are selected based on several factors, including creativity, technical proficiency, innovation, and overall excellence in the respective field. KEO Marketing’s win on behalf of eSkill affirms the hard work, innovative thought, and dedication to the SEO program.
About eSkill Corporation
Founded in 2003, eSkill is a leading provider of employment assessment solutions that are accurate, thorough, and compliant predictors of employee success. eSkill is a global leader in the employment assessment industry and has expanded its core skills test offerings to include cognitive aptitude tests, video response questions, and behavioral assessments. Its solutions enable hiring and training managers to configure assessments from eSkill’s extensive Skills Test Library to match their hiring and training needs and reduce the risk of hiring failures and discrimination litigation. Select from over 800 standard job-based and subject-based tests, or easily customize relevant tests from thousands of subjects across a vast number of job functions. For more information, visit https://eSkill.com.
About KEO Marketing, Inc.
KEO Marketing is an award-winning B2B marketing agency that develops, launches, and manages marketing strategies. It acts as a partner and outsourced marketing department for dozens of companies with outstanding results.
KEO Marketing’s solutions include fractional CMO services, marketing strategy, brand and messaging, search engine marketing and optimization, social media, website development, digital advertising, and more. Some of the world’s most trusted brands have depended on KEO Marketing for marketing that delivers tangible and substantial results. For more information and to request a complimentary marketing audit, please visit https://www.keomarketing.com.
About The Netty Awards
Established to celebrate achievement in the digital age, the Netty Awards are one of the most trusted accolades in the industry. Recognizing excellence across over 100 unique categories, the awards honor top leaders and companies that demonstrate creativity, technical proficiency, innovation, and overall impact in their field.