Arizona leaders have launched the National Semiconductor Economic Roadmap (NSER), a new initiative to advance U.S. competitiveness in the international semiconductor industry.
Global demand for semiconductors has reached an unprecedented high, but these chips, which have become a precious commodity, are also in short supply. This shortage comes in part because of the massive impact the pandemic has had on supply chains. But Arizona leaders hope to turn this challenge into an opportunity.
Led by the Arizona Commerce Authority, the NSER is designed to create the first-of-its-kind blueprint that will direct the future of the U.S. semiconductor industry. One of the features of this roadmap is that it encourages industry leaders, educational institutions and the public sector to work together. Arizona leaders believe this collaboration will “future-proof” semiconductor manufacturing in the United States.
The three key pillars of this new roadmap include a focus on workforce, supply chain and infrastructure. NSER believes that prioritizing these aspects will make the U.S. the global leader of semiconductor manufacturing.
“A thriving semiconductor ecosystem requires solid infrastructure, a comprehensive supply chain and a steady inflow of talented and dedicated people,” said Rick Cassidy, CEO and president of TSMC Arizona.
Arizona has seen an influx of investment from several different semiconductor manufacturing companies. Intel has been here for years, but it recently broke ground on two new semiconductor factories to be built on the company’s Ocotillo Campus in Chandler. Intel will spend $20 billion to complete these plants, which will be known as Fab 52 and Fab 62, bringing the total number of fabs on the campus to six.
“We want to have Arizona and Intel be the unquestioned leaders for the world’s supply of leading-edge semiconductors,” Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, said at a groundbreaking ceremony last Friday.
Earlier this year, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) started construction on its own $12 billion manufacturing plant in North Phoenix and plans to start production in 2024. The company also has plans to expand here, building a total of six plants over the next 10-15 years.
TSMC claims the new Phoenix facility will be the most advanced in the U.S.
“A thriving semiconductor ecosystem requires solid infrastructure, a comprehensive supply chain and a steady inflow of talented and dedicated people,” said Rick Cassidy, CEO and president of TSMC Arizona.
Intel and TSMC are just two of the semiconductor manufacturing companies joining this crusade. NXP Semiconductors and Microchip are involved, too.
Arizona institutions in other areas are excited about the NSER initiative, with leaders from all three state universities expressing their enthusiasm for the collaborative plan.
“The Fulton Schools of Engineering not only wants to advance our faculty’s research and produce talented graduates vital to future workforce, but to move into a leadership position both nationally and internationally,” Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University, said in a statement.
Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said that establishing the U.S. as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing will not be at the national level.
“As Arizona’s experience has shown, states are on the front lines of semiconductor investment and attraction,” Watson said. “We’re proud to help lead this historic effort alongside our state and industry partners to develop a shared vision, one that can help drive American semiconductor leadership for decades to come.”