Why Arizona is becoming a chipmaking hub
17 hours ago
- #Arizona
- #manufacturing
- #semiconductor
- Semicon West, a major microelectronics conference, is moving from San Francisco to Phoenix, Arizona, for the first time in 50 years.
- Phoenix has become a hub for semiconductor manufacturing, hosting over 75 semiconductor companies, including Intel and TSMC.
- Arizona's semiconductor industry dates back to 1949 with Motorola's research lab, followed by ASM in 1976 and Intel in 1980.
- TSMC is investing $65 billion to build three fabs in Arizona, the largest foreign direct investment in the state's history.
- Arizona's talent pipeline, including partnerships with ASU and Maricopa Community Colleges, is a key draw for semiconductor companies.
- TSMC is investing $5 million to train 80 facility technician apprentices over five years, with plans to expand the program.
- The Greater Phoenix area has attracted 39 semiconductor-related companies, creating over 7,700 jobs and $37 billion in capital investment.
- Benchmark Electronics is one of the companies that moved to Arizona, citing proximity to customers and a strong talent pool.
- Arizona offers favorable tax structures, tax credits, and competitive labor and operating costs to attract manufacturers and suppliers.
- Since 2020, Arizona has welcomed over 40 semiconductor projects, representing $102 billion in capital investment and 15,700 direct jobs.