SEMICON West to Greater Phoenix

For the first time in its 50-year history, SEMICON West — North America’s flagship microelectronics conference — is moving inland. Beginning in October 2025, the event will take place in Greater Phoenix every other year (2025, 2027 and 2029). It’s a major shift that highlights where the future of the semiconductor industry is being built.

Why It Matters

U.S. semiconductor manufacturing has been on the decline for decades. In 1990, the U.S. produced 37% of the world’s chips. Today, that share has dropped to just 10%, even though American demand accounts for more than half of the global market.

Federal initiatives like the CHIPS Act are designed to reverse that trend, but government support only works if regions can deliver the infrastructure, workforce, and partnerships to match. Greater Phoenix checks every box.

SEMI is excited to bring SEMICON West to Phoenix, a booming semiconductor manufacturing hub, in October 2025, said Joe Stockunas, president of SEMI Americas, host of the exhibition and conference. Greater Phoenix is home to more than 75 semiconductor companies including SEMI members EMD Electronics, Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), and the sector employs more than 100,000 with more jobs on the way. As recent investments in chip manufacturing in the area have made abundantly clear, Phoenix embodies the drive by SEMI and the industry at large toward greater innovation.v

A Legacy That Runs Deep

The Valley’s role in chipmaking isn’t new. It began in 1949 when Motorola opened a research facility in Phoenix, laying the foundation for decades of semiconductor growth. That legacy has evolved into one of the fastest-growing semiconductor hubs in the country.

• $100 billion+ in investments since 2020, more than any other U.S. metro

• 33,000 industry jobs, ranking Phoenix #4 in the nation for semiconductor workforce size

• A complete end-to-end supply chain unmatched by most markets

Industry giants are doubling down:

• TSMC operates its only U.S. fab in North Phoenix, producing cutting-edge 4nm chips and working toward 3nm and 2nm. Major clients include Apple, AMD, and NVIDIA.

• Intel is expanding its Fab 52 and Fab 62 in Chandler, including a new 1.8nm facility.

Research & Workforce Power

Beyond production, Greater Phoenix is emerging as a national leader in semiconductor research and training:

• Ranked #3 nationally for CHIPS R&D awards (soon expected to hit #1)

• Home to the upcoming multi-billion-dollar Chips for America R&D Flagship Facility at Arizona State University’s Research Park

• Universities graduate 1,800 students annually in semiconductor-related fields, with 38,000 currently enrolled in engineering programs

• Programs like MCCCD’s 10-day Semiconductor Technician Quick Start and the Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute ensure a steady talent pipeline

Together, these programs create one of the deepest and most flexible workforces in the country.

What It Means

Greater Phoenix has built a vertically integrated ecosystem: world-class R&D, robust supply chains, workforce development, and advanced production. Add to that the fastest customs clearance in the U.S., proximity to Mexico’s nearshoring boom, and strong bipartisan support for CHIPS policy — and it’s clear why the region is becoming a global semiconductor powerhouse.

As Thomas Maynard, Interim CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), put it:

“The shift of SEMICON West to Greater Phoenix is a clear indicator that the world is turning its focus to our region’s ecosystem.”

The Takeaway

SEMICON West’s relocation underscores a seismic realignment in chipmaking. Once dominated by coastal hubs, the balance of power is shifting to regions like Phoenix where land, talent, and policy come together to scale innovation.

For companies looking to future-proof supply chains, access top engineering talent, and plug into advanced production networks — Greater Phoenix has become the place to do it.