U of A joins national semiconductor workforce training hub
Arizona anchors the first regional microelectronics training node in the Southwest.
Mark Van Dyke (far right), associate dean of research in the College of Engineering and professor of biomedical engineering, represents the University of Arizona at the NNME Southwest Node press conference on May 27.
Arizona Commerce Authority
The University of Arizona has joined 46 members from across five states – Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Southern California – to build a nationally scalable workforce training system for microelectronics.
Government, industry and academic leaders announced on May 27 that the coalition would anchor a regional initiative to strengthen semiconductor talent across the Southwest.
The Arizona Commerce Authority, in partnership with the National Network for Microelectronics Education, SEMI Foundation and the National Science Foundation, designated NNME Southwest as an official NNME Regional Node – one of the nation's hubs for semiconductor workforce development.
"In Arizona, we're focused on creating a pipeline of skilled talent that supports the needs of employers and grows our economy," said Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs. "The NNME Southwest Node builds on this momentum and further strengthens Arizona's position as a global chip-making hub."
The consortium spans colleges, K-12 schools, STEM programs, employers, economic development agencies and community organizations. Partners will align curriculum with industry needs to map career pathways across the semiconductor field and build a stronger, more consistent talent pipeline.
"The University of Arizona is extremely pleased to continue our strong partnerships with the Arizona Commerce Authority and the many other members of the NNME Southwest Hub," said David W. Hahn, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the U of A College of Engineering. "We are grateful to the SEMI Foundation for selecting NNME Southwest as one of the first four hubs in this critical nationwide network, focused on educating the workforce for the semiconductor manufacturing industry sector."
The U of A is expected to receive $1.5 million over five years to expand semiconductor cleanroom training as part of the initiative. The SEMI Foundation also selected the university's educational content platform, SemiSphere, to connect educators across the network.
"This important tool will bring together instructors and semiconductor experts from both education and industry to create and share information, best practices and teaching materials that will benefit learners from middle school through graduate school," Hahn said, adding that SemiSphere will make teaching semiconductor manufacturing technology more accessible and consistent nationwide.
NNME is a national effort to strengthen and scale America's microelectronics workforce. Supported by the National Science Foundation and Department of Commerce and operated by the SEMI Foundation, the network connects industry, education, workforce organizations and government partners to build clearer pathways into semiconductor and microelectronics careers.
"Industry drives everything we do in Arizona, and that's especially true with the NNME Southwest Regional Node," said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. "Our region is home to one of the fastest‑growing and most complete semiconductor ecosystems in the country, powered by world‑class employers, educators and workforce partners."
NNME Southwest industry partners include global technology leaders such as Intel, TSMC, Amkor, Micron Technology, Applied Materials, Lam Research, Nikon Precision, Synopsys, Arm, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Teledyne Technologies, HRL Laboratories and others across the semiconductor ecosystem.
