SE Valley Times

Arizona State University, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, recently hosted the Government Leaders Forum aimed at enhancing semiconductor supply chains. The forum took place from November 18 to 20 at ASU's Tempe campus and gathered leaders from Costa Rica, Vietnam, and the Philippines to discuss workforce development and improve assembly, testing, and packaging capabilities.

This initiative is part of the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) project funded by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. It seeks to diversify semiconductor supply chains while bolstering workforce skills in key partner countries.

Robert Garverick, deputy assistant secretary for trade policy at the U.S. Department of State, emphasized the importance of international partnerships in building resilient supply chains: “So for the last couple of years, we have been working hard to try to reestablish or boost the semiconductor industry in the United States... But we recognize that we can't do all aspects of the supply chain for semiconductors."

Arizona's significant role in this effort was highlighted by Jeff Goss, principal investigator of the ITSI program: “In Arizona, we’re not only securing the back end of the supply chain but building capacity and expertise to support this industry’s growth globally.”

The ITSI Workforce Accelerator Program addresses critical workforce shortages in partner nations. Costa Rica aims to train over 9,000 participants; Vietnam and the Philippines plan to upskill more than 16,000 workers each.

Indiana Trejos, vice minister of foreign affairs for Costa Rica, remarked on the economic importance of semiconductors: “Semiconductors are not just a technical necessity; they are a foundation for economic growth.”

Mary Thornton from the Semiconductor Industry Association noted challenges within a concentrated supply chain: “The global semiconductor market is worth billions... Through the ITSI project, we are fostering collaboration that ensures a diversified, secure and robust supply chain for decades to come.”

Looking forward, ITSI will expand its efforts in early 2025 with events planned in Mexico, Panama, and Indonesia as part of its mission for global supply chain diversification.

“This forum is a milestone in a much larger journey,” Goss concluded. “By working across borders and aligning our efforts... we're building a foundation for a resilient semiconductor future that benefits both the U.S. and our global partners.”