Phoenix hosts the SEMICON West conference for the first time

For the last 50 years, Semicon West, one of the microelectronic industry’s biggest conferences, has been held in the San Francisco area. However, for the first time since its inception, it was held last week in Phoenix.

The Greater Phoenix area is home to more than 75 semiconductor companies, including Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The industry is bringing with it hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs.

Danny Seiden, President & CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, joined “Arizona Horizon” to talk about how Phoenix can now be seen as a hub for semiconductor manufacturing.

With the attendance for this year’s Semicon West being 64% higher than last year’s conference in San Francisco, the idea is rising in popularity.

“We have been making semiconductors for 70 years. We know how to do it and it’s in our DNA,” said Seiden regarding the capability that Arizona has in becoming a major hub for semiconductor manufacturing.

From Intel and ASM being major semiconductor manufacturers that have been a part of Arizona for decades, experts like Seiden see it as something Arizona is capable of handling.

However, with water and power usage being prevalent as these semiconductor manufacturers utilize an abundance of these resources, some Arizonans share concerns.

Yet, Seiden refers to how has been handled in Arizona by saying, “The Corporation Commission made this a priority saying we need to make sure we are investing the right amount to build out the capital infrastructure. We need to duplicate what we have done in the next five.”