Big news for the Midwest tech scene as Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb has announced the state will host the inaugural SEMIEXPO In The Heartland in 2025. The announcement was made at SEMICON West 2024 in San Francisco, where industry leaders and innovators currently converge.

The semiconductor event is pegged for April 1-2, 2025 at the Indiana Convention Center, and it's set to throw a spotlight on Indiana's emerging status as a hub for the microelectronics industry. "Indiana's economy is experiencing serious positive momentum," Gov. Holcomb said. According to a state government report, efforts to bolster such industries have attracted seven new semiconductor companies to the state.

In collaboration with SEMI Americas, a key player in the semiconductor sector, the expo is framed as an opportunity to fuel innovation in smart manufacturing and mobility, aiming to nourish the domestic semiconductor ecosystem. "With growing activity for both automotive electronics and smart manufacturing in the Midwestern region, SEMIEXPO In The Heartland will provide a key opportunity for collaboration," Joe Stockunas, president of SEMI Americas, as reported by state government.

The collaborative effort includes Purdue University along with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Applied Research Institute (ARI), and Visit Indy. Mung Chiang, President of Purdue University, highlighted the region's semiconductor growth, citing the nation's first advanced packaging fab and R&D center near Purdue's campus as a shining example. With investments that Purdue, Indiana, and our Midwest partners have announced, we are creating an impactful role in the nation’s semiconductor innovation ecosystem, Chiang elaborated.