San Francisco's reign as the long-standing host of the SEMICON West conference is coming to an end, with Arizona snatching the title as the new hotspot for America's semiconductor industry. Gov. Katie Hobbs announced with evident pride that Phoenix will be the new rotating home for the conference starting in 2025, with subsequent events being held there in 2027, and 2029. "It has never been more clear that Arizona is the choice to build the economy of the future," Hobbs said in a statement detailed in an official news release.
With this move, Phoenix is positioned to become a major player in the microelectronics industry, which is currently experiencing a surge in manufacturing. The state has scored big projects, including a sprawling factory complex by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., and a significant expansion of Intel's operations in Chandler. The Arizona Commerce Authority cites more than 40 semiconductor expansions in the state since 2020, amounting to over $102 billion in capital investment, and the creation of more than 15,700 jobs.
The premier event, SEMICON West, is expected to bring over 10,000 attendees along with hundreds of exhibitors to the Phoenix Convention Center. This gathering of minds and technology is seen as a boost for the local economy and a sign of Arizona's growing influence in the semiconductor realm. After half a century in San Francisco, the event's migration reflects a wider shift in the tech industry's geography.
The state's newfound status is attributed partly to the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which revived the U.S. semiconductor space. Arizona alone has landed 19 of the 83 new projects mentioned in a recent Semiconductor Industry Association report. The Arizona Commerce Authority notes, "the state has won more than 40 semiconductor expansions, representing over $102 billion in capital investment and more than 15,700 direct jobs," detailed the news release.
