SEMI Member Companies Will Have Priority Access and Support for Apprenticeship Programs

MILPITAS, Calif. — January 20, 2026 — The SEMI Foundation today announced it has been officially approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) as a National Apprenticeship Sponsor. This is a major milestone that strengthens industry led workforce development and expands access to high quality earn and learn pathways across the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.

This designation aligns with the Administration’s broader America’s talent and workforce strategy, which emphasizes registered apprenticeships as a critical tool for building a resilient, competitive, and skilled workforce in strategic industries. As a national sponsor, the SEMI Foundation will work directly with employers to design, register, and scale apprenticeship programs that meet evolving industry needs while providing workers with clear, high value career pathways.

“Apprenticeships are a proven way to connect talent to opportunity while meeting real employer demand,” said Michelle Williams, Executive Director of the SEMI Foundation. “Becoming a national apprenticeship sponsor allows us to move faster, scale smarter, and support companies across the semiconductor supply chain as they build the workforce they need to compete globally.”

A Strategic Advantage for SEMI Member Companies

The SEMI Foundation is the nonprofit arm of SEMI, the industry association serving the global semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. As part of the Foundation’s new role, SEMI member companies will receive priority access to apprenticeship sponsorship, technical assistance, and program development support. Over time, the Foundation will expand access to additional employers across the ecosystem, ensuring alignment, quality, and consistency at scale.

Through the national sponsorship model, the SEMI Foundation will:

• Reduce administrative and regulatory barriers for employers launching apprenticeships

• Support standardized, industry aligned apprenticeship frameworks

• Enable faster deployment across multiple states and regions

• Ensure programs meet federal quality standards while remaining employer driven

Connecting Apprenticeship to a National Workforce Strategy

The SEMI Foundation’s apprenticeship sponsorship will be closely coordinated with the National Network for Microelectronics Education NNME, a national initiative funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by the Foundation to strengthen semiconductor education and workforce development through regional collaboration.

Through NNME Regional Nodes, apprenticeship programs will be aligned with local and regional employer demand, education and training providers, workforce boards, and economic development organizations. This integrated approach ensures apprenticeships are not standalone programs, but part of a connected, scalable national talent system that supports students, workers, and employers at every stage.

“Registered apprenticeships are a cornerstone of a modern workforce system,” said Mike Glavin, Director of Workforce Development at the SEMI Foundation. “By embedding apprenticeships into our national and regional strategies, we’re creating pathways that are both locally responsive and nationally aligned.”

What’s Next

The SEMI Foundation will host a series of informational webinars and peer to peer employer conversations in the coming months to help companies understand how to participate, design programs, and leverage apprenticeship as a long term workforce solution. Additional details, including program eligibility, timelines, and engagement opportunities, will be announced soon.

About the SEMI Foundation

The SEMI Foundation’s mission is to support economic opportunity for workers and the sustained growth of the microelectronics industry through creating pathways and opportunities for job seekers and tools and systems for semiconductor companies to attract, develop, retain, and advance a diverse and skilled workforce. Visit the SEMI Foundation online to learn more, and follow the SEMI Foundation on LinkedIn.

About SEMI

SEMI is the global industry association connecting over 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. We accelerate member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through advocacy, workforce development, sustainability, supply chain management, and other programs. Our SEMICON expositions and events, technology communities, standards, and market intelligence help advance our members’ business growth and innovations in design, devices, equipment, materials, services, and software, enabling smarter, faster, and more secure electronics. Visit www.semi.org, contact a regional office, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and X to learn more.

• Read more about SEMI Foundation Approved by the U.S. Department of Labor as a National Apprenticeship Sponsor to Expand Semiconductor Workforce Pathways

Ball Wave Inc., a pioneer in advanced chemical sensing technology, today announced that its FT-450WT online trace moisture analyzer has received full certification from Taiwan's most advanced semiconductor manufacturer following rigorous validation testing. This milestone validates Ball Wave's proprietary ball SAW sensor technology and establishes the company as a strategic supplier in the critical semiconductor manufacturing equipment sector. The certification comes at a pivotal time as semiconductor manufacturers worldwide face increasing pressure to improve yield rates and reduce contamination in advanced node production. Ball Wave's technology addresses a critical pain point in fab operations, where even parts-per-billion levels of moisture can compromise chip quality and manufacturing efficiency. The successful certification demonstrates the analyzer's reliability in the most demanding production environments and opens significant commercial opportunities for specialty gas manufacturers who are the key players plagued with trace moisture contamination. 

Ball Wave President Shingo Akao stated, "This certification validates our core technology platform and demonstrates our ability to meet the stringent requirements of the world's most sophisticated semiconductor fabs to help them avoid unplanned shutdowns due to trace moisture contamination. Ball Wave's patented ball SAW sensor represents a fundamental breakthrough in trace moisture detection, offering speed and precision unmatched by legacy technologies. With proven performance in production environments and a robust IP portfolio, we are well-positioned to capture significant market share in the rapidly growing semiconductor manufacturing equipment sector, which is projected to exceed $156 billion by 2027¹."

Business Impact: For advanced semiconductor fabs operating at 3nm and below, moisture contamination can cost $5-10 million per incident² in scrapped wafers and production delays. Industry data shows that facilities with inadequate moisture monitoring experience maintenance ratios below 1.0, where unplanned repairs consume over 50% of total downtime. Ball Wave's real-time detection capability enables preventive action before contamination reaches critical levels, helping customers avoid these costly failures and maintain the operational stability (M-ratio >4.0) essential for profitable advanced node production. This value proposition has resonated strongly with leading fabs, creating a clear path to rapid customer adoption.

About the FT-450WT and Ball Wave's Technology Platform: The FalconTrace ultra-trace moisture meter uses a proprietary ball SAW sensor to quantitatively measure the trace amounts of water molecules contained in industrial gases and natural gases. Its extremely fast response time allows for real-time monitoring of changes in moisture content, and it is also capable of measuring both moisture content and background gas composition. It can accurately measure moisture concentrations in gases down to the 1 ppbv (parts per billion) level, representing 10-100x improvement over competing technologies. The FT-450WT is a high-end model that maintains its fast response time while prioritizing integration into equipment, and the separation of the sensor unit and main body allows for greater layout flexibility in fab retrofits and new tool installations. 

Ball Wave's technology platform extends beyond moisture analysis to a broader range of chemical sensing applications, creating multiple revenue streams and cross-selling opportunities within semiconductor fabs and adjacent industries, including pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and industrial gases. 

Market Opportunity and Strategic Position: Ball Wave has established relationships with leading semiconductor manufacturers in Taiwan, with active discussions underway in South Korea, Japan, and the United States 

• The company's technology addresses a growing market as advanced node production (5nm and below) requires increasingly stringent contamination control
• Ball Wave holds key patents in ball SAW sensor technology with additional applications pending in major semiconductor manufacturing regions
• The company's university origins provide access to cutting-edge MEMS research and ongoing innovation pipeline

About Ball Wave Inc.: Ball Wave Inc. is a technology company specializing in advanced chemical sensing solutions for critical industrial applications. Founded as a spin-out from Tohoku University, a global center of excellence in MEMS technology, Ball Wave leverages proprietary ball SAW sensor technology to deliver breakthrough performance in trace contamination detection. The company serves semiconductor manufacturers, industrial gas suppliers, and other industries requiring ultra-precise gas analysis. Ball Wave is headquartered in Sendai, Japan.

For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact: Ball Wave Inc., Corporate Strategy Division, Yusuke Tsukahara 

[email protected] 

Telephone: +81-3-5979-2357 

https://www.ballwave.jp/ 

1. https://www.semi.org/en/semi-press-release/global-semiconductor-equipment-sales-projected-to-reach-a-record-of-156-billion-dollars-in-2027-semi-reports 

2. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/semiconductors/our-insights/need-to-boost-semiconductor-fab-efficiency-look-to-maintenance

• Read more about Ball Wave Receives Certification from Taiwan's Leading Semiconductor Manufacturer for Revolutionary PPB-rated, Real-time, In-situ, Trace Moisture Analyzer

Petershausen, Germany—December 17, 2025. camLine, a leading provider of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and process excellence solutions, has achieved DIN ISO/IEC 27001:2024 certification. This internationally recognized certificate underscores camLine’s unwavering commitment to data security and operational excellence in high-tech manufacturing software—a promise the company has been delivering for more than 35 years.

Protecting what matters the most: manufacturing continuity
Information security has become imperative and even a brief downtime in production can cost millions. camLine's investment in a comprehensive Information Security Management System (ISMS) addresses this reality to ensure that MES deployments maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
"When manufacturers entrust their production operations to our MES solutions, they're not just looking for software. They want a partner who genuinely understands that their business continuity depends on the reliability of the system. Our ISMS framework prioritizes business continuity to minimize potential business losses," explains Frank Bölstler, Managing Director of camLine GmbH.

From compliance to competitive edge
ISO 27001 certification validates camLine's systematic approach through proactive incident prevention using continuous compliance assurance with annual audit across all units and a security-aware culture with role-based security training.
For manufacturers in regulated industries with multiple, ever-changing compliance requirements and standards, partnering with an ISO 27001-certified MES provider streamlines audit processes.

"Information security is not a one-off project—it’s a continuous process. Our ISMS framework ensures optimal protection through clear process ownership, complete documentation, and measurable security objectives aligned with business strategy," emphasizes Kilian Thomas, Information Security Officer at camLine.

Reinforce the foundation of trust through standardization and certification
camLine combines decades of manufacturing expertise with cutting-edge security practices. This ISO 27001 certification is not an endpoint but represents a milestone in the company's commitment to continuous improvement.

"The road to success is always under construction, and we're already implementing enhanced security policies company-wide and preparing for additional certification. Our customers deserve nothing less than excellence in both operational performance and security standards," says Bölstler.

More information & interview requests:
Elisa Industriq Mediadesk, [email protected], tel. +358 50 305 1605

About camLine
camLine, a business unit of Elisa Industriq, delivers intelligent software solutions for high-tech manufacturing environments. With over 35 years of expertise in Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and process excellence, camLine empowers manufacturers in semiconductors, electronics, automotive, renewable energy, and medical devices to achieve operational excellence through data-driven decision-making.
As part of Elisa Industriq’s ecosystem of industrial innovators, camLine combines deep domain knowledge with AI-powered operational intelligence to optimize production quality, reduce costs, and accelerate growth. Serving more than 1,200 customers across 50 countries, camLine drives measurable value and long-term digital transformation in high-tech manufacturing. elisaindustriq.com/camline

About Elisa Industriq
Elisa Industriq creates software solutions for operational intelligence by multiplying industrial knowledge with AI innovation. Our businesses—camLine, sedApta, Polystar, CalcuQuote, TenForce, and Gridle—serve over 2,000 clients internationally in the manufacturing, telecommunications, and energy sectors.
Elisa Industriq delivers business value for customers by reducing costs, improving quality, and generating growth. Our software solutions integrate with customers’ existing systems to optimize their operations in areas including manufacturing execution, supply chain optimization, network analytics, and energy management.
Elisa Industriq is part of Elisa, a pioneer in telecommunications and digital services headquartered in Finland. Our shared mission is a sustainable future through digitalization. Elisa Industriq employs nearly 1,600 experts in Europe, Asia, and North America. elisaindustriq.com

• Read more about camLine Achieves ISO 27001 Certification, Making Security and Standardization the Cornerstone of Customer Trust

Gütenbach, Germany – December 16, 2025 – RENA Technologies is proud to be a key industrial partner in a new 1.3 million Euro Government-funded project led by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The initiative will establish critical new metrology capabilities to strengthen the UK’s semiconductor innovation infrastructure and accelerate the development and adoption of next-generation semiconductor materials and processes.

This strategic investment underlines the UK’s commitment to maintaining global competitiveness in semiconductors, helping to attract private investment, strengthen supply chains, and support long-term economic growth. As advanced semiconductor materials become central to technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, 5G communications and advanced electronics, robust measurement, verification and standards are increasingly essential.

The project brings together a broad consortium spanning industry and academia. Together, the partners cover the full innovation landscape, from materials research and process development to device fabrication and performance verification.

“At RENA, we develop advanced wet processing and surface treatment solutions that are critical in manufacturing of compound semiconductors and emerging materials. Through this collaboration, RENA will contribute industrial insight and process expertise to ensure that new measurement and testing capabilities are closely aligned with real manufacturing challenges.” States Peter Schneidewind, CEO of RENA Technologies.

While silicon remains the foundation of much of today’s semiconductor industry, many high-growth applications increasingly depend on advanced materials such as gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium nitride (GaN), silicon carbide (SiC), and indium phosphide (InP). These materials offer superior performance in high-power, high-frequency and optoelectronic applications, but they also introduce new complexities in processing, characterization and quality assurance. Reliable standards and independent measurement methods are therefore essential to derisk innovation and support scale-up.

Through this project, consortium partners will work with NPL to:
• Develop new UK measurement and test capabilities for advanced semiconductor materials by combining academic research excellence with world-leading metrology expertise.
• Apply these capabilities to critical industry challenges, including assessing material integrity, verifying RF performance, and testing device reliability under demanding operating conditions.
• Share the resulting capabilities openly with industry, helping to build national consensus and strengthen the UK’s influence in international standards development for novel semiconductor technologies.

Following extensive consultation the consortium has identified three priority application areas where the UK can have the greatest global impact: power electronics, RF-communications, and optoelectronics. These areas align closely with RENA’s customer base and technology roadmap, particularly in power and compound semiconductor manufacturing.
By participating in this program, RENA reinforces its commitment to supporting the UK semiconductor ecosystem with industrially relevant innovation, enabling customers to adopt advanced materials with confidence, and helping position the UK as a global leader in next-generation semiconductor technologies.

About NPL
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the UK's National Metrology Institute (NMI), developing and maintaining the national primary measurement standards, as well as collaborating with other NMIs to maintain the international system of measurement. As a public sector research establishment, it delivers extraordinary impact by providing the measurement capability that underpins the UK's prosperity and quality of life. NPL develops the metrology required to ensure the timely and successful deployment of new technologies and work with organizations as they develop and test new products and processes.

About RENA Technologies GmbH
RENA Technologies is a leading global supplier of production machines for wet chemical surface preparation. RENA products are used in path-breaking application fields such as semiconductors, MedTech, renewable energies, and the glass industry. RENA equipment is used to treat or modify surfaces of, for example, semiconductor wafers, solar cells, glass, optical substrates or other high-tech products using wet chemical processes. RENA offers proven standard machines as well as customer-specific solutions and process support.

• Read more about RENA joins UK Government-funded consortium to strengthen national semiconductor metrology capabilities

Kitchener, Ontario, December 15, 2025 – PEER Group®, the largest supplier of innovative factory automation software products for the semiconductor industry, has appointed IBM Japan Ltd. as its exclusive distributor in Japan.

Under this agreement, IBM Japan manages sales and provides frontline support for PEER Group’s full suite of automation, connectivity, and test products, as well as its comprehensive Professional Services offerings, for all customers based in Japan. Previously, Mizuho Research & Technologies, Ltd. acted as PEER Group’s exclusive Japanese distributor.

“We are honored to partner with IBM Japan to serve our current and future customers in the Japanese market,” says Mike Kropp, Co-founder, President, and CEO of PEER Group. “IBM Japan’s leadership in semiconductor manufacturing technology and highly respected engineering and sales capabilities make them the ideal representative of PEER Group’s products and services,” says Kropp, while adding: “We also extend our thanks to Mizuho for their support over the past 18 years.”

Founded in 1992, PEER Group supplies high-quality, high-performance, and cybersecure solutions for both semiconductor OEMs and fabs. Its software portfolio includes flagship automation and connectivity products PEER® Tool Orchestrator (PTO®), PEER FACTORY® Station Controller (PFSC™), EIB® OEM, as well as a host of other communications and test applications, such as GWGEM®Plus, ConX300™, and SECSIM Pro®+. As an active contributor to SEMI Standards development, PEER Group helps customers achieve compliance with the latest automation, connectivity, and emerging cybersecurity standards.

“This marks the beginning of a long-standing partnership between two industry leaders that will greatly benefit OEMs and factories in Japan,” says Mike Barrett, Vice President, Global Sales at PEER Group. “PEER Group’s best-in-class products and expertise in SEMI Standards compliance are a natural fit with IBM’s proven capabilities and deep knowledge in factory automation and MES software.”

PEER Group and IBM Japan will kick off the partnership at SEMICON Japan. Attendees are encouraged to visit booth E6527 and connect with representatives to discuss factory or equipment automation and connectivity projects. For more information, visit: https://www.peergroup.com/news-events/events/semicon-japan-2025.

About PEER Group
PEER Group® is the leading global supplier of innovative factory and tool automation and connectivity software for the semiconductor industry. Since our founding in 1992, we have been committed to developing best-in-class solutions that help OEMs and factories reduce their time to market, risk, and costs by solving their most challenging automation, connectivity, and SEMI Standards compliance problems. Follow PEER Group on. Follow PEER Group on LinkedIn.

• Read more about PEER Group appoints IBM Japan Ltd. as its exclusive distributor in Japan

Validation underscores DAS EE’s 35 years of leadership in advanced and sustainable abatement solutions
Dresden, Germany, November 28, 2025 — As the semiconductor industry intensifies its efforts to reach net-zero emissions, the recently published SEMI SCC Whitepaper “Overview of F-GHG and Nitrous Oxide Semiconductor Abatement Technologies” (2024) establishes new industry performance benchmarks for greenhouse gas abatement. The report defines a minimum Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE) for CF₄ of >95% and a maximum goal of >99% for process gas abatement systems.

These new reference points represent a significant step beyond the legacy assumptions used in many ESG reports and supplier requirements, which have historically relied on conservative default values for greenhouse gas abatement performance. However, even the upper range of the SEMI SCC targets does not yet represent the full potential of modern technology.

DAS Environmental Expert GmbH demonstrates with its TILIA abatement system that destruction efficiencies exceeding 99.9% for CF₄ and other F-GHGs are both technically feasible and economically advantageous. These systems outperform the benchmarks set forth by the SEMI SCC whitepaper and contribute directly to the industry's carbon reduction goals.

“Systems like TILIA prove that it is not only possible but also economically rational to exceed the current industry benchmarks,” says Stephan Raithel, Chief Operating Officer Gas Treatment at DAS Environmental Expert GmbH. “With rising carbon taxes and tightening sustainability targets, investing in high-efficiency abatement translates directly into operational and financial benefits.”

The global semiconductor industry emits thousands of tons of CF₄ annually, a gas with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 7,390. Even a few tons of unmitigated emissions correspond to millions of tons of CO₂ equivalents. While current industry practice aims to meet the SCC-recommended minimum DREs, only systems operating consistently above 99.9% will enable the industry to meet its net-zero commitments.

The SEMI SCC Whitepaper emphasizes that achieving these higher efficiencies is crucial for the industry’s sustainability roadmap and requires broad adoption of next-generation abatement technologies. DAS Environmental Experts’ proven TILIA platform exemplifies this transition – setting a new benchmark for “Best in Class” abatement performance in the semiconductor industry.

About the Company
DAS Environmental Experts Group (DAS Group), headquartered in Dresden, Germany, was founded in 1991 and is now a global organization with subsidiaries on three continents and more than 950 employees worldwide. Over the past three decades, DAS Group has become one of the leading technology and equipment providers for waste gas abatement solutions with a focus on semiconductor industry.
In addition, DAS Group develops advanced process and system solutions for industrial water treatment, with extensive expertise in the recycling and reuse of wastewater from the semiconductor industry.
DAS solutions are engineered to meet the stringent purity requirements of semiconductor manufacturing, helping clients comply with global environmental standards.

• Read more about Best in Class Abatement System: DAS Environmental Experts Exceeds Efficiency Benchmarks in Semiconductor Greenhouse Gas Treatment

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, November 18, 2025 — As the semiconductor industry accelerates global collaboration and complex supply chain operations, sensitive design and process data are increasingly exposed, not just through files, but through screens. Fasoo, the leader in data-centric security, warns that unsecured screens have become a blind spot in protecting semiconductor intellectual property (IP) and operational integrity.

“Hybrid work has blurred the traditional security boundaries. For semiconductor supply chains, visibility and accountability are essential more than ever,” said Jason Sohn, Executive Managing Director at Fasoo. “Design layouts, calibration dashboards, or live engineering sessions often contain proprietary information that can be captured, photographed, or recorded within seconds. Enhancing user security awareness and maintaining auditable activity logs are key to building a trusted and resilient ecosystem.”

While traditional security tools protect stored or shared files, the industry continues to face growing data from exposed screens. Engineers viewing CAD/EDA layouts, operators monitoring yield dashboards, and suppliers accessing systems remotely all create potential breach points. Once sensitive visuals appear on a screen, they can be lost through screenshots, photos, or unauthorized screen sharing, often without detection or traceability.

Fasoo’s screen security solutions address these challenges by blocking unauthorized screen capture, applying persistent watermarks, and maintaining detailed activity logs that record viewing and capture attempts. These capabilities provide visibility and accountability across both on-premise and remote environments, ensuring that any attempt to capture or redistribute sensitive visual information is prevented or immediately traceable.

By extending protection from files to the screens, Fasoo is strengthening its leadership in data-centric security and driving broader adoption across the semiconductor ecosystem. This expansion reinforces the company’s commitment to enabling secure innovation across the value chain, protecting high-value IP assets, enhancing compliance readiness, and supporting the industry’s digital resilience.

For more information, visit https://en.fasoo.com/products/fasoo-smart-screen/.

About Fasoo

Fasoo provides unstructured data security, privacy, and enterprise content platforms that securely protect, control, trace, analyze, and share critical business information while enhancing productivity. Fasoo's continuous focus on customer innovation and creativity provides market-leading solutions to the challenges faced by organizations of all sizes and industries. For more information, visit https://en.fasoo.com/.

• Read more about Fasoo Strengthens Screen Security and Audit Controls to Deter Unauthorized Actions in Semiconductor Supply Chains