chip manufacturing

New pilot lines offer European innovators access to the most advanced semiconductor technologies for product development and validation.The global semiconductor landscape has undergone significant transformation in recent years. With disruptions such as the semiconductor supply chain crisis and the challenges it posed to the automotive sector, Europe’s dependence on external fabrication facilities, particularly in Taiwan, has become a pressing concern. In response, the European Union (EU) introduced the EU Chips Act, a comprehensive framework designed to reduce this reliance and boost Europe’s share of the global semiconductor market. ITF Chip into the Future, hosted by imec at SEMICON Europa 2024, was a pivotal event that brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore the implementation of the EU Chips Act and the future of Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem. Jari Kinaret, Executive Director of the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU)—the body overseeing the EU’s semiconductor investments—explained, “The Chips JU is about capacity building to drive semiconductor innovation in Europe. We will continue to be dependent on the rest of the world, but we want to make sure that the rest of the world depends on us as well.” Jari Kinaret, Executive Director, Chips JUEuropean research is driving progress towards sub-nanometer fabricationOne of the pilot lines, located at imec’s research center in Belgium, is focused on advancing methods that push Moore’s Law forward by achieving smaller and more efficient circuit features. As Luc Van den hove, President and CEO of imec, explained, “imec is now powering innovation for tomorrow’s chip designs, including stacked layers of chips, with each layer containing specific functionality implemented on chip processes optimized for each function. This allows us to scale much further than if all functionality had to be implemented on a single monolithic layer.”Luc Van den hove, President and CEO, imec Another pilot line, based in France and operated by CEA-Leti, is focused on pushing the limits of technology across multiple dimensions. CEA-Leti CEO, Sébastien Dauvé, explained that the goal of the FAMES pilot line is to advance “not only FD-SOI at 10nm and 7nm nodes, but also novel non-volatile memory technologies, RF components, 3D integration, and the development of small inductors for DC-DC converters.” Sébastien Dauvé, CEO, CEA-LetiAdvancements in 3D integration and chiplet technologies are closely tied to innovation in chip packaging. Christoph Kutter, Executive Director of Fraunhofer EMS, described how the Advanced Packaging and Heterogeneous Integration for Electronic Components and Systems (APECS) pilot line in Germany is designed to meet the needs of industrial customers’ growing demand for advanced packaging solutions. Kutter noted “Customers told us that they needed to integrate logic and power, sensors and logic, and other combinations of functions. We have built the APECS pilot line to provide what they asked for.”Christoph Kutter, Executive Director, Fraunhofer EMSThe EU Chips Act is spurring investments not only in chip fabrication but also in the underlying technologies which support chipmaking. Emmanuel Sabonnadière, EVP at Soitec, highlighted how fabrication of advanced silicon carbide (SiC) power devices “is enabled by SmartSiC™ technology from Soitec – part of a built-in-Europe solution for silicon carbide.” Sabonnadière explained that SmartSiC technology “creates very thin layers of SiC material which make really differentiated substrates supporting the production of high-performance SiC devices.” Emmanuel Sabonnadière, EVP, SoitecInnovation in materials emerged as an important theme at ITF Chip into the Future. Julien Arcamone, Vice President of Corporate R D at ASM, described the critical role of materials for atomic layer deposition (ALD) in the advancing 3D semiconductor integration. Arcamone emphasized the importance of collaboration across the semiconductor value chain, describing ASM’s partnership with imec as part of “a win-win ecosystem.” Julien Arcamone, Vice President of Corporate R D, ASMDeveloping the skills to implement advanced semiconductor technologiesWhile the EU Chips Act is subsidizing the construction of new facilities including pilot lines needed for the hardware of the semiconductor industry’s expansion – the ITF speakers underlined the equally important “software” element of the semiconductor industry ecosystem: the knowledge and expertise of the people working in the industry. One of the biggest challenges in implementing the EU Chips Act is addressing Europe’s talent gap. Katrien Marent, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at imec, said that the gap is in part “because students who graduate in STEM subjects are not trained in advanced semiconductor technologies.” From left to right: Katrien Marent, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, imec; Julien Arcamone, Vice President of Corporate R D, ASM; Thomas Heurung, CEO, Siemens EDA; Frédérique Le Grevès, President STMicroelectronics France and Executive Vice President, Europe France Public Affairs, STMicroelectronics; Romano Hoofman, Director imec.IC-link, imec; and Christophe Frey, Vice-President of EU engagements Managing Director, ARM.Thomas Heurung, CEO of Siemens EDA, highlighted the need for educational reform in the electronics industry. He suggested that “we might not have the right degree-level curriculum for changing times in the electronics industry. We need to change the way that we train students at university, and we need more scope for early or mid-career training on specialist micro-curriculums aimed at a particular skill or knowledge set.”The industry also struggles to attract individuals. Frédérique Le Grevès, President of STMicroelectronics France and Executive Vice President, Europe France Public Affairs of STMicroelectronics, emphasizes the importance of rebranding the industry to attract new talent. She remarked, “The word ‘semiconductor’ itself isn't very exciting—it’s even off-putting to some. By simply changing the name of educational programs, we’ve seen significant increases in enrollment. This demonstrates the power of language in shaping perceptions and interest.”Thomas Heurung of Siemens EDA also called for a stronger emphasis on entrepreneurship, noting “there is a big contrast between Europe and the US, particularly Silicon Valley.” He explained how his company’s Cre8Ventures unit had been set up to help start-ups through the key stages of creating a successful new company, including product development, attracting funding, and bringing the product to market. Thomas Fleischmann, Program Manager at Robert Bosch, explained how the EU Chips Act has accelerated the formation of the European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) joint venture, in which Bosch is a key stakeholder. ESMC is building a new semiconductor fabrication plant in Dresden, dedicated to producing chips for the automotive and industrial sectors. Fleischmann emphasized that ESMC will play a crucial role in helping Europe “scale advanced technologies to high volumes at a competitive cost.”In addition, the EU Chips Act also provides a broader platform for the expansion of Europe’s deep tech capacity. This includes the creation of five pilot lines, which will offer European companies access to manufacturing capacity for prototyping at the most advanced semiconductor technology nodes.Thomas Fleischmann, Program Manager, Robert BoschITF Chip into the Future at SEMICON Europa 2024 highlighted the broad scope of the EU Chips Act – not only supporting the building of advanced fabs but also providing the foundations for technology development, production, and marketing – all aimed at supporting semiconductor innovation in Europe. SEMI ContactMaria Daniela Perez, Communications ManagerEmail: [email protected]

Leaders in the semiconductor industry are finding ways to balance rapid demand growth with strategies to mitigate the risks of geopolitical uncertainty and a complex supply chain.At the CxO Summit during SEMICON Europa, industry leaders gathered to share insights into the immense opportunities ahead for the semiconductor sector, as well as the challenges that could impede growth. Laith Altimime, President of SEMI Europe, highlighted how discussions last year centered on reaching $1 trillion in global sales by 2030. “The conversation today is about how far above $1 trillion we will be in 2030,” said Altimime. “Artificial intelligence is an amazing and exciting technology, and the semiconductor industry is at the heart of it.”Laith Altimime, President, SEMI EuropeAjit Manocha, President and CEO of SEMI, described the current state of the semiconductor industry with one word – “unprecedented.” Emphasizing quantum computing as the next growth driver after AI, Manocha urged leaders to prepare for the next landmark - $4 trillion in global sales by 2040. However, the challenges facing the industry are equally unprecedented. Manocha identified four key obstacles: geopolitical volatility, the Net Zero challenge, the competition for top talent, and supply chain disruptions. “We need to work together to solve these challenges – we need unprecedented collaboration,” he explained. Ajit Manocha, President and CEO, SEMIA European Perspective on the Industry’s ChallengesWith the CHIPS Act in the US and the European Union (EU) Chips Act, the industry is also seeing unprecedented governmental engagement. Gustav Kolbe, Acting Director of Enabling and Emerging Technologies at Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of the European Commission, explained that Europe had been deeply impacted by the effect of trade tensions and supply chain disruptions. “In the field of semiconductors, we realized that we cannot keep doing business as usual and expect to achieve more resilience and reduced dependence on non-European supply chains,” Kolbe said. Gustav Kolbe, Acting Director of Enabling and Emerging Technologies, DG CONNECT, European CommissionJari Kinaret, Executive Director of the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU), which is responsible for implementing EU Chips Act programs, described how its projects amplify the effect of EU funding by leveraging matching contributions from member states and participating companies. “This means that our budget of €4 billion actually produces investments in the semiconductor industry of about €11 billion,” he noted. Jari Kinaret, Executive Director, Chips JUThe Chips JU funded projects are designed to position Europe at the forefront of advanced semiconductor technology. Belgium’s imec, for example, is operating a Chips JU pilot line focused on leading-edge semiconductor innovation. Luc Van den hove, President and CEO of imec, highlighted the potential for 3D integration, “We can now combine multiple chips through silicon interposers with very fast connectivity between them. This allows us to build compute platforms which are far larger than what can be made with a single silicon chip,” he explained referring to this approach as “CMOS 2.0.” However, Van den hove warned that Europe cannot achieve its goals alone, emphasizing the complex semiconductor value chain and the need for collaboration. “Self-sufficiency leads to mediocrity,” he warned, advocating for a global approach that leverages the “best of the best.”Luc Van den hove, President and CEO, imecStephan Haferl, Chief Executive Officer of Comet Group, introduced the CA20, a tool designed to improve efficiency and quality in semiconductor manufacturing. The CA20 uses advanced imaging and AI to quickly identify and address production challenges, such as defects in solder bumps, without damaging components. Now fully automated, it integrates smoothly into factory workflows, providing real-time information to help manufacturers maintain high standards and increase production yields. This innovation highlights the role of new technologies in overcoming key obstacles and driving progress in the semiconductor industry.Left to right: Isabella Drolz, Vice President Marketing Product Strategy, Comet Yxlon; Laith Altimime, President, SEMI Europe; Stephan Haferl, Chief Executive Officer, Comet Group; and Dionys van de Ven, President, Comet YxlonCarlos Mazure, Chief Strategy Officer at Institute of Microelectronics – A*STAR in Singapore, illustrated this point by highlighting the institute’s focus on advanced packaging, a key Singaporean strength. “We have built a state-of-the-art 300mm prototyping line, enabling companies to implement wafer-to-wafer and chip-to-wafer bonding as well as fanout chip packaging,” Mazure said. Carlos Mazure, Chief Strategy Officer, Institute of Microelectronics – A*STARTurning back to Europe, Pierre Barnabé, CEO of Soitec, highlighted materials science as a regional strength. Soitec’s engineered substrates are driving energy efficiency breakthroughs in electronic, acoustic, and photonic applications. “We can bond anything to anything, creating advanced substrates for any active layer,” Barnabé explained. Pierre Barnabé, CEO, SoitecKai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board and CEO Electronics at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, also emphasized the role of materials in enabling sustainable growth. “The semiconductor industry faces a challenge with the contribution of process gases to its total greenhouse gas emissions. We hope to solve the problem by using AI to support materials research, and to design new molecules – an approach we have learned from the pharmaceuticals industry,” Beckmann shared. Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board and CEO Electronics, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, GermanyCollaboration Strengthens the Semiconductor Supply Chain Despite the breadth of enabling technologies emerging from Europe, the rapid growth in semiconductor demand has not always been matched by a secure supply. Barbara Frenkel, Member of the Executive Board Purchase at Porsche, shared that the company is collaborating with the industry to improve its access to the chips needed for automotive electrification. This includes joining industry groups such as the SEMI Global Automotive Advisory Council (GAAC) and, as she said, “learning your language.” Frenkel added, “Porsche aims to emulate Apple’s approach with Intel and Motorola to drive innovation – we will do the same with suppliers of automotive chips.”Barbara Frenkel, Member of the Executive Board Purchase, PorscheAnother solution to supply constraints is to widen the supply pipeline. John Behnke, General Manager for Smart Manufacturing at Inficon, described how smart technology can significantly improve efficiency and output. “A semiconductor fab is 100 times more complicated than anything else in the world – it is a mathematical nightmare to model it. That gives massive opportunities for improved productivity if we can implement smart control technologies,” Behnke explained. John Behnke, General Manager for Smart Manufacturing, InficonThe Challenge of Achieving Sustainable GrowthWhile the prospect of exceeding $1 trillion in annual sales energizes the industry, there is widespread recognition that growth must not come at the expense of environmental responsibility. As the industry doubles in size in the 2020s, it cannot afford to double its use of resources, such as energy or greenhouse gas emissions. Frédéric Godemel, Executive Vice President for Power Systems and Services at Schneider Electric, shared that the biggest impact on sustainability could come from “energy frugality” – using energy more efficiently. He explained that implementing data fusion in a semiconductor fab – combining detailed analysis of the operation of chillers with external data sets, such as weather conditions to allow for more efficient use – results in energy savings of 10%. “This approach saved costs, reduced CO2 emissions, and provided a financial payback in less than one year,” Godemel said.Frédéric Godemel, Executive Vice President for Power Systems and Services, Schneider ElectricThe value of smart control in fab operations was also highlighted by Katharina Westrich, Global Vice President of Electronics, Semiconductors Simulation Digital Industries at Siemens. She described how Siemens makes digital twins of factories before they are built. “This is an approach that the semiconductor industry can also adopt,” Westrich said. “A digital twin enables more efficient allocation of resources to the fab and sub-fab, allowing simulation of fab operation and optimization of processes and resources.”Katharina Westrich, Global Vice President of Electronics, Semiconductors Simulation Digital Industries, SiemensThe semiconductor industry faces a future full of opportunity, yet also marked by significant obstacles—ones that delegates at the CxO Summit are now better equipped to tackle head-on.On behalf of SEMI, the SEMI Europe team would like to express appreciation to the industry leaders for sharing their visions and readiness to collaborate during the CxO Summit.SEMI ContactCassandra Melvin, Senior Director of Business Development and OperationsEmail: [email protected]

SEMI Korea Members Day 2025 in September featured a wealth of insights on semiconductor industry market and technology trends. As the two-year semiconductor inventory correction eases, Soo-Kyoum Kim, vice president at International Data Corporation (IDC), provided a market update during his address to the event’s 400 attendees at the Suwon Convention Center. He highlighted that the semiconductor market is showing signs of gradual recovery, with growth predicted for the second half of 2024 and into 2025. This growth, he said, is being fueled by rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and high bandwidth memory (HBM). He projected that the total semiconductor market would grow to $779.8 billion in 2025, marking a 15.8% increase from this year's estimate of $673 billion. By next year, the memory market is expected to rise by 24%, largely driven by demand for AI. Although consumer demand will likely weaken due to a slowdown in the Chinese market, Kim shared that easing inventory adjustments will lead to a rebound during the second half of 2024, particularly in the growth of DRAM and NAND. Kim also predicted that the non-memory market, which reached $503.4 billion this year, will grow to $569.4 billion by 2025.Additionally, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for semiconductor network and data center sales is projected to be 26.4% and 16.2% by 2028, respectively. Kim explained that the strong demand for AI semiconductors in data centers and networks will help the semiconductor market maintain an 8% CAGR over the next five years, following the 2023 market adjustment.SEMI Korea Members Day HighlightsH.D. ChoThe AI-driven industrial transformation is demanding more advanced processes. To accommodate AI, the industry has shifted its focus away from miniaturization toward back-end processes. However, the challenges facing Korea's semiconductor industry have also intensified. Leading semiconductor research firms shared in-depth market forecasts and presented their latest semiconductor technology roadmaps, offering insights on business strategies for Korea’s semiconductor ecosystem.In his opening remarks, H.D. Cho, president of SEMI Korea, expressed deep gratitude for the exceptional resilience of SEMI Korea’s members, who continue to overcome roadblocks despite global uncertainties. He also highlighted the growth of SEMI Korea’s member companies, emphasizing their positive role in the global semiconductor supply chain, as well as SEMI's ongoing commitment in supporting their innovations.Call for Renewable Energy Policy Reform to Achieve Net ZeroBora Lee, leader of Solutions For Our Climate (SFOC), emphasized the strong correlation between the semiconductor industry and Korea's economic growth. Lee also outlined key factors contributing to the high costs that hinder renewable energy adoption in the semiconductor sector. "Korea's levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for renewable energy is about 2-3 times higher than the global average," she said. "The establishment of a policy council involving semiconductor companies is a crucial step in developing cooperative strategies to promote the use of renewable energy." In addition, Lee stressed that collaboration among suppliers, consumers, and policymakers is necessary to address these barriers and accelerate the transition to renewable energy within the industry. AI is Reshaping the Global Memory MarketPeter Lee of CITI Group shared that the convergence of cloud and edge computing is helping support new demands from AI, the metaverse, and automotive applications. As a result, this will increase long-term demand for memory. "The growing demand for AI is diversifying the memory market," Lee said. "This includes products such as HBM, LLW, LPDDR5T, and CXL, all of which are expected to see increased adoption according to AI computing requirements."As the need for parallel processing in AI training and inference tasks grows, Lee predicted the demand for HBM3 and DDR5 will significantly rise. HBM's share of total DRAM revenue is expected to increase dramatically – from 11% in 2023, to 30% by 2027. Expected Growth of the GaN Power Semiconductor MarketHo-Young Cha, a professor at Hongik University and co-founder and CTO of ChipsK, highlighted that the GaN power semiconductor market is expected to see continuous growth due to its advantages over silicon-based devices. The expansion of GaN technology applications in various industries, including consumer electronics, automotive, and telecommunications, he said, will drive additional growth."The GaN power semiconductor market will grow from $180 million in 2022 to $2.04 billion by 2028," said Cha. Growth Outlook for the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Market in 2025 Clark Tseng, director of the SEMI Market Intelligence Team, projected that the short-term outlook for the global semiconductor market will gradually recover due to improvements in end-demand for major electronic product sectors and surging demand for AI chips. "The equipment and materials markets are expected to show a slight improvement in 2024, with a strong recovery anticipated in 2025," Tseng stated. He noted that the equipment market would grow by approximately 3% in 2024 from $95 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow by 15% in 2025. Regarding wafer fab materials, the silicon wafer market is expected to decline from $14.1 billion in 2023 to $13.2 billion in 2024. However, recovery is anticipated to begin in the second half of 2024, with the market projected to reach a new record of $48 billion in 2025. For more insights on Korea and the industry, attend SEMICON Korea from February 19-21, 2025 at COEX Convention Exhibit Center. Visionaries and leaders will gather to discuss the latest developments, innovations, and business opportunities within the industry. As the region’s premier microelectronics event, SEMICON Korea 2025 is expected to host 70,000 attendees, 500 exhibitors, and 200 speakers. More event information, including registration details, will be available soon.Jaegwan Shim is Senior Specialist, Marketing at SEMI.

Gone are the days when companies were said to go “beyond compliance” if they had sustainability ambitions and operated in a largely voluntary space.Corporate sustainability now sits in a tangle of business priorities, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory obligations. New landmark legislation and policies have changed the game in many markets where semiconductor value chain companies do business. Today, accuracy of information, threshold-setting, evaluation criteria, and due diligence are subject to scrutiny, fines, and litigation.A myriad of compliance risks are now linked to business actions that were historically voluntary in a sustainability context. Fueling the shift are regulations such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).Across the semiconductor value chain, it is crucial for companies to have a solid regulatory strategy for their sustainability activities. They must take into account, for example, mandatory rules that drive up risks from selectively taking action on some sustainability issues while demoting others.Semiconductor manufacturing and design firms, together with their business partners, face heightened pressure to navigate business and sustainability priorities around the climate transition, human capital management, supply chain management, and a host of other environmental, social, and governance issues that are high on regulatory agendas.The SEMI Sustainability Initiative hosts several working groups that bring to light common concerns and provide a forum for sharing response strategies. To sharpen the guidance that SEMI offers, the Sustainability Initiative is launching the webinar series, Global State of Play: Sustainability Regulations, Reporting, Incentives. This series offers semiconductor industry professionals the chance to learn from top-tier experts on the most pressing challenges in compliance, disclosure, and strategy for sustainable business.The first webinar, Developing a Regulatory Strategy for Sustainability: How to Navigate Key Sustainability Decisions, will feature Ashley Walter, Partner and Chief Sustainability Officer at Orrick Herrington Sutcliffe LLP.As the global business association for the electronics design and manufacturing value chain, SEMI is pleased to convene experts to address improving sustainability strategies for our industry. The SEMI Sustainability Initiative invites industry stakeholders to see the importance of building a regulatory strategy that coordinates across functions, from engineering to the boardroom.Learn more and register.Jordan Famularo, PhD, is Programs Manager, Sustainability at SEMI.

The semiconductor industry, once a hidden force in technology, is now recognized as a pivotal driver of the modern economy. As the engine behind everything from smartphones to smart cities, semiconductors fuel innovation and shape how students learn, play, and engage with the world, making chips a crucial factor in shaping our collective future as the climate changes.In line with SEMI Sustainability Initiative participation at Climate Week NYC, we are preparing a groundbreaking pilot program at the intersection of youth empowerment, workforce development, and climate action. To help the semiconductor industry develop a climate-literate workforce, the SEMI Climate Equity Social Impact Working Group and the SEMI Foundation have partnered to develop a global K-12 program open to all SEMI members for participation and sponsorship. The program will share best practices and resources such as those that follow in this article.SEMI will announce the program at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly known as COP29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11-22, 2024. SEMI members are encouraged to become partners and help shape the program ahead of COP29. Contact us to learn more and participate in the announcement.The Opportunity for Semiconductor Industry Climate Leadership It’s not enough for students to simply be aware of climate change and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Awareness alone won’t protect communities or help solve the problems we may all face in the future. We must prepare the next generation to be climate-literate — providing them with the knowledge, tools, and skills to understand complex issues, work collaboratively across the globe, and develop practical, real-world solutions. With this foundation in place, young people become proactive global citizens with the skills to solve problems.The semiconductor industry doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel or build new networks to drive partnership at the intersection of sustainability and workforce development. Companies in our value chain are already well positioned to scale equitable opportunities, promote STEM and AI skills, and empower students to tackle real-world climate challenges as we help prepare them for future careers. Global networks of sustainable schools focused on climate action are well-established in key semiconductor regions. In Taiwan alone, over 330,000 students will participate this year.Sustainable schools networks engage teachers and students with programs that are fun, motivating, and spark curiosity by providing ownership over solving real-world challenges. These mostly free programs can also help drive gender and racial equity into the tech, science and engineering fields for communities and schools that might otherwise be left behind.Examples of programs with youth-designed climate actions are all around us. Students in one New Taipei City, Taiwan school conducted their own energy audits to reduce energy consumption in their medium-income community. Students in a North Pennsylvania, U.S. school of limited resources created a community garden that sparked interest in biodiversity and STEM.Our industry has a unique opportunity to tap into existing sustainable schools networks and help them grow, while amplifying youth-led climate action. These efforts will empower the next generation to drive meaningful change in their communities and inspire young people of every demographic to see the semiconductor industry as a place where they can build impactful careers.Leading the Way: Why the Semiconductor Industry is PivotalGiven the essential role of semiconductor companies in the global electronics design and manufacturing value chain, industry leaders have a unique opportunity to lead the way in cultivating a climate-literate generation of students for the future workforce. Early education on sustainability and technology integration is crucial, positioning leading companies and their partners to shape the emerging global workforce. The long-term semiconductor workforce development effort must cultivate global citizens who understand how to apply their skills in solving challenges. Opportunities for All Schools: Making Climate Education InclusiveWhile some high-resource schools may be able to integrate advanced environmental science and technology projects, it’s important to ensure that all students have access to meaningful climate learning opportunities. For example, students at schools with fewer resources can engage in projects like programming inexpensive micro:bit sensors to measure local water quality or sample moisture levels in their community gardens. Projects such as these are affordable, scalable, and can be implemented in any school, providing students with hands-on experience in environmental science and technology.More importantly, they build critical thinking and problem-solving skills that empower students to take ownership of climate issues affecting their communities.Additional powerful examples already in existence that provide a basis for scalable teaching, learning and partnership for schools globally include:1. Global Climate Pathways (GCP) is a program where various middle schools around the world work together to solve climate problems. Schools that participate receive learning opportunities and tangible STEM learning tools, including STEM kits. These innovative tools provide learning opportunities in coding and circuits.2. EcoSchools U.S. is a global sustainability education program run by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). This transformative program is student-led, integrating green STEM through project-based learning. It provides opportunities for students to take ownership of their learning by addressing real-world challenges, drives student and teacher engagement, and creates tangible sustainability impacts across school communities. EcoSchools US fosters the development of transferable skills highly valued by employers, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.3. Global Classroom Project is an initiative by Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, USA, designed to enhance students' global awareness and cultural understanding. It typically involves integrating international perspectives and global issues into the curriculum, promoting cross-cultural exchanges, and connecting students with peers from around the world.New Jersey Institute of Technology President Teik C. Lim hosts an exchange of Taiwan educators during their visit to advance global collaboration for students.A Common Ground for All Stakeholders: Education with a PurposeA challenge in K-12 engagement is the differing perspectives on its purpose among stakeholders. Companies in the semiconductor value chain may view this student outreach as a way to develop technical talent, while green nonprofits often emphasize climate education and sustainability.Bridging these perspectives requires building a platform that any classroom or school can access if they choose. Adopting a public-private partnership approach brings together corporate, government, and nonprofit stakeholders around a shared set of values. This collaborative effort aims to create opportunities and solutions for communities globally.By investing in early education, the semiconductor industry will not only prepare young people to tackle environmental and technical challenges but also ensure they are ready for future job opportunities and educational pathways. These efforts will help attract students to become part of an industry that values their contributions and future, shaping a workforce equipped to lead and innovate in a rapidly evolving world.This is the moment for companies in the semiconductor value chain to lead by example, demonstrating their investment not just in technology but in the sustainability and health of our planet. By supporting K-12 education with a focus on climate literacy, international partnership, sustainability, and STEM, companies in our value chain can build a brighter, more sustainable future for us all—while ensuring that today’s students are prepared to address the challenges of tomorrow. Justin Harris is Senior Advisor for Climate Equity Social Impact at SEMI, Bia Hamed, Ph.D. is Program Manager, Global Education Initiatives at the SEMI Foundation, and Marley Hauser is senior coordinator for the Climate Equity Collaborative. Acknowledgements Partners We thank our first round of partners for the SEMI global K-12 climate engagement program for their contributions of time and thought leadership to this effort: SEMI members, Climate Equity Collaborative, National Wildlife Federation, ARCedTech, Fairfax County Public Schools, Kaohsiung City Education Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Taiwan Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Jersey for Schools, New Jersey Department of Education, Dr. Prabhakar Shrestha of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Dr. Tim Hsu of Global Environmental Enhancement (GEE) in Taiwan, New Jersey Audubon, and the students of NJIT and Readington Middle School in Whitehouse, New Jersey. Special thanks to Shari Liss, Vice President for Workforce Development at SEMI Foundation, and Dr. Mousumi Bhat, SEMI Vice President for Sustainability.

As more than 400 speakers took the stages at SEMICON West 2024, sustainability and workforce development stood out as two major focus areas. The second day of this year’s CEO Summit keynote program, themed Seizing the Global Opportunities and Challenges Ahead, featured sessions on both topics. One of the first sessions of the day was the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) panel discussion, titled Bracing for the Evolving Global Risk for the Semiconductor Ecosystem, moderated by Vice President of SEMI Global Sustainability Programs, Dr. Mousumi Bhat. Later that morning, Shari Liss, Vice President of SEMI Global Workforce Development Programs and Executive Director of the SEMI Foundation, moderated a fireside chat, Advocating for Real Change: Why Inclusion and Belonging Need to be Everyone’s Concern, with Sandra Mahadwar from KLA Corporation. Bhat and Liss were later interviewed for a podcast by Francoise von Trapp of 3D InCites to share additional insights on sustainability and workforce development, respectively. Bhat was also joined by Paul Kelly, COO of the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY CREATES). Creating a More Sustainable Semiconductor Industry During their interview, both Bhat and Kelly emphasized that the industry will need to reduce its use of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to sustainably innovate at today’s nanometer pace. For this reason, Kelly highlighted the importance of learning to balance current production demands with the health of climate.To achieve this balance, they discussed the efforts of the Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC). Much of the SCC’s efforts, they said, will focus on driving the industry toward net zero emissions. SEMI and NY CREATES announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at SEMICON West 2024 to promote sustainable practices within the industry, with a focus on PFAS reduction. Kelly pointed to the ability of SCC members to test new materials, gases, and chemicals at NY CREATES’ R D facilities in upstate New York to work toward replacing PFAS with more sustainable alternatives. Bhat also shared that this collaboration helps facilitate prototyping, experimentation, and tests and measurements for newer, more sustainable substances.Dr. Mousumi Bhat of SEMI and Dave Anderson of NY CREATES celebrate their organizations’ sustainability MOU at SEMICON West 2024.“The thought leadership comes from the Consortium, and the support on infrastructure comes from NY CREATES,” said Bhat. “This should become a blueprint to solve some of the challenging problems that we have in our industry.” When it comes to reducing emissions, Bhat mentioned two key objectives. The first, she said, is access to clean energy, and the second is the reduction of greenhouse gases. Bhat cited these as the issues that will take the longest for the industry to solve and pointed to the importance of industry collaboration and partnerships to support the needed experimentation. But while partnerships will bring the industry closer to net zero, both Bhat and Kelly cautioned that it won’t be reached overnight. “Much more needs to be done in the industry to reach that net zero goal,” said Kelly. “New chip technologies, new chemicals, and new processes are very much large leaps to achieving that. But right now, even some of the most advanced will only reduce [emissions] by 70%.” To help bridge this gap, Bhat encouraged others to join and participate in the SCC. “Rather than everybody doing a one-to-one experimentation in their own space and spending those resources, I would like to invite anyone that's not part of the climate consortium,” she said. “And [I invite] those that are part of the climate consortium to engage more actively, so that we are all accelerating the journey toward net zero.” Addressing the Talent Shortage This year’s SEMICON West also featured five keynote sessions dedicated to workforce development, as well as a Workforce Development Pavilion that included several talks around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). With the estimated one million jobs the industry will need to fill by 2030, Liss shared that every role is needed – from entry level all the way to Ph.D. researchers. “We need to try and bring in as many people as we can over the next few years,” said Liss. “The talent shortage is a global issue, not just a U.S. one.” Shari Liss of SEMI moderated the fireside chat at SEMICON West 2024 with Sandra Mahadwar from KLA Corporation.To begin to close the talent gap, Liss stressed the importance of educating children about the semiconductor industry. “We are just invisible to kids,” she said. “In every part of the globe, they carry chips in their hands all day every day, and they don’t know. So to me, breaking that barrier and making sure kids know about our work as an industry is going to be so critical to making this successful.” Liss also highlighted differences in workforce development programs across the world, noting that what works in one region may not translate to another. For example, apprenticeships are widely embraced in Europe, she said, but they’re a fairly new practice in the U.S. Conversely, she shared that veteran-focused programs wouldn’t work for some regions, but they’re a “powerful win” in the U.S. Each SEMICON show across the world, she shared, includes similar workforce development and DEIB programming, in addition to targeted sessions for students and HR professionals. Companies can interview for open positions at SEMICON shows as well. To learn more about SEMI’s workforce development initiatives and programming, visit semi foundation.org, or check out this overview of DEIB content at SEMICON West 2024. Samer Bahou is director of Marketing Communications at SEMI.

In the podcast, SEMI president and CEO Ajit Manocha discuses how the industry is addressing challenges to growth in the final episode of the SEMICON West podcast series featuring conversations with keynote and panel speakers, exhibitors and SEMI executives recorded before and at the event.

With technological advancements driving our digital era, the demand for semiconductors is skyrocketing. The chip industry is projected to reach unprecedented heights of around $1 trillion in annual revenue by 2030. However, amid this remarkable growth, a daunting challenge looms: the shortage of skilled workers for semiconductor design and manufacturing. As the industry strives to keep up with the escalating demand, the scarcity of qualified personnel has emerged as a critical obstacle. To help the industry overcome this and other key issues, SEMICON West 2023 will explore Building a Path Forward to its future in the event’s inaugural CEO Summit keynote program. A recent SEMI announcement provides an overview of the keynotes and programs at the July 11-13 exhibition and conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The event on July 13 will kick off with Path for Talent session keynotes focused on cultivating a strong talent pipeline, creating a diverse and inclusive industry, and building a career in microelectronics. Tom Sonderman, President and CEO of SkyWater Technology, will present the Path for Talent keynote titled Building the Future: Workforce Development in the Semiconductor Manufacturing Industry. In a podcast with Francoise von Trapp of 3D InCites, Sonderman previews his presentation, highlighting the talent challenges facing the U.S. semiconductor industry and potential solutions. He also shares a glimpse of some of the SkyWater recruitment and training programs designed to fill critical roles from fab technicians to lead engineers. The interview with Sonderman is part of the SEMICON West Podcast Series in the runup to and at the event. It follows the opening SEMICON West preview episode with SEMI Americas President Joe Stockunas in which he highlights a slew of new features that span keynote and conference programming, networking opportunities and even dining options. The CEO Summit keynote program features two additional critical industry topics each of the first two days of the event: Path to $1T – Tuesday, July 11 Luminaries will share insights on the chip industry’s progress towards $1 trillion in annual revenue including the importance of CHIPS Act funding. New semiconductor technology advances and growth segments that promise to boost the global supply chain’s financial performance will also be hot focus topics. Path to Net Zero – Wednesday, July 12 CEOs will share sustainability strategies and insights on the U.S. microelectronics industry’s position on international sustainability and climate agreements and legislation. SEMI offers a comprehensive workforce development program to aid the chip industry in narrowing the talent gap and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. The program will be on display at the SEMICON West Workforce Development Pavilion hosted by the SEMI Foundation. The pavilion will offer new strategies for recruiters, students and job seekers and spotlight why microelectronics is a smart career choice. Discussions on building a diverse and inclusive workforce, and an interactive day with high school students to help spark their interest in microelectronics careers will be key features of the program. Registration for SEMICON West 2023 is open. Samer Bahou is director of Marketing Communications at SEMI.

This year’s SEMICON West features a slew of new features that span keynote and conference programming, networking opportunities and even dining options.

They've got initial silicon of Dream Chips' ADAS SoC fabbed in GlobalFoundries' 22FDX (FD-SOI) technology, and it's got record power efficiency (read the full press release here). The chip offers high performance image acquisition and processing capabilities and supports AI / Neural Network (NN) vision operation with a total of 1 TOPS at 500 MHz on 4 parallel engines. With all functions including quad-core Arm® Cortex®-A53, Tensilica DSPs, and INVECAS’ LPDDR4-Interfaces activated, the SoC shows single digit power dissipation without the need for forced cooling, which is of significant importance for embedding in automotive environments. [caption id="attachment_11538" align="alignleft" width="277"] Courtesy: Dream Chips Technologies[/caption] Targeting automotive computer vision applications, the SoC was created in close cooperation with Arm, ArterisIP, Cadence, GF, and INVECAS as part of the European Commission’s ENIAC THINGS2DO reference development platform, where about 40 partners in Europe cooperated to propel the FDSOI-Design Ecosystem. Of particular importance is the new and reduced power footprint of this SoC in 22FDX-technology from GF. AI/NN-operation for image recognition is available today, but most of the solutions need active cooling. Implementation of Dream Chip Technologies’ SoC on GF’s 22FDX platform demonstrated single digit Watt and cooling targets for designers managing power dissipation. If needed, the SoC bears the potential to increase the performance even further up to 2 TOPS at 1.0 GHz by applying GLOBALFOUNDRIES’s forward body-bias capabilities and other optimization techniques. The jointly developed ADAS SoC platform from Dream Chip Technologies is available now. Part of GF’s FDXcelerator™ Partner Program, Dream Chip is the largest independent German Design Service company specialized in the development of large ASICs, FPGAs, embedded software and systems with a strong application focus on automotive vision systems (ADAS).