PHOENIX — SEMICON® West’s organizers at SEMI, the leading microelectronics industry association, knew it was time for a change. The show in San Francisco was struggling to attract visitors, largely because the Bay Area no longer plays a major role in semiconductor manufacturing. Overseas companies, and even major U.S. equipment suppliers, were reluctant to exhibit.
The decision was made to relocate the show for the first time to Phoenix — considered the new hub of U.S. chip manufacturing — where it took place Oct. 7-9 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
The Greater Phoenix area is home to more than 75 semiconductor companies, including Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, and Arizona State University leads some of the largest projects in the industry and is a rich source of up-and-coming talent.
“For the last 50 years, San Francisco used to be the center of the universe for innovation. Not any more,” Danny Seiden, President & CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce, said. “It’s clear that Arizona is now on the map as a global hub for semiconductors.”
Related. SEMICON West Reports Growth in 2024, Announces Rotation Between Phoenix and San Francisco
The decision to relocate has paid off. The event saw a 45% increase in exhibitors, and 64% higher overall attendance. Overseas participation also grew significantly, with Asian participants giving the new location a thumbs up.
The show also featured 567 speakers and panelists.
“SEMICON is not just an exhibition; it’s about creating the right content about the topics people are trying to understand and learn, so they can make better products and better services for their companies,” Ajit Manocha, CEO of SEMI, told EE Times.
Overall, the semiconductor industry is booming due to soaring AI chip demand from data centers and edge devices. The U.S. ranks fourth in wafer fab equipment investment, after China, South Korea and Taiwan, and is expected to spend $374 billion between 2026 and 2028, according to SEMI research.
Phoenix will now host SEMICON West on a rotating basis, returning in 2027 and 2029; the 2026 show will be held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco Oct. 13-15.
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