Arizona State University and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) today announced a partnership agreement aimed at supporting students, teaching and recruiting, and faculty projects and research that will deepen the existing relationship between ASU and the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer. chips
The university and the company have already been involved in planning sessions, job fairs and events welcoming TSMC employees and their families.
As familiarity strengthened, concrete opportunities for cooperation appeared, mobilizing experience and capabilities Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering Ace to stimulate research, development and innovation.
"We've been working closely together for several years to carefully define what TSMC needs from ASU and how we can make that happen for the company and for the broader Phoenix community," said Grace O'Sullivan, vice president for corporate interaction of ASU. "There's still a lot of work to do, but we're learning how best to work together and we've set the stage for long-term success."
Brian Harrison, president of TSMC Arizona, said: “When making the decision to expand in the US, one of the considerations was access to world-class engineers to help us manage the most complex semiconductor manufacturing technology in the world. Undoubtedly, the presence of Arizona State University, which is equally committed to a culture of innovation, was one of the many reasons why we chose Phoenix for our US operation.”
"As we deepen our roots in the state, we are especially grateful for the relationship we have with ASU," he added. "We are deeply committed to building a foundation that will serve not only TSMC, but the semiconductor industry as a whole for years to come."
As the 2025 opening date for the Phoenix semiconductor plant, or factory, approaches, the urgency grows. When completed, the factory will be the most advanced chip manufacturing technology in the US, further increasing the need for a trained, highly skilled workforce.
Since 2020, TSMC has been actively recruiting talent in the US. many of the earliest hires are ASU graduates who spent a few months studying in Taiwan before returning to Phoenix.
Since then, the collaboration between ASU and TSMC has expanded beyond student recruitment to include:
- Enhancing commitment to educational outcomes to expand opportunities for laboratory courses, graduate fellowships, undergraduate research programs, and an annual symposium.
- Expanding the pool of talent, including membership in the Corporate Partner Program through ASU Career Centers. Career centers target outreach and a number of other outcomes within the sponsorship program. This will provide a pipeline of ASU students for TSMC's hiring needs at the Arizona plant, and it will provide the company with a greater presence in the Fulton Schools' career and internship programs. In the first year of study, ASU juniors, seniors, and graduate students will be included in a program focused on engineering and manufacturing interns, as well as business and infrastructure interns. TSMC will also be connected to the university program Access ASU, which provides access to semiconductor careers for high school and transfer students.
- Non-diploma professional and career education. TSMC will partner with ASU's CareerCatalyst team to create a portfolio of skills-based education solutions that are jointly designed to develop TSMC's current workforce in critical skill areas for non-degree professionals. Initial areas of focus are microelectronic engineering, management and leadership.
- Direct support of students. TSMC supports master's and thesis studentships related to semiconductor research. TSMC will also support laboratory courses for students in the School of Electrical, Computer and Power Engineering to offer more hands-on learning opportunities to students interested in the semiconductor industry. This will double the number of students who will be able to participate.
- Involvement of teachers. TSMC will support research by ASU faculty through graduate student research and mentoring programs and ASU's Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative (FURI) program. In addition, TSMC and ASU faculty will participate in joint research workshops.
The partnership between ASU and TSMC not only serves the company and the university, it sets the industry and its supply chain up for success that will benefit the entire community for years to come, providing sustainable jobs and adding to the state's business infrastructure.
"As we continue to grow our semiconductor industry in Phoenix and the region, this new partnership between ASU and TSMC will create a strong pipeline of talent for years to come, filling new, well-paying jobs and ultimately boosting our local economy," Mayor Phoenix. Kate Gallego said. “When I helped recruit TSMC in Taiwan, a key selling point was ASU and its strong investment in students and the entire Valley community. Today's announcement reflects our shared commitment and vision to ensure that Phoenix and its residents can make the most of the many great opportunities that TSMC brings to our city."
Chris Camacho, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, said, “ASU's commitment to strengthening the greater Phoenix workforce is rooted in the university's innovation and continued collaboration with community and industry leaders. The leaders of the region listen to the needs of the industry. They collaborate to bring ideas to life. They work to create programs that help everyone. This partnership between TSMC and ASU reflects the region's commitment to meeting the workforce needs of the entire semiconductor ecosystem as we become an international hub for the industry.” are also looking to coordinate engagement and participation in events that promote the industry in the region, such as the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society in August and the Semicon West conference in Phoenix in October 2025.
The company and university will also continue to explore co-location at TSMC's west Phoenix site; at ASU's West Campus; on the ASU Polytechnic Campus; and at the ASU MacroTechnology Works located in the ASU Research Park in Tempe.
Source: electronicproducts.com
