Hyperion Technologies Looks to Make Peoria Home

·        The latest company to invest in Arizona’s growing semiconductor industry is Hyperion Technologies, a leader in manufacturing high-density interconnect IC substrates (HDI-IC substrates). Although Hyperion may not yet be a household name, its recent announcement to build a 600,000-square-foot facility in Peoria aims to fill a crucial gap in the U.S. semiconductor supply chain and significantly boost the local economy. Link to story >

Why Amazon opened three large warehouses in Phoenix market & ramps up Arizona hiring

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A thundering roar of jets accompanied the opening of Amazon‘s newest warehouse on Oct. 23 in metro Phoenix, just minutes away from Luke Air Force Base in the Glendale area. The 1 million square-foot building, located at 15301 W. Northern Ave., is one of three that opened this fall in the West Valley to bolster Amazon.com Inc.’s (Nasdaq: AMZN) expanding logistics infrastructure in Arizona. The retail giant, which employs 36,000 in Arizona, has continued to grow its presence here. Three new recently announced facilities will be able to process 1 million boxes weekly and employ up to 2,000 people per location at full capacity, potentially bringing 6,000 new jobs to the area. Link to story >

Tech Inclusion Forum: Breaking Barriers – Disability Inclusion in Technology

The Council’s second Tech Inclusion Forum of 2024 brought together industry leaders and advocates to address the ongoing challenges individuals with disabilities face in the workplace. Through insightful discussions, panelists explored the critical gaps in inclusiveness and accessibility while providing actionable strategies for fostering a more equitable work environment.
The event featured an esteemed panel, including Tye Dutcher (Principal Financial, Rio 2016 Paralympian), Fai Mo (Carvana), Ariel Parker (Beacon Group, Inc.), and moderator Mitchell Eskritt (Beacon Group, Inc.), who shared their expertise on how businesses can enhance accessibility, strengthen workplace culture, and better support employees with disabilities. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of the barriers that persist and left with tangible steps to become proactive allies in creating truly inclusive workplaces. Link to story >

TSMC Enhances DEI Efforts to Create Industry-Wide Impact

·       Talent is TSMC’s important asset. In response to global expansion and a more diverse talent pool, TSMC updated its “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement” in 2024 to enable employees to excel in suitable positions and promote mutual learning. The company launched a series of activities under the theme “Bringing New DEI Statement to Live!” focusing on three main pillars: “Leadership Endorsement, Awareness Enhancement, and Action Encouragement” to raise employees’ DEI awareness and self-fulfillment. Link to story >

SRP announces new battery storage project south of Phoenix

·        Salt River Project is adding 200 megawatts of new power storage to its grid with the cooperation of a Houston energy company that will build a new battery facility near Coolidge in Pinal County. The company, EDP Renewables North America LLC, will build the Flatland Energy Storage Project, which will use Tesla’s lithium-ion battery technology to reserve excess energy generated during lower-demand times and save it for peak demand times. The facility will have enough capacity to power up to 45,000 homes for four hours during peak demand times, SRP said. Link to Story > 

Honeywell forms partnership to develop autonomous aircraft for US military

Honeywell Aerospace Technologies is collaborating with two companies to accelerate development of autonomous aircraft for the U.S. military, the Phoenix-based subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc. (Nasdaq: HON) announced. Honeywell Aerospace Technologies is partnering with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Near Earth Autonomy and Italian helicopter manufacturer Leonardo to showcase unmanned aircraft capabilities for operations in so-called contested environments. The project is being coordinated through the U.S. Marine Corp.’s Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program, according to a company announcement. Honeywell’s flight controls group based in Deer Valley will work closely with a flight testing group at the company’s hangar at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to augment a fleet of Leonardo’s AW139 test helicopters, enabling autonomous takeoff and landing capabilities. Link to story >

ASU on the cusp of becoming a $1B research university

·      Once a fledgling research school, Arizona State University soon will hit $1 billion in annual research funding, placing the university into a rare category reached by just 33 universities across the nation. And ASU is one of only a handful of schools to accomplish the feat without a medical school. (The university is in the process of launching one.) Years in the making, the $1 billion milestone represents ASU’s rapid growth through groundbreaking and impactful research in engineering, microelectronics, space exploration, health care, national defense, sustainability and more. Link to Story >

Addressing the Skills Gap in the Energy Sector Amid Rapid Industry Changes

      The energy sector is experiencing rapid transformation, with renewable energy, advanced technology, and environmental concerns reshaping its landscape. Yet, as new demands rise, so does a crucial challenge: a growing shortage of skilled professionals equipped to meet the sector’s evolving needs.

The root of this gap is complex. Industry shifts toward cleaner energy sources, the adoption of digital and data-driven systems, and increased regulatory demands all contribute to an urgent need for new, specialized skills. Without significant investments in workforce development, the industry risks slowing its own growth and missing sustainability targets. Fortunately, a range of solutions are being developed to prepare new professionals and upskill existing ones. Link to Story >

Intel Finalizes $7.86B Funding Award under U.S. CHIPS Act

Intel Corporation and the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce and Intel have reached agreement on terms to award the company up to $7.86 billion in direct funding for its commercial semiconductor manufacturing projects under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act. The award will support Intel’s previously announced plans to advance critical semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging projects at its sites in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon. Intel also plans to claim the U.S. Treasury Department’s Investment Tax Credit, which is expected to be up to 25% of qualified investments of more than $100 billion. The announcement demonstrates the U.S. government’s confidence in Intel’s essential role in building a resilient, trusted semiconductor supply chain on domestic soil. Since the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act more than two years ago, Intel has announced plans to invest more than $100 billion in the U.S. to expand chipmaking and advanced packaging capacity and capabilities critical to economic and national security Link to story > 

ASU and Deca Technologies selected to lead $100M SHIELD USA project to strengthen U.S. semiconductor packaging capabilities

·      The National Institute of Standards and Technology — part of the U.S. Department of Commerce — announced today that it plans to award as much as $100 million to Arizona State University and Deca Technologies for the SHIELD USA initiative. The project will drive innovation in the domestic microchip packaging ecosystem, expand capacity for domestic advanced packaging and help regain U.S. leadership in microelectronics while strengthening national security.
It is the first of several research and development programs to be launched by the CHIPS National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP). This first program, focused on organic materials and substrates, will be a vital part of the broader $11 billion CHIPS R&D program administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Link to story >