Arizona's rise as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing is reshaping the state's economy. Rapid technology and infrastructure development – supported by multibillion-dollar investments from corporations including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company – are driving the growth of an innovation ecosystem critical for the state's future. 

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Equally important is the talent that will power this ecosystem, and on Jan. 28 in Taiwan, the University of Arizona formalized an agreement with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) to address this critical need. Signed by U of A President Suresh Garimella and NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin, the agreement promises to redefine workforce development in a high-tech, globally interconnected economy.

In Taiwan, NYCU, an applied research powerhouse, has been a driving force for training founders, CEOs and engineers of many high-tech companies in the Hsinchu Science Park, known as Taiwan's Silicon Valley. Together, NYCU and the U of A are establishing a Talent and Innovation Hub that will serve as a full-spectrum, culturally immersive talent cultivation pipeline.

"Formalizing the University of Arizona's partnership with NYCU through this agreement marks a pivotal moment in our strategic engagement with Taiwan and our commitment to the global semiconductor ecosystem," Garimella said. "By establishing the Talent and Innovation Hub with a premier institution that has deep connections to global leaders like TSMC, we are bringing the U of A's world-class research capabilities to bear on the industry's most pressing needs, including materials science and engineering, advanced packaging and photonics. As the world's need for advanced semiconductors continues to grow, it is in keeping with our 21st century land-grant mission to support the state with leadership in research, development, education and manufacturing in this sector."

To build a semiconductor workforce at scale, U of A is investing across the entire talent pipeline – starting early and extending through advanced research training. In Chandler, Arizona, for example, the U of A is collaborating with a local high school to launch the nation's first career and technical education program tailored specifically for semiconductor technician training. At the university level, U of A and NYCU students can enter dual-degree programs or pursue master's degrees, minors and certificates aligned with industry needs as well as participate in research collaborations.

"Arizona is becoming a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing," said Krishna Muralidharan, director of the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing in the U of A Office of Research and Partnerships. "We asked the question: what does it take for our students to be successful in this industry? The answer is in our industry-facing collaborative educational hub with curated curricula specifically for the semiconductor industry. We are creating pathways focused on workforce and research and development needs, for the semiconductor industry and beyond."

A unique feature of the student education strategy is its emphasis on pairing engineering skills with cultural fluency and international collaboration. The U of A and NYCU are equipping students with technical knowledge as well as the ability to navigate the nuanced realities of working across languages, time zones and cultural norms.

"This is training for students to get jobs in the global semiconductor industry, which could mean they work in the U.S., Taiwan, Germany, India or Japan. We want to make them globally successful," said Muralidharan, who is also a professor at the U of A College of Engineering. "We want to ensure cultural adaptability. For example, at the U of A, students will take the course Mandarin for Industry, and at NYCU, students will learn English. They will also learn the management structures, communication skills and working habits of each country through direct interactions, including exchange study and internships. We want to create immersion programs where students are not just taking courses, they are learning to work with peers around the world."

Students in Arizona and Taiwan will work on the same real-world challenges, allowing each cohort to gain insight into how their peers abroad think, build and solve problems. The structure sharpens skills and communication and builds the kind of trust global teams depend on – traits not found on a résumé but essential in today's semiconductor workforce.

Hands-on experiences through vertically integrated projects and capstone collaborations give students in both countries the opportunity to co-develop solutions in real time. The pipeline continues into advanced research, supported by partners who help bring innovations to market.

"Our vision is to create a future-proof, industry-ready workforce that possesses the technical rigor and cross-cultural competence required to lead in complex industrial environments, both here in Arizona and in Taiwan," said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships at the U of A. "We are building a durable research ecosystem that addresses immediate manufacturing challenges while supporting progress in critical areas of future semiconductor manufacturing such as on-chip photonic interconnects that will fuel new capabilities for AI, quantum, digital health care and many other areas of human progress."

What makes the partnership between the U of A and NYCU particularly notable is how deeply it is embedded into the state's broader economic vision. The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) has led a long-term strategic focus for the state, including with the Arizona-Taiwan Trade & Investment Office in Taipei, which acts as a day-to-day liaison critical for building stable business partnerships. This work, along with investments by the ACA and Pima County Economic Development, signals a paradigm shift, positioning workforce development as both a university mission and a pillar of Arizona's economic future.

"Through international partnerships and bold innovation, Arizona is pioneering the technologies that will define the future," said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. "This collaboration between the University of Arizona and NYCU is a powerful example of how Arizona is building a world-class semiconductor talent pipeline – connecting education, research, and global expertise. We are proud to work with the U of A and NYCU to accelerate workforce development for this all-important industry."

The program is rooted in semiconductors, but its reach is expected to be much broader. Plans are already underway to expand into photonics, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, digital health and smart agriculture.

By combining education, industry and culture into one cohesive partnership, the U of A and NYCU are building a blueprint for how universities can train students to lead in the global field of semiconductor manufacturing.