Arizona State University and Applied Materials Inc. today announced an alliance, aided by the Arizona Commerce Authority, that brings more than $270 million to create a world-class shared research, development and prototyping facility — the Materials-to-Fab Center — in the university’s MacroTechnology Works building at ASU Research Park.

Electrical engineering Professor Sule Ozev’s microelectronics testing course trains students to be electronics test engineers, with help from industry experts.

With the critical semiconductor industry growing in Arizona, a strong, skilled workforce is needed. ASU leaders recently met with a delegation of nine Taiwanese universities and U.S. Department of State officials to discuss collaborations between ASU and top universities in Taiwan on education exchange and workforce development.

Arizona State University is hosting government and industry leaders from the U.S., Canada and Mexico at a high-level conference in Washington, D.C., this week to ensure North America’s future in the semiconductor industry.

An ASU team led by Professor Hongbin Yu received a $1.5 million grant from DARPA to lead Phase 0 of the Next-Generation Microelectronics Manufacturing program, which aims to develop manufacturing techniques and facilities to produce 3D heterogeneously integrated microelectronics manufacturing systems in the U.S.

Solutions that touch many facets of life in Arizona and beyond were on display from ASU at the state Capitol on Tuesday. Hundreds of alumni, faculty and staff gathered on the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza to showcase the research and innovations that keep ASU on the forefront of solving some of the biggest challenges and creating opportunities for a better future.