SEMI Foundation and NSF Launch First Four Regional Nodes for Microelectronics Education

SEMI Foundation, serving as the Hub Operator for the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), announced in a press release the launch of the first four Regional Nodes of the NNME. The program is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and aligned with the CHIPS and Science Act.

The NNME is designed to serve as national infrastructure for developing the microelectronics workforce across the United States. The first four Regional Nodes include NNME Southwest, led by the Arizona Commerce Authority; NNME Pacific Intermountain, led by Boise State University; NNME Northeast, led by NY CREATES; and NNME South, led by the University of Texas at Austin. Each node covers multiple states to coordinate education, training, and workforce pathways.

The four nodes collectively connect more than 325 organizations, including K-12 schools, colleges, workforce development groups, economic agencies, and semiconductor employers. The network aims to expand awareness, modernize training systems, and connect learners to employment opportunities in the semiconductor sector.

A national analysis by the SEMI Foundation and McKinsey & Company estimates that by 2030, the United States could face a shortfall of up to 157,000 semiconductor and microelectronics workers. The NNME initiative was established to help close this gap through a regionally activated, nationally aligned strategy focused on workforce readiness and education modernization.