PHOENIX, Arizona—The global semiconductor materials and equipment sector is gathering in Phoenix, Arizona, from October 7 to 9, for SEMICON West 2025, an event poised to be the largest in its history. Hosted by the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), this exhibition serves as one of the world's most representative showcases for the semiconductor industry, highlighting the latest technologies and market trends.

This year’s event has drawn an unprecedented scale of participation, featuring 875 companies from 30 countries, a significant increase from 646 companies representing 26 countries last year. This surge reflects the aggressive strategies of global equipment and materials suppliers to capture the burgeoning North American market. The United States' concerted efforts to reinforce its manufacturing base and regain semiconductor dominance—particularly through supply chain restructuring—have made the region an increasingly vital focus for the industry.

Major global players are prominently featured, including two of the world’s three largest semiconductor equipment companies, Applied Materials and ASM, as well as key semiconductor packaging equipment supplier BE Semiconductor Industries.

New Venue, New Hub: The Phoenix Pivot 

In a historic move, SEMICON West 2025 makes its debut at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona. The exhibition, traditionally held in San Francisco near Silicon Valley, will now alternate between Phoenix and San Francisco on a biennial basis. This location shift is highly strategic, underscoring Phoenix's rise as a cutting-edge manufacturing hub.

Arizona has been integral to semiconductor development since Motorola established a facility in the Phoenix area in 1949. More recently, the state has become a magnet for massive investments from industry giants. TSMC, the world’s largest foundry, alongside Samsung Electronics and Intel, are all constructing large-scale, advanced semiconductor fabrication plants in the region. This concentration of major players makes Phoenix a logical and necessary nexus for an industry conference focused on technology, trade, and supply chain resilience. The move to Arizona reflects the industry’s strategic geographic expansion beyond traditional hubs, propelled by initiatives like the CHIPS and Science Act.

The 2025 exhibition is anticipated to attract over 35,000 attendees, with exhibition space completely sold out, demonstrating the intense interest in the evolving North American semiconductor ecosystem.

South Korea Highlights 'K-Semiconductor' Ecosystem 

South Korean companies are also participating in record numbers, eager to showcase the prestige of the 'K-Semiconductor ecosystem' on the global stage. This year, 64 Korean firms are in attendance, an increase from 59 in the previous year.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is operating its largest-ever integrated Korea Pavilion, featuring 22 companies, including Hansol I-ones and Nanotec. Additionally, prominent firms such as semiconductor test solutions leader Leeno Industrial and equipment specialist Global Standard Technology are hosting individual booths.

KOTRA's active support aims to facilitate global partnerships for South Korean companies. On October 8, KOTRA will host a networking event near the exhibition, inviting representatives from the organizing body, Intel, and ASM to share insights on the global supply chain, discuss industry trends, and enhance business-to-business networking.

Kwon Oh-Hyung, Director General of KOTRA Silicon Valley, emphasized the importance of this support. "The global semiconductor industry environment is changing rapidly, and demand is continuously increasing due to the advancement of AI. KOTRA is fully committed to actively supporting our semiconductor companies in finding global partners," he stated, reinforcing the critical role of international collaboration amid shifting geopolitical conditions. The overall theme of SEMICON West 2025, "Stronger Together—Shaping a Sustainable Future in Talent, Technology, and Trade," underscores this commitment to collaboration across the entire semiconductor value chain.

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