What to Expect at SEMICON West 2017

In this interview, David Anderson, President at SEMI Americas, talks to AZoSensors about what to expect at the upcoming SEMICON West and why they have decided to focus on ‘SMART Starts Here', this years theme.

SEMICON West is being held July 11-13 in Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA. What's new this year?

According to the latest World Fab Forecast, the Americas region is projected to spend $5.2 billion on fab equipment in 2017—19 percent more than last year. With a vibrant North American fab equipment market, Silicon Valley is the driving force behind the latest SMART applications. SEMICON West is the place that brings materials, equipment, IC, and electronics manufacturing all together in one place, at one time, for productive collaboration and networking.

Purchasers, manufacturers, and C-level executives make up 80 percent of SEMICON West attendees. More than 600 companies will exhibit, and there will be 115 hours of programs and networking opportunities.

We have expanded our focus to encompass the full spectrum of technologies, industries, and stakeholders in the electronics supply chain. Moscone Center is renovating South Hall, so the show is taking place in North and West Halls and instead of separating companies into packaging, assembly, and test (backend) and device manufacturers (front-end semiconductor), companies from all facets of the industry will be located throughout both halls.

The event includes programs on 5G, Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Packaging, Test, MEMS and Sensors, Materials, and the Internet of Things, in addition to a focus on SMART technologies and applications.

The theme is “Smart Starts Here.” Why the focus on "SMART”?

We are seeing tremendous global growth of SMART applications, from smart phones to artificial intelligence. None of these new technologies and products would exist without the SEMI members of the electronics supply chain.

The focus on SMART gives credit to those companies and what they do to drive future technologies – SMART Starts with them, and they are Here – at SEMICON West.

With the assistance of virtual and augmented reality, the immersive SMART Journey will deliver visual insights into the materials and processes that are revolutionizing the manufacturing supply chain, automotive, and everyday living through IoT and other innovations. SMART Manufacturing gives a glimpse of what’s coming next in fabs and factories, while SMART Automotive lets visitors experience the latest in autonomous motoring and SMART MedTech covers exploring electronics requirements and solutions for medical technology.

In the “Meets the Experts” Theater, informal daily sessions from industry thought leaders will describe how breakthroughs in processes, packaging, and SMART manufacturing are changing the world.

What keynote speakers and executive panels are you planning this year?

On Tuesday, Tetsuro Higashi, corporate director and corporate advisor for TEL, will present The Semiconductor Industry: Changed and Unchanged, followed by Thomas Caulfield, Ph.D., senior VP and GM of GLOBALFOUNDRIES latest 300mm semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility (Fab 8), located in Saratoga County, NY. He will discuss Accelerating Innovation: Intelligent is the New SMART.

On Wednesday, special guest Jim Morgan, Chairman Emeritus of Applied Materials, will give his views of the industry and share thoughts from his new book Applied Wisdom, followed by Katherine (Kathy) S. Winter, VP Automated Driving Group, Intel, who takes on whether autonomous vehicles are ready to hit the road with Big Data in Autonomous Driving.

What business and state of the industry programs are on the agenda?

This year’s Get SMART: SEMI/Gartner Bulls & Bears Industry Outlook provides a mid-year market update. Market forecasts and analyses of the semiconductor, capital equipment, materials, and adjacent industry sectors will be presented.

The symposium will conclude with a moderated panel, where Wall Street analysts will provide an interactive discussion, with perspectives from Bulls & Bears. At the China Strategic Innovation & Investment Forum, IC and investment executives will share their views on the industry’s evolution and offer insights on investment and M&A trends in China.

What role do SEMI partners play in SEMICON West?

There are some outstanding programs planned by some of SEMI’s partners. The IEEE will hold training workshops at both the introductory and intermediate levels on embedded systems/IoT development.

We have partnered with them to deliver programs on The World of IoT: Understanding Risks and Opportunities in Transformative Technologies.

In addition, we have partnered with SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers) on two sessions, one covering the latest technologies and performance upgrades shaping the future of autonomous transportation and the other demonstrating how integrated electronics are meeting the growing need for speed, intelligence, and memory in today’s SMART cars.

What are some of the other activities that go on at SEMICON West?

SummerFest at AT&T Park is another new chance this year to have fun and network with colleagues. On Tuesday, Summerfest participants will join us at the Virgin America Club Level of AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, for hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

We’ll view the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on large screens. Participants can visit the Giants’ museum, tour AT&T Park, the Giants’ dugout and batting cage, and perhaps even take a practice swing.

Where can our readers go to find out more?

For more information about SEMICON West, visit www.semiconwest.org, access the complete program.

About David Anderson

David Anderson, president of the SEMI Americas region, has broad experience in the semiconductor device industry and leadership positions in associations, consortia, and on boards of directors.

Anderson was CEO and chairman of Novati Technologies and has past experience at Fairchild Semiconductor, National Semiconductor, the Semiconductor Industry Suppliers Association, and SEMATECH.

As president of SEMI Americas he has P&L responsibility as well as ownership of all Americas region programs and events, including SEMICON West.