Florida leaders from government, industry, and higher education gathered at the inaugural Florida Semiconductor Engine Conference “Powering Prosperity” in Kissimmee on August 28. The event drew more than 250 participants to discuss the state’s role in the growing semiconductor sector.
Ron Piccolo, interim CEO of the Florida Semiconductor Engine, said, “This conference is more than a singular event. It is the continuation of strategic, bold, and coordinated efforts that will shape the future of semiconductor technology in Florida, the U.S., and around the world.”
The Florida Semiconductor Engine consortium, supported by the National Science Foundation and based at Osceola County’s NeoCity technology district, could receive up to $160 million over ten years for advanced semiconductor packaging industry growth. In addition to this potential funding, Osceola County received $50.8 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge in 2022 and is set to receive up to $289 million from the Department of Defense for microchip production and workforce development.
Conference panels focused on workforce needs and education pipelines while bringing together industry, academic, and economic development leaders to build momentum for advanced packaging technologies in Florida. The state has become a significant player in semiconductors as national efforts aim to reshore manufacturing amid rising demand driven by artificial intelligence and other tech sectors.
Florida currently ranks third nationally for semiconductor establishments and fifth for manufacturing employment with more than 18,000 jobs. Nationwide initiatives are expected to bring billions in investment and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
Jason Mahon, Deputy Secretary of Economic Development for Florida Department of Commerce stated: “We are in the perfect position, I’d argue, and the best position of any state in the nation to be able to go out and attract those jobs,” noting that Florida has invested $380 million into semiconductor workforce education over four years.
Paul Sohl, CEO of Florida High Tech Corridor, led a panel discussion on preparing Florida’s semiconductor workforce with leaders from University of Central Florida (UCF), Valencia College, University of South Florida (USF), and University of Florida (UF). All these institutions participate in the NSF Engine coalition.
Valencia College President Kathleen Plinske announced that just before the conference her institution launched an associate degree program in Semiconductor Engineering Technology—Florida’s first such program—developed with input from employers like SkyWater Technology. “Give us 15 weeks — and we can help you earn an industry certification that will land you a full-time job with benefits,” Plinske said.
UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright highlighted his university’s expanded engineering enrollment: “UCF was founded as a startup with a mission to provide workforce, and that’s the mindset we need to expand across Florida,” he said.
Sylvia Wilson Thomas from USF noted semiconductors’ importance beyond technology advancement: “When we talk about AI, what is the underlying technology behind it? It’s semiconductors,” she said. “Helping society understand that research in this field directly impacts health, transportation, and communication is critical and commercialization is how we turn that into real impact.”
David Arnold from UF discussed Lab Link—a new effort by the Florida Semiconductor Institute—to connect universities as well as students with faculty members through collaborative research projects. He said: “We challenge these teams of students to come up with an idea that came out of (their) conversations… Our goal is to try to fund these as collaborative inter-institutional research partnerships.”
Ron Piccolo summarized his vision: “We have a mission to transform the U.S. semiconductor industry through collaborative research, to build the most advanced technical workforce in the nation and to create regional economic prosperity that has national and global impact. Now, these are not small ambitions… If this were to happen… it will only happen by visionary leadership.”
Don Fisher—Osceola County Manager—described NeoCity’s development since 2014: “We have been in this development process since 2014… In past 36 months we have received over $500 million in investment either from State or federal partners.” He added: “Osceola County and its partners were one of three clusters…that received both Build Back Better and National Science Foundation awards…if you are wondering if you did something well—the federal government is telling us you did.”
Mahon emphasized investments needed for success: “About four years ago…we recognized making investments…would be really important from both a national security perspective and opportunity for state… At state level we’ve invested $380 million into workforce education side because we believe fundamentally that’s where our investments need [to be] if we’re going grow…”
Further information about statewide cluster efforts can be found via resources such as Florida Semiconductor Engine or Cenfluence’s semiconductor cluster.
