As Arizona solidifies its position as a global leader in the semiconductor industry, the nickname "Silicon Desert" no longer captures the state's abundant opportunities and innovation.
EMD Electronics, partnering with SEMI, the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, is inviting students to rebrand Arizona's semiconductor industry identity through the Chip In for Arizona competition.
According to Austin Kaphammer, a communications business partner with EMD Electronics, the inspiration for the competition sparked from the Semicon West Trade Show's first arrival in Arizona in October.
"We felt that it was a great time for us to sort of move beyond and try to find a more vibrant, sustainable and innovative likeness or name or identity for all of what our state has to offer here," Kaphammer said.
The Chip in for Arizona competition aims to rebrand Arizona's Semiconductor Ecosystem identity, offering students an opportunity to contribute to this process and enhancing regional competitiveness. Students can enter the competition with a pitch for a statewide semiconductor identity.
"This competition allows the next generation of talent to invest in the future of our economic growth while opening the door to new perspectives from voices that otherwise would not be heard," Chris Camacho, the president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, said in a written statement.
Chip In for Arizona is open to students 18 and older currently enrolled at accredited higher education institutions in Arizona. Students can compete individually or in teams of up to four members, and team members can be enrolled in different schools.
Participants are required to create a brand narrative, including a brand name, vision statement, and positioning statement, reflecting Arizona's unique semiconductor technology. Participants must also have a detailed narrative and supporting documents, such as market research and a rollout overview.
Brent Sebold, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, sees this competition as an exciting challenge pushing students from any academic background to contribute to the industry ecosystem.
"(The competition) would be great to challenge our student journalists ... to think of unique ways to describe what's happening in Arizona right now with this technological investment," Sebold said.
Kaphammer said successful submissions for the Chip In for Arizona competition are those that go beyond the conventional approaches, offering innovative concepts while "remaining deeply relevant to Arizona's identity and semiconductor industry."
A panel of industry experts will evaluate submissions based on creativity, relevance to Arizona's identity and semiconductor industry, and readiness for adoption by stakeholders.
The submission deadline is March 14 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Participants can register through the Chip In for Arizona website.
The finalists, to be announced on March 31, will have an in-person presentation held at the SEMI Arizona Chapter Breakfast Forum. Before the presentation, they will have personalized support from mentors and detailed instructions from the organizers.
Camacho shared that leadership, marketing, innovation and forward-thinking skills gained from this competition will be valuable throughout the participants' careers.
"This type of high-level thinking is valued by company leaders," Camacho said in a written statement. "Even students who don't win will have a chance to flex those muscles and take on a real-world challenge that will have an impactful application."
Beyond developing skills and being recognized by experts in the field, the identity adopted from the winning pitch may become the identifier for Arizona's semiconductor industry.
"These students have an opportunity to not just leave their mark in this year... this is really their chance to leave a mark on history," Kaphammer said.
Edited by Sophia Ramirez, Sophia Braccio and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at hhuynh18@asu.edu.
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Nhi is a freshman studying health care coordination. This is her second semester with The State Press. She has also worked as a content creator.
