In The News
Arizona State University and Tecnológico de Monterrey launch program to integrate Sonora into Arizona’s semiconductor industry
Tempe, Arizona, November 10, 2026—Arizona State University (ASU) and Tecnológico de Monterrey are launching the ATP-Ready Sonora Accelerator, a program that will prepare 60 representatives from Sonora’s industry, academia and government sectors to help integrate the state into Arizona’s semiconductor supply chain. The industry has attracted more than $314 billion in investment since 2020 and is concentrated just three hours by road from Nogales, Sonora.
The program focuses on ATP — semiconductor assembly, testing and packaging — the segment of the semiconductor value chain that can best leverage Sonora’s existing manufacturing expertise. It also creates opportunities for Sonoran companies to become suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry.
The opportunity for Sonora lies in identifying the role it can play in regional semiconductor integration. At ASU, we want to help the state define concrete projects that connect its industrial capabilities with the real needs of this industry." -- said José Quiroga, director of Global Development at ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
The program originated from studies conducted by the Growth Lab at Harvard Kennedy School on Hermosillo, published between December 2024 and January 2025. The Growth Lab concluded that the opportunity to supply and complement Arizona’s growing semiconductor supply chain is too significant to overlook and that Hermosillo can compete for ATP operations. It also found that Sonora has lacked a mechanism to coordinate government, businesses and educational institutions in attracting investment. ATP-Ready Sonora was created to address that coordination gap.
The program focuses on four pillars:
- Talent: Training plans aligned with the workforce profiles the industry is hiring.
- Supply chain: Development of Sonoran suppliers for Arizona’s semiconductor industry.
- Infrastructure: Industrial parks and facilities evaluated according to industry criteria.
- Public policy: Government rules and processes that provide certainty for companies considering investment.
What distinguishes this program is that it addresses all four pillars simultaneously. When a semiconductor company decides where to establish operations, it evaluates the entire ecosystem: whether qualified technicians and engineers are available, whether suppliers can meet industry standards, whether industrial facilities are ready and whether government processes are clear. If one of these pieces is missing, investment may go elsewhere. That is why the Accelerator brings universities, industrial parks, manufacturers, business chambers and government agencies together under a shared timeline, with complementary deliverables.
Just a few hours away, Arizona is building one of the most important semiconductor industry hubs. Sonora has the capabilities to complement it, but no single company, university or government agency can do it alone. That is why we are bringing together the organizations that hold each piece of the puzzle, so we can move forward together and at the same pace," -- said Manuel Molina, director of ATP-Ready Sonora.
The program begins in January 2027 with a strategic workshop and a nine-week ASU Master Class, accompanied by working sessions facilitated by Tecnológico de Monterrey. Participants will then travel to Arizona to validate their work with companies and institutions in the semiconductor industry. The program will conclude with the presentation of their deliverables and the awarding of ASU certificates to participants who meet the requirements.
The Accelerator goes beyond training. Throughout the program, participants will develop eight concrete deliverables — two for each pillar: a microcredential framework that enables students and workers to progressively develop the skills required by industry, along with a map of faculty training needs; a supply chain map and directory of Sonoran suppliers; a tool to prioritize industrial sites and a concept for a shared ATP laboratory; and a regulatory gap analysis along with a proposal for a one-stop shop for government procedures.
At the conclusion of the program, four public-private executive working groups — one for each pillar — will be established to follow up on these deliverables and develop 12 additional ones. These will include industry-aligned curricula, a dual-education model, an inventory of industrial facilities suitable for cleanrooms and a proposal for binational recognition of certifications. The goal is to translate these proposals into tangible changes in how Sonora develops talent and suppliers, prepares infrastructure and supports companies entering the state.
Participant selection will take place during November and December 2026. More information is available at www.atpreadysonora.com/accelerator.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university committed to advancing innovation, talent development and public value. ASU collaborates with governments, academic institutions and industry stakeholders in the United States and internationally to strengthen capabilities, connect knowledge with regional needs and support the development of strategic ecosystems.
About ATP-Ready Sonora
ATP-Ready Sonora is an initiative that aligns government, businesses and educational institutions across Sonora to integrate the state into North America’s semiconductor supply chain, beginning with assembly, testing and packaging — the segment with the greatest potential for Sonora. Its purpose is to complement Arizona’s growing semiconductor industry by preparing the talent, suppliers, infrastructure and conditions the industry needs to invest and source from Sonora. The ATP-Ready Sonora Accelerator is one of its programs. More information is available at www.atpreadysonora.com.