As global demand for semiconductors accelerates, the United States is investing in workforce development and strategic partnerships that help ensure resilient, secure supply chains. Efforts like this initiative enable U.S. institutions to shape talent pipelines aligned with American industry standards and innovation priorities.
As the largest economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, Indonesia plays an increasingly important role in the region’s digital transformation. The Southeast Asian digital economy is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2030, creating significant demand for a skilled workforce capable of supporting advanced technologies and enabling the expansion of semiconductor manufacturing and investment across the region.
Arizona State University is helping meet that demand through a growing partnership with Indonesia focused on semiconductor workforce development. Through workshops, training programs and academic collaboration, ASU is sharing its expertise while also strengthening connections that benefit U.S. industry, expand research opportunities and support long-term semiconductor supply chain stability.
Several of these efforts are led in part by Global Outreach and Extended Education, or GOEE, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU. With more than 15 years of experience in capacity-building educational initiatives in Southeast Asia supported by two staffed ASU representative offices in the region, GOEE partners with industry and universities around the world to modernize engineering curricula and develop workforce programs that address evolving technological needs.
GOEE continues to expand this network on ASU’s behalf by working with government, industry and academic partners to build technical capacity in areas such as semiconductor design, advanced manufacturing and AI-enabled systems. These efforts support U.S. investment priorities and contribute to more resilient technology supply chains.
These efforts also advance ASU’s mission of global impact while also strengthening Arizona’s rapidly growing semiconductor ecosystem by connecting the state’s industry and research community with emerging technology markets and expanding the global talent pipeline.
Expanding access to semiconductor education
In 2024, ASU signed a country-level memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs. The agreement establishes a framework for long-term collaboration on semiconductor workforce development and supports Indonesia’s broader efforts to build a competitive semiconductor ecosystem.
Through the partnership with Indonesia, ASU has launched a series of applied learning initiatives designed to build local capacity in semiconductor design and engineering.
In August 2025, ASU hosted faculty members from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, or ITS, one of Indonesia’s leading universities, for a study tour in Arizona. The visit gave ITS faculty members the opportunity to explore the Fulton Schools’ approach to microelectronics education, research and workforce development while identifying opportunities for curriculum collaboration and future research partnerships. These early engagements helped establish connections that continue to support broader workforce development initiatives between ASU and institutions across Indonesia.
The collaboration also included a two-day integrated circuit design workshop led by Fulton Professor of Microelectronics Krishnendu Chakrabarty, along with industry contributors, including Cadence, and additional applied learning experiences designed to strengthen semiconductor design skills among Indonesian students.
Building a global semiconductor workforce
The work between ASU and collaborators in Indonesian was also highlighted during the Digital Future Forum, held virtually in January. The forum brought together senior leaders from the U.S. and Indonesia across government, industry and academia to discuss how secure digital integration, AI and advanced manufacturing can support the region’s next phase of economic growth.
The event grew out of an expanding partnership between ASU’s U.S.–ASEAN Center and Nongsa Digital Park in Batam, Indonesia. Discussions focused on investment opportunities in digital infrastructure and AI-enabled semiconductor manufacturing in the Batam region, while also addressing workforce readiness and strategies to close critical skills gaps.
As global demand for semiconductor talent accelerates, discussions like these highlight a clear reality: without a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting advanced packaging, AI-driven manufacturing and secure digital systems, semiconductor investment cannot scale sustainably. By helping cultivate talent connected to U.S. institutions and standards, the initiative strengthens American industry, reinforces supply chain resilience and supports a more secure and competitive semiconductor ecosystem.
One example of this approach in action was the Semiconductor Venture Accelerator Program Pitching Competition, which challenged Indonesian students to apply their semiconductor and technology training to real-world challenges.
The competition served as a proof of concept for hands-on, industry-aligned learning, giving students the opportunity to develop innovative ventures while gaining experience relevant to the global semiconductor workforce.
Student teams presented their ideas in a highly competitive showcase, with the winning venture led by ITS student Riva Rizkiana. His project, Sus-Tech ID, aims to make sustainability monitoring smarter, more portable and more affordable through sensor-based technology.
Ventures like Sus-Tech ID demonstrate how applied learning opportunities prepare the next generation of engineers and innovators while strengthening the talent pipeline needed to support a globally connected semiconductor ecosystem.
Together, these efforts reflect ASU’s leadership in building globally connected partnerships that advance semiconductor workforce development while aligning with U.S. industry priorities and standards. Through its engagement in Southeast Asia, ASU is helping shape a more resilient and interconnected technology ecosystem, while reinforcing its role as a strategic, long-term partner in the region’s growing semiconductor and digital economy. As Arizona continues to emerge as a hub for semiconductor innovation, ASU’s international collaborations play a critical role in strengthening U.S. competitiveness, expanding workforce pipelines and helping ensure the nation remains at the forefront of critical technologies.
