NNME Pacific Intermountain, Led by Boise State University, Launches to Strengthen Semiconductor Workforce Pathways Across the Western United States
Boise State University to Lead Regional Collaboration Connecting Education, Industry, Workforce, and Economic Development Partners Across Nine-State Region
BOISE, Idaho — June 3, 2026 — Boise State University, joined by regional leaders, today announced the launch of the NNME Pacific Intermountain, one of the first regional nodes of the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), a national initiative designed to strengthen and scale pathways into semiconductor and microelectronics careers across the western United States.
Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (NSF TIP) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and aligned with the CHIPS and Science Act, the NNME serves as a national infrastructure for microelectronics talent development across the United States.
Led by Boise State’s Microelectronics Education and Research Center (MERC) in the College of Engineering, the NNME Pacific Intermountain Regional Node brings together a broad coalition of universities, community colleges, K-12 partners, corporations and government organizations to build a coordinated, industry-aligned talent pipeline across Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Hawaii.
“The selection of Boise State University to lead the Pacific Intermountain Network for Education in Semiconductors is a major win for Idaho’s economy and further strengthens our state’s position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and technology,” Governor Brad Little said. “By bringing together industry, educators, and government partners, this collaboration will help build the skilled workforce companies need to grow, attract new investment, and keep our region competitive in the global economy.”
The U.S. semiconductor industry is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by federal investments, private-sector expansion, and increasing demand for microelectronics across nearly every sector of the economy. NNME Pacific Intermountain will help strengthen the talent ecosystem needed to support that growth by connecting learners, educators, workforce organizations, and employers through coordinated regional partnerships.
“America’s leadership in semiconductors depends on our ability to continue building a talent pipeline in every area of the country. Partnering with industry and regional leaders to stand up these regional National Network for Microelectronics Education nodes helps drive innovation and long-term competitiveness in the region's semiconductor sector,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “Boise State’s leadership of the NNME Pacific Intermountain Node will connect students across nine states to the high-demand jobs powering America’s future. This is another way NSF is working every day to ensure the United States stays at the forefront of technological innovation and discovery.”
The selection positions Boise State at the center of a rapidly expanding semiconductor ecosystem in the Pacific Intermountain West. The region is home to major industry players, including regional anchor employer Micron Technology, and is poised for significant growth as new advanced manufacturing facilities come online, creating thousands of jobs and increasing demand for a highly trained workforce.
“I am proud to stand alongside Boise State University and our many partners today for this important milestone,” said April Arnzen, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Micron Technology. “The Pacific Intermountain Regional Node gives us the opportunity to expand on that momentum at a scale that will truly move the needle. We are grateful to build on our partnership with the Trump Administration’s efforts led by the National Science Foundation. When industry, education, and government align around a shared goal, remarkable things happen. That is what the regional node represents, and Micron is committed to helping Idaho and the broader region develop the talent this industry needs to grow and thrive for years to come.”
The initiative builds upon existing regional momentum, including the Micron Northwest University Semiconductor Network, by leveraging shared resources, industry partnerships, and coordinated programming designed for long-term growth to improve hiring efficiency for employers while creating clearer, more accessible pathways for students entering the semiconductor workforce.
As one of the first regional nodes of the NNME, Boise State is one of only four regional node leads selected nationally. The NNME Pacific Intermountain Regional Node is designed to address critical workforce challenges facing the semiconductor industry, including talent shortages at all levels, fragmented education pathways and limited access to hands-on training opportunities.
"This milestone reflects not just Boise State's growing investment in microelectronics education, but the sustained dedication of the faculty, students, and partners who have built our Microelectronics Education and Research Center into a nationally recognized leader,” Boise State University Acting President and Vice President of Research and Economic Development Nancy Glenn said. “We are proud to carry that work forward as we help shape the semiconductor workforce in the western United States and the nation.”
To meet these needs, Boise State will play a central role in coordinating efforts across partners and lead collaboration with a broad coalition of 20 universities and nine community colleges and technical institutions across the Pacific Intermountain region. In Idaho, Boise State is collaborating with the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Northwest Nazarene University, BYU-Idaho, the College of Eastern Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, and the College of Western Idaho.
Regionally, the network includes Gonzaga University, the University of Washington, Washington State University, the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, the University of California, Davis, Colorado School of Mines, Montana State University, the University of Nevada, Reno, Portland State University.
“This launch represents far more than a new partnership, it is a blueprint for how education, industry and government can work together to strengthen America’s semiconductor workforce,” said Boise State College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer. “By bringing together partners across nine states, NNME Pacific Intermountain creates an unprecedented opportunity to modernize education, expand workforce readiness and build pathways to high-demand careers. Together, we are transforming a national workforce challenge into an opportunity for students, employers and communities throughout the region.”
The Pacific Intermountain region is home to a growing concentration of semiconductor manufacturing, research, and technology innovation. Through NNME Pacific Intermountain, the network will focus on three interconnected priorities: .expanding K-12 outreach and recruitment to increase awareness of semiconductor careers and create early career pathways for students from a range of backgrounds; advancing curriculum development and sharing to better align and modernize coursework across institutions with evolving industry demands; and growing experiential learning opportunities by increasing access to internships, apprenticeships and hands-on training in advanced facilities.
"The Pacific Intermountain region is home to some of the nation's most innovative semiconductor and microelectronics assets," said Dr. Jennifer Ellis, Director of the National Network for Microelectronics Education. "NNME Pacific Intermountain builds on that foundation by connecting education, workforce, and industry partners around a shared vision for talent development. This Regional Node will help create stronger pathways into high-demand careers while advancing the broader goal of building a skilled workforce for America's microelectronics future."
"The growth happening across the Pacific Intermountain region reflects the increasing importance of semiconductors to America's economic and technological leadership," said Shari Liss, Vice President of Workforce Development and Initiatives at SEMI and the SEMI Foundation. "By bringing together employers, educators, workforce organizations, and community partners, NNME Pacific Intermountain will help ensure more people can access these opportunities while giving industry the talent it needs to grow and compete."
“This is a transformative moment in time for the semiconductor industry in Idaho and across the nation,” Microelectronics Education and Research Center Director Kurtis Cantley said. “Boise State’s MERC is proud to help lead a regional effort focused on developing the next generation of talent to drive innovation in one of the world’s most advanced and rapidly evolving industries and produce the most advanced technologies in the history of humankind.”
Under the NNME structure, the SEMI Foundation and NSF anticipate supporting each of the four NNME Regional Nodes through potential funding opportunities of up to $20 million over five years. These investments are intended to accelerate scalable talent solutions aligned with industry demand and establish a national model for microelectronics education and workforce training.
A key component of the NNME Pacific Intermountain Regional Node is collaboration amongst education institutions, corporate and industry partners, and statewide organizations. In Idaho, partners such as the Idaho Manufacturing Alliance and Idaho Technology Council will help ensure the network remains responsive to employer needs by providing insight into in-demand skills, facilitating connections with companies and supporting expanded access to internships, apprenticeships and job placement opportunities, and scale successful programs statewide.
“What makes the NNME Pacific Intermountain node so impactful is its focus on connecting the full talent continuum–from K-12 through higher education and directly into industry,” Idaho Technology Council President/CEO Diane Temple said. “That level of alignment is exactly what’s needed to meet the pace of growth we’re seeing in semiconductors. The Idaho Technology Council was proud to help convene early conversations that contributed to the formation of this effort, and Boise State stepping into this leadership role strengthens not only Idaho’s workforce pipeline, but our ability to collaborate as a region and compete nationally.”
“Idaho’s workforce is one of our greatest strengths. Through the NNME Pacific Intermountain node opportunity, we are investing heavily in training programs aligned with advanced manufacturing–from apprenticeships to industry-driven education models,” Idaho Manufacturing Alliance Executive Director Gina Robison said. “We are expanding access to these careers–ensuring that more people, including those who traditionally have less access to opportunity, are entering high-skill, high-wage manufacturing roles. For companies, this means a workforce that is not only skilled–but adaptable, engaged, and ready to grow with business.”
NNME Pacific Intermountain is one of the first Regional Nodes within the National Network for Microelectronics Education, a nationwide effort supported by the National Science Foundation and led by the SEMI Foundation. Together, NNME Regional Nodes are creating a coordinated national network that connects regional ecosystems, expands access to semiconductor careers, and strengthens the workforce needed to support America’s growing microelectronics industry.
About Boise State University
Boise State University is a public research university serving more than 26,000 students with distinction in academics, research, and community engagement. The university is committed to providing access to educational excellence, fostering student success, and contributing to the economic development and quality of life of Idaho and the broader region.
About NNME
The NNME is a national workforce development initiative supported by NSF in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce. The NNME connects industry, education, workforce systems, and regional partners through a national network designed to accelerate the development of America’s microelectronics workforce ecosystem. Visit the NNME online to learn more.
About the SEMI Foundation
The SEMI Foundation advances economic opportunity for workers while supporting the sustained growth of the global microelectronics industry. As the workforce development arm of SEMI, the Foundation works across industry, education, workforce systems, and community partners to build clear pathways into semiconductor and microelectronics careers while helping employers attract, develop, retain, and advance a highly skilled workforce. Together with SEMI’s network of more than 4,000 companies, the SEMI Foundation helps strengthen the talent pipeline powering the future of technology. Visit the SEMI Foundation online to learn more, and follow the SEMI Foundation on LinkedIn.