Boise State selected to lead Pacific Intermountain semiconductor workforce network

Key stakeholders pose at the Pacific Intermountain Regional Node Launch. Photo by Luan Teed

Boise State University has been selected as the lead institution for the Pacific Intermountain Network for Education in Semiconductors (PINES), a regional node of the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME) designed to strengthen and scale the semiconductor workforce 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 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.

A milestone in semiconductor education

Governor Brad Little. Photo by Luan Teed

The College of Engineering celebrated this announcement on June 3, 2026 with a launch event that featured speeches from Idaho Governor Brad Little, National Science Foundation Acting Director Brian Stone, and key stakeholders.

"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," 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."

Boise State is one of only four regional node leads selected nationally, and alongside the University of Texas at Austin, is one of only two higher education institutions in the country serving as regional node leads for the initiative. The network includes more than 20 universities and nine community colleges across nine states, all working to meet growing demand for skilled workers in semiconductor and microelectronics fields.

"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," Stone said. "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."

National Science Foundation Acting Director Brian Stone speaks at the Pacific Intermountain Regional Node Launch.
Photo by Luan Teed

"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.

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.

Connecting students to in-demand semiconductor jobs

A student engages with a lesson at Micron Chip Class, made possible through a vital partnership between the Micron Foundation and Boise State.

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.

"The demand for talent in semiconductors and microelectronics is at a critical acceleration for our nation's economic future, and Idaho is uniquely positioned to lead this new growth," College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer said. "Our responsibility is to ensure Idahoans and students are ready to step into those roles."

This initiative builds on the existing regional momentum, including the Micron Northwest University Semiconductor Network, registered apprenticeship partnerships, workforce innovation collaboratives, and growing public-private investments in semiconductor manufacturing, research, and advanced technology development across the region.

College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer. Photo by Luan Teed

To meet these needs, Boise State will lead collaboration with educational partners in Idaho including: 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 to advance a shared, statewide approach.

"This is a transformative moment in time for the semiconductor industry in Idaho and across the nation," MERC 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."

Since 2023, MERC has rapidly expanded Idaho's semiconductor talent pipeline through coordinated outreach, workforce development, and educational partnerships. Its programs have reached more than 25,000 K-12 students, enhanced learning opportunities for more than 3,000 Boise State students and trained over 150 educators to bring semiconductor concepts into classrooms statewide.

Together, 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; 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.

These unified efforts aim to produce job-ready Idaho graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience required by employers, both in Idaho and nationwide, in a fast-evolving industry.

Scaling regional impact

In its first year, the NNME Pacific Intermountain Regional Node is expected to deliver significant impact across the nine states in the region, including engaging tens of thousands of K-12 students, expanding access to microelectronics coursework and connecting hundreds of students to internships, apprenticeships and research opportunities.

By leveraging shared resources, industry partnerships and coordinated programming, NNME Pacific Intermountain will improve hiring efficiency for employers while creating clearer, more accessible pathways for students entering the semiconductor workforce.

The initiative builds on existing collaboration among regional institutions and industry partners and is designed for long-term growth, with the potential for up to five years of continued funding based on performance.

Under the NNME structure, the SEMI Foundation and NSF anticipate supporting each of the four 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.

Advancing partnership innovation

Micron Technology Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer April Arnzen. Photo by Luan Teed

As the lead institution, Boise State will play a central role in coordinating efforts across partners, aligning educational programs with workforce needs and expanding opportunities for students at every stage of the pipeline. A key component of this work is collaboration amongst educational institutions, corporate and industry partners, and statewide organizations to connect talent development and industry demands.

At the June 6 event, Micron Technology's Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, April Arnzen, emphasized the importance of the milestone and Micron's partnerships.

"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," Arnzen said.

Idaho partners such as the Idaho Manufacturing Alliance and the 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.

"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."

"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," Idaho Manufacturing Alliance Executive Director Gina Robison said. "For companies, this means a workforce that is not only skilled, but adaptable, engaged and ready to grow with business."

At the same time, the Idaho Workforce Development Council will help align NNME Pacific Intermountain with Idaho's broader workforce strategy, supporting coordination across agencies and helping scale successful programs statewide.

The NNME Pacific Intermountain Regional Node reflects Boise State's continued commitment to advancing research, innovation and workforce development in areas critical to the nation's economic future.

Share This

• Share on Facebook
• Share on X
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share through Email