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Arizona State University will collaborate with Panama on semiconductor supply chain development

Arizona State University is partnering with the government of Panama to support the development of a global semiconductor supply chain. The university hosted a strategy meeting for officials last week.

ASU President Michael Crow and the Panama Ambassador to the U.S. Ramón E. Martínez de la Guardia signed an agreement to collaborate on microchips and cybersecurity.

The Biden administration’s 2022 CHIPS and Science Act created a special fund of to the U.S. State Department up to $500 million over five years for joint-research projects like this.

Associate Vice Provost Jeff Goss says ASU’s engineering and business schools will work on expanding education and management for the manufacturing industry.

“You can’t bring all of the supply chain back into the U.S.," Goss said. "But if we can develop the capacity in our ally country nations, which is part of this [International Technology Security and Innovation Fund], you know, I think it’s very important for the security of Arizona, the U.S. but also our allies.”

Goss says ASU is producing six similar partnerships across the Americas and the Indo-Pacific.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated to correct the name of the International Technology Security and Innovation Fund.

Tori Gantz was an intern from 2023 to 2024 at KJZZ.