An international agreement signed in Tucson on March 13 positions the University of Arizona at the center of a growing global network advancing semiconductor, optics and photonics innovation.
A delegation from Taiwan visited the University of Arizona campus March 13 for presentations, tours and networking.
Kris Hanning/Office of Research and Partnerships
Leaders from the University of Arizona, Pima County, the city of Tucson, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the city of Kaohsiung and National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan formalized a six-party memorandum of understanding to deepen collaboration in research, workforce development and advanced manufacturing.
The agreement unites government, industry and academic partners around shared economic and technological priorities. The moment reflects something larger than a formal agreement, said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships at the University of Arizona.
“As I look across this partnership, I don’t just see institutions,” he said at the signing. “I see the architects of the global digital future.”
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai attended the signing with a delegation of Kaohsiung government officials and expressed support for strengthening ties between two regions with complementary strengths.
During the signing at the Pima County Historic Courthouse, Chen described a vision for Kaohsiung’s role in the global technology landscape, saying the city is “positioning itself at the forefront of future technology.” He noted a natural synergy between the regions, pairing Tucson’s expertise in optics with Kaohsiung’s growth in advanced semiconductor fabrication. Kaohsiung has emerged as a global industrial and technology hub, with strengths in manufacturing and shipping and growing leadership in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and green energy.
Southern Arizona, anchored by the university, continues to expand its role in advanced manufacturing and research-driven innovation. Together, the partners aim to strengthen collaboration in semiconductor technologies and supply chains, optics and photonics research, workforce and talent development, and academic exchange and commercialization.
“This is a recognition of convergent strengths,” Díaz de la Rubia said. “We are joining the industrial might of Kaohsiung with the research excellence of our institutions to build something neither region could achieve alone.”
Central to the partnership is the belief that a strong talent pool and innovation ecosystem drive industrial competitiveness. By connecting the academic and research strengths of National Sun Yat-sen University and the University of Arizona, Chen said the effort will move beyond policy discussions to a sustained, cross-border network that can navigate supply chain challenges and support long-term resilience.
The tour included the Applied Research Building’s anechoic chamber, where radio-wave-absorbing material allows researchers to test satellite antennae for their command, control and data relay performance.
Kris Hanning/Office of Research and Partnerships
As a leading research institution and a billion-dollar research enterprise, the university plays a central role in Southern Arizona’s semiconductor ecosystem by advancing discovery and preparing the next generation of talent. The Wyant College of Optical Sciences, a global leader in optics and photonics, supports technologies essential to next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.
Across campus, researchers contribute to fields shaping the future of technology and society, including space sciences and astronomy, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and clean energy.
This work is paired with a focus on real-world impact. Through Tech Launch Arizona, the university has helped launch more than 150 startup companies, generating billions in economic activity and supporting thousands of high-tech jobs.
“Our goal is to translate discovery into action that drives progress for the public good,” Díaz de la Rubia said.
A key focus of the partnership is workforce development and preparing students to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving semiconductor industry. University of Arizona graduates already contribute to the region’s advanced manufacturing sector, and the memorandum of understanding is expected to expand opportunities for hands-on learning, industry collaboration and international exchange.
The partnership is also designed to support companies from Taiwan as they establish and grow operations in Southern Arizona, with the university serving as a pipeline for talent and innovation.
University leaders emphasized that the future of semiconductor manufacturing – and the broader innovation economy – depends on collaboration across borders.
“No single institution or country can do this alone,” Díaz de la Rubia said. “Partnerships like this are essential to building resilient supply chains and accelerating discovery.”
For both regions, the memorandum of understanding represents a long-term commitment to shared growth and innovation. As the collaboration advances, Tucson and Kaohsiung will work together to shape the next generation of technology.
“This is more than an agreement – it is a promise for partnership, progress and the future we are building together,” Díaz de la Rubia said. “Together, we are building a bridge across the Pacific that will support the next era of global innovation.”
This agreement comes on the heels of a recently announced collaboration between the U of A and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Hsinchu, Taiwan. That partnership created the Talent and Innovation Hub, an industry-facing, collaborative educational hub with curated curricula specifically for the semiconductor industry.
A version of this story originally appeared on the Office of Research and Partnerships website.
