The semiconductor, electronics design and manufacturing show had been held in San Francisco and this was the first year of a ‘co-parenting’ arrangement, which will see the conference alternate between the two cities every October.
One change that many exhibitors and visitors remarked on is the increase in size with the move to the desert city, which is home to four Intel fabs, TSMC and Amkor. The number of exhibitors has increased this year from 1,100 to 1,500 and the number of presentations has increased from 400 to 600 in 2025. Last year’s Semicon West in San Francisco’s Moscone Center reported 27,000 visitors, setting a record, but this is likely to be smashed with estimates of 35,000 visitors this year. (Some observers predicted 40,000.)
The event also saw the introduction of the annual SEMI Silicon Medal, celebrating semiconductor industry icons driving innovation and excellence. At this year’s SEMI Leaders & Legends Honors gala evening, the medal was presented to Dr Lisa Su, chair and CEO of AMD.
She was praised for steering the company since 2012, solidifying it as “a semiconductor industry leader in high-performance and adaptive computing”.
“We are delighted to present our first SEMI Silicon Medal to Dr Lisa Su,” said Ajit Manocha, president and CEO, SEMI. “Her commitment to high-performance computing has been instrumental in propelling the trajectory of the global semiconductor industry. We thank Lisa for her contributions to the industry and for setting a high bar for the Medal’s exemplary standard for transformational leadership, strategic innovation, and making a meaningful impact for generations to come.”
Receiving the medal, Dr Su praised industry body SEMI for its role in bringing the industry together “to accelerate innovation and address important challenges”.
“This recognition is a reflection of the incredible work being done across the semiconductor ecosystem to deliver high-performance technologies that are shaping the future. I’m proud to be part of this amazing industry and excited for what we’ll achieve next,” she said.
