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Inaugural SEMIEXPO Heartland Celebrates Midwest US as Global Hub

The event showcased the growth of the Midwestern U.S. as a key region in the global semiconductor ecosystem.

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By: DAVID SAVASTANO

Contributing Editor, Coatings World and Ink World, Coatings World and Ink World Magazine

The inaugural SEMIEXPO Heartland event welcomed leaders in smart mobility and smart manufacturing to the Indiana Convention Center to explore opportunities for collaboration across both disciplines.

With 70 booths comprised of 50 exhibiting companies and more than 1,100 registered attendees between April 1-2, 2025, the event showcased the growth of the Midwestern U.S. as a key region in the global semiconductor ecosystem.

SEMIEXPO Heartland kicked off with a fireside chat with Indiana Governor Mike Braun and SEMI president and CEO Ajit Manocha, followed by keynote presentations from Purdue University President Mung Chiang and Dr. Woong-Sun Lee, SVP of SK hynix.

Day 2 of the event featured industry keynotes from Thorsten Scheer, regional president Mobility Electronics, Robert Bosch Semiconductor, and Surya Iyer, president and COO, Polar Semiconductor.

The keynote stage talks highlighted the expansion of the semiconductor industry and abundant opportunities in the Midwest, as well as the region’s advantages from its strong manufacturing expertise and established infrastructure.

Sessions emphasized that collaboration among industry, government and academia is essential for fostering innovation and bridging the workforce development gap, with an estimated 350,000 jobs needed in the U.S. by 2030.

Leaders in the region have demonstrated a strong commitment to attracting and developing talent through workforce programs spanning K-12 education, higher education, and initiatives for upskilling and reskilling the workforce.

“The Midwest’s innovations in smart manufacturing and smart mobility are essential for driving the semiconductor industry towards achieving $1 trillion by 2030,” said Stockunas. “SEMIEXPO Heartland was the first event of its kind in the region, which speaks to the growing need for cross-sector collaboration among Midwestern industry leaders.”

On behalf of Purdue, Chiang thanked Dr. Lee of SK hynix and David Adams, Indiana secretary of commerce, for the transformational establishment of SK hynix’s AI memory chip facility at Purdue Research Park.

“Our mutual commitment and trusted partnership, announced last year and now proceeding rapidly as planned, will soon create jobs, workforce and innovation with a growing ecosystem including many partners in the audience,” said Chiang.

The second annual SEMIEXPO Heartland will take place in Detroit, Michigan in April 2026. More information will be announced later this year.

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