Pima County Taiwan Mission Opens Door to Semiconductor Investment

Taiwan Mission
Members of the Southern Arizona delegation and their Taiwanese hosts flash the University of Arizona Wildcat “WC” sign during the trade mission to Taiwan.

TUCSON, ARIZONA (June 16, 2026) — A Southern Arizona delegation returned from Taiwan with new semiconductor, education, and government partnerships and what Pima County officials describe as multiple qualified leads for potential business investment in the region.

Representatives from Pima County, the City of Tucson, the University of Arizona, and the Arizona Commerce Authority traveled to Taiwan from May 23 through June 4. The mission focused on attracting semiconductor suppliers, technology companies, and startups while strengthening workforce, research, and academic partnerships.

According to a memorandum prepared by Pima County Economic Development Director Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, the trip generated multiple qualified economic-development leads for Pima County. The companies were not identified, and the County did not disclose potential investment or employment figures.

County officials said follow-up is underway with local, state, and international partners to turn the leads into business recruitment and expansion opportunities.

The delegation focused on semiconductor activities that complement Southern Arizona’s existing economic base, including supply chain services, testing, packaging, and assembly. Officials also explored opportunities involving optics and photonics, aerospace and defense technology, startups, research, and workforce development.

Among the organizations visited was Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, one of the world’s largest semiconductor assembly and testing companies. Delegates discussed potential partnerships involving the SPArK initiative and possible expansion opportunities.

SPArK is an international academic-industry partnership focused on talent development in areas including photonics innovation, co-packaged optics, advanced semiconductor packaging, and three-dimensional heterogeneous integration.

The delegation also visited Kuan Yuan Technology Park, part of the Hsinchu Science Park, and heard presentations from Phison Electronics, Rayvatek, and other companies interested in learning more about Pima County and Tucson.

Several startup companies participating in meetings in Kaohsiung were described as seeking entry into the U.S. market through Arizona.

New agreements with Kaohsiung

The trip resulted in two new agreements involving Pima County, Tucson, and Kaohsiung, a major industrial and port city in southern Taiwan.

Pima County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Matt Heinz, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai signed a sister-government agreement on May 31.

The agreement calls for cooperation in economic development, smart-city innovation, education, semiconductor and advanced manufacturing, talent development and public-private partnerships.

A separate memorandum of understanding with the Kaohsiung City Education Bureau establishes a framework for faculty and student exchanges, academic seminars, shared educational resources, and collaborative research.

The two agreements build on a six-party semiconductor partnership signed in Pima County in March by Pima County, Tucson, the University of Arizona, the Arizona Commerce Authority, Kaohsiung City, and National Sun Yat-sen University.

The University of Arizona and National Sun Yat-sen University are exploring student and faculty exchanges, joint research, and semiconductor-related training programs. Officials also continued discussions about creating a Talent and Innovation Hub in Pima County to connect education, research, workforce training, startup recruitment, and business expansion.

The delegation participated in the Computex and Innovex technology conference in Taipei, where Arizona representatives promoted the state to Taiwanese companies seeking access to U.S. customers and markets.

While Arizona’s largest semiconductor manufacturing investments remain concentrated in the Phoenix area, Pima County is working to position Southern Arizona as a complementary location for testing, packaging, optics, research, specialized suppliers, and workforce development.

The newly signed agreements do not guarantee that a company will establish operations in Pima County. However, the County’s identification of multiple qualified investment leads indicates that the Taiwan mission produced potential recruitment prospects that extend beyond ceremonial relationship-building.