On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, awarded $13.8 million to Arizona State University (ASU) under the CHIPS Act International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund.   

According to the U.S. Embassy, this funding will initiate a program aimed at expanding semiconductor chip assembly, testing, and packaging (“ATP” or “downstream”) operations in several partner countries in the Americas, including Costa Rica.  

This collaboration with ASU is a significant milestone for the State’s ITSI-related programs to facilitate new investments in Costa Rica.     

 

“This announcement supports Costa Rica’s effort to foster a semiconductor workforce that can keep pace with the digital transformation underway,” said Cynthia Telles, U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica. “It also underscores U.S. confidence in Costa Rica as a critical link in the semiconductor supply chain.”

In July 2023, the United States announced a partnership with the Government of Costa Rica to explore opportunities to diversify and grow the global semiconductor ecosystem, "to create a more resilient, secure, and sustainable global semiconductor value chain," the embassy added.

Authorities noted that the Department of State and ASU will collaborate with the Government of Costa Rica on training and education programs to bolster workforce capacity and create a pipeline of new talent, supporting the expansion of ATP operations. Costa Rica’s current semiconductor industry development, regulatory framework, and workforce and infrastructure needs will inform the design of the program.    

 

These funds will cover the training and development programs for Costa Rican workers, according to the Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX). “Investing in education and technical preparation of our workforce is a firm step on the path that we are leading in COMEX to be a regional center of this industry,” said Manuel Tovar, COMEX ministry.

Semiconductors are one of the most widely traded goods internationally, and that's especially true and not only about chips themselves but about the devices they make possible: phones, PCs, servers among many others.

In 2021, the sales of semiconductors reached a record $555.9 billion, up 26.2 percent, with sales in China reaching $192.5 billion, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.

This week, the embassy announced that the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will meet President Rodrigo Chaves in March to address both countries' bilateral commercial, investment and semiconductor supply chains industry.

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