Bringing together more than 250 leaders from academia, government, and industry to chart the future of Florida’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain, the National Science Foundation Florida Semiconductor Engine (FSE) hosted its inaugural Powering Prosperity 2025 Conference on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.
“This conference is more than a singular event,’’ says Ron Piccolo, interim Chief Executive Officer of the Engine. “It is the continuation of strategic, bold, and coordinated efforts that will shape the future of semiconductor technology in Florida, the U.S., and around the world.”
The event marked a milestone in the Engine’s mission to position Florida as a hub for advanced semiconductor packaging, a sector critical to national security and economic growth. Building on an NSF award of up to $160 million over the next 10 years, the Engine has been accelerating collaboration across universities and colleges, industry partners, and public sector stakeholders to strengthen the domestic semiconductor ecosystem.
Throughout the day, panel discussions explored opportunities in Florida’s semiconductor ecosystem and the workforce development needed to fill high-wage, high-demand jobs. Florida University and College presidents, as well as research leaders, emphasized the need to align education with industry needs.
Winston V. Schoenfeld, University of Central Florida’s Vice President for Research and Innovation
“Meeting with industry leaders and peers reinforced that UCF continues to play an essential role in delivering the technical innovation and robust talent needed, uniquely leveraging Florida’s collaborative K–12 to Ph.D. pipeline across institutions to provide the full spectrum of workforce support for the industry.” —Winston V. Schoenfeld, University of Central Florida’s Vice President for Research and Innovation.
“The event was invaluable in bringing together industry, academia, and government to align on a shared vision of the opportunities ahead for advancing the semiconductor industry in the region,” says Winston V. Schoenfeld, University of Central Florida’s Vice President for Research and Innovation. “Meeting with industry leaders and peers reinforced that UCF continues to play an essential role in delivering the technical innovation and robust talent needed, uniquely leveraging Florida’s collaborative K–12 to Ph.D. pipeline across institutions to provide the full spectrum of workforce support for the industry.”
Representatives from major defense and technology companies outlined how Florida’s growing infrastructure can support innovation in advanced semiconductor packaging for critical and demanding environments, such as defense, aerospace, and healthcare, and advanced technology services such as low volume, high mix design, test, fabrication, prototyping, and failure analysis.
Osceola County Manager Don Fisher, Chairman of the Engine’s Board of Directors, provided an update on NeoCity – the County’s 500-acre master-planned campus for advanced technology and microelectronics – highlighting more than $500 million in local investment, including construction of a state-of-the-art clean room facility. FSE is headquartered at NeoCity and is building an ecosystem that spans 23 counties – from the Space Coast to Tampa and all the way to Gainesville.
“The County’s long-term commitment to reshoring the advanced packaging industry and to standing up a semiconductor hub here at NeoCity is unrivaled in the nation,” Fisher says. “Our goal is to make Florida a world-class destination for advanced manufacturing, transforming our economy with high-wage jobs and a sustainable future right here in Osceola County.”
Jason Mahon, Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Chief Manufacturing Officer for Florida Commerce, addressed the conference highlighting Florida’s $380 million investment in workforce education for semiconductors over the past four years and emphasized that the state is “in the perfect position, I’d argue, and the best position of any state in the nation to be able to go out and attract those jobs,” he says.
Conference highlights included keynote addresses from imec’s vice president Dr. Michael Peeters and Midwest Microelectronics Consortium CEO Jackie Janning-Lask, as well as the announcement of a new podcast series, The Chip Frontier: Florida’s Semiconductor Edge. Launching October 1, the six-episode series will feature interviews with leaders across the public and private sectors, including Florida Department of Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly, offering listeners a front-row seat to America’s semiconductor future and Florida’s role in leading that charge.
The Powering Prosperity 2025 Conference underscored Florida’s growing leadership in reshoring semiconductor design, test, fabrication, and manufacturing, while building the workforce of tomorrow – positioning Osceola County and NeoCity at the center of a national priority with global impact.
About the Florida Semiconductor Engine
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Florida Semiconductor Engine strives to transform the U.S. semiconductor advanced and specialty packaging industry through collaborative research and translational innovations, developing a world-class technical workforce and driving regional economic prosperity. To learn more about the Engine, please visit www.semiconductorengine.org.
Media Contact: Office of Research Interim Director of Communications, Mikita Nayee, mikita.nayee@ucf.edu