ASU joins Applied Materials' EPIC Center as inaugural university research partner

May 16, 2026 - 00:04

When the United States decided in 2020 to reinvest in domestic semiconductor manufacturing, it faced a paradox built into capitalism itself. How do you create the collaborative environment needed to become a global leader when the American industry consists of companies structured as competitors? That question has haunted policymakers and executives alike.

This year, that gradual conversion is taking shape in Silicon Valley. A facility designed from the ground up aims to make collaboration not just possible, but inevitable. And Arizona State University is right in the middle of it.

ASU has joined Applied Materials' EPIC Center as the inaugural university research partner. The EPIC Center, which stands for Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization, is a shared research and development facility where industry players can work together on next-generation semiconductor technologies without giving up their competitive edge. The idea is to create a neutral space where pre-competitive research happens openly, while proprietary work stays behind closed doors.

For ASU, this partnership means access to cutting-edge tools and direct collaboration with Applied Materials engineers. For the broader semiconductor ecosystem, it signals a shift toward more open innovation models. The facility is expected to accelerate the development of new chip manufacturing processes, which have become increasingly complex and expensive for any single company to tackle alone.

The move also strengthens ASU's position as a hub for semiconductor research and workforce development. The university has been aggressively expanding its footprint in microelectronics, with new labs, curriculum changes, and industry partnerships. Being embedded in Applied Materials' EPIC Center gives students and faculty a front-row seat to the future of chipmaking.

As the U.S. tries to rebuild its semiconductor supply chain, the question is no longer whether collaboration is necessary. It is how to make it work. ASU and Applied Materials are betting that the answer lies in a shared space where competitors can become collaborators, at least for a while.