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Launched in May 2026, the Pacific Intermountain Network for Education in Semiconductors (PINES) is one of four Regional Nodes of the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME). PINES is led by Boise State University and serves one of the most geographically expansive semiconductor regions in the country, spanning nine states: Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, California, and Hawaii.
PINES is receiving up to $20 million in federal funding over five years. The node operates as a coordinated, multi-state talent development system connecting K-12 education, postsecondary institutions, and hands-on experiential learning to workforce demands across the semiconductor ecosystem. Member schools are sharing share curriculum and faculty, providing enhanced work-based learning opportunities, and developing pre-college pathways designed to draw students into high-tech majors.
The initiative aims to serve three populations: traditional college-aged students, veterans transitioning out of military service, and adult learners seeking new careers.
Microelectronics-related occupations across the nine-state region are projected to grow 11 to 18% over the next five years. Major industry investments are driving workforce demand across the region, including:
NNME is a national workforce development initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. Department of Commerce under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
The semiconductor industry faces a projected national shortfall of 157,000 workers by 2030, according to NNME's strategic plan. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 established federal policy and funding to address this gap. The NNME, with the SEMI Foundation as Hub Operator, aims to build the national workforce infrastructure needed to meet demand. PINES is the Pacific-Intermountain expression of that infrastructure, designed to align what has been a fragmented landscape of regional education and industry assets into a unified, scalable pipeline.
National Network for Microelectronics Education. (n.d.). NNME Pacific-Intermountain. https://nnme.org/nnme-pacific-intermountain/
Richert, K. (2026, June 3). A 'giant village': Boise State heads regional semiconductor partnership. Idaho Education News. https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/a-giant-village-boise-state-heads-regional-semiconductor-partnership/
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