[]At the end of 2023 the semiconductor market had increased from $532 Billion in 2023 to $611 B mid-year 2024. This growth is viewed positively in the light of the recent Covid pandemic and ongoing supply chain disruptions. Since disruptions (all kinds) in the semiconductor supply chain are not going away, the semiconductor companies must ensure that their entire supply chain (SC) "eco system” is complete, efficient and resilient. Many SC experts use a pyramid to highlight the critical segments of the chip manufacturing fabrication process. Through the use of a SC pyramid, process experts highlight the essential needs and requirements, beginning to end, of the chip fabrication process eco system. The resulting pyramid notes the intersection of the many entities involved, upstream and downstream suppliers, associated manufacturing equipment companies, and all vendors and distributors for each segment. The eco system includes chip design, chip design verification, wafer manufacturing, key essential raw materials, packaging, and assembly and test regardless of the entity type (foundry, OSAT facility, or IDM). The final chip is then designed into a sub-assembly, device, or a system that can be sold to consumers and government agencies. A discussion of the equipment tools key to the chip fabrication process will also be presented. This will include design verification and test tools, deposition equipment, and lithography equipment. Summary: The semiconductor supply chain ecosystem; Pyramid illustration of 6 segments describing the chip fabrication process; Associated main player companies for each of the segments; Semiconductor fabrication equipment suppliers and their market share. Speaker(s): Kitty Pearsall, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/442072

Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to grant patents to inventors. From there, it all becomes murky. What benefits can an individual inventor extract from a patent? How important is it for a company to build a patent portfolio? What should you do with the portfolio once you have it? Can you afford to enforce your patents? When should you be scared of other people suing you over patents? After 40+ years in the patent game as an inventor, an expert witness, and a corporate executive responsible for patent strategy, I will give you a big picture view of the economics of the patent industry and discuss some of the opportunities and pitfalls. Speaker(s): Andrew Wolfe, Room: 225, Bldg: Heafey, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, United States, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/445568

Edit: due to full venue buyout we will relocate nextdoor to Mountain Mike's (updated 2024/12/02) Join us for an in-person networking event for meet-and-greet with members of the IEEE SSCS SCV Section Food will be provided. Register to allow for proper planning. Parking structure located at 2585 Augustine Dr. 3-hour free parking Table reservation for IEEE Note: Event is scheduled for 6:30pm local time PST 2510 Augustine Dr, Santa Clara, California, United States, 95054

Join us for an in-person networking event for meet-and-greet with members of the IEEE SSCS SCV Section Food will be provided. Register to allow for proper planning. Parking structure located at 2585 Augustine Dr. 3-hour free parking Table reservation for IEEE Note: Event is scheduled for 6:30pm local time PST (currently entered as GMT-7 in the vtools system) 2520 Augustine Dr, Santa Clara, California, United States, 95054