RTI International has conducted an evaluation and provided strategic advice for the Florida Semiconductor Engine (FSE), a project supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of its Regional Innovation Engines initiative. The work focuses on advanced and specialty packaging in the semiconductor industry, which refers to technologies that integrate, connect, test, and make chips usable in real-world systems.
The analysis covers the first 18 months of FSE’s development and positions Florida as a case study for how regional systems respond to national semiconductor priorities. According to RTI International, “the mission is to transform the U.S. semiconductor advanced and specialty packaging industry.” The evaluation was designed to establish a baseline understanding of Florida’s assets, gaps, and comparative position among other states.
RTI International’s role includes acting as an independent evaluator and advisor. They state that their evaluation “supports real-time sense-making, helping leadership stay oriented while… they are ‘trying to build an airplane while flying it.’” This approach allows for ongoing feedback rather than retrospective reporting.
Florida’s semiconductor sector is anchored in Central Florida with its operational center at NeoCity in Osceola County. However, RTI’s analysis was conducted at the state level due to the national scale of semiconductor investments. The study compared Florida with both heavyweight states like Arizona, California, New York, Oregon, Texas and emerging states such as Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina.
The findings highlight several factors that distinguish Florida’s ecosystem:
– Strong demand from established aerospace and defense industries.
– Long-term employment stability in semiconductor-related fields during periods of offshoring and economic downturns.
– A large base of small and mid-sized firms.
– An education system producing increasing numbers of bachelor’s and graduate-level degrees but facing gaps in technician pathways.
These conditions support Florida’s potential as an advanced packaging hub within the national landscape. The presence of aerospace and defense sectors provides early validation environments for new technologies. RTI notes that early engagement with these partners “shortens feedback cycles between research, integration, and application,” which is increasingly important given policy emphasis on speed.
Collaboration across institutions is emphasized as essential for success. Shared facilities—supported by organizations such as the University of Florida’s Semiconductor Institute; imec; the Florida High Tech Corridor; Orlando Economic Partnership; Career Source Central Florida—are considered foundational for ecosystem function.
Workforce development remains a critical constraint requiring coordinated strategies across education levels. Packaging requires technicians who can operate across institutional boundaries.
As FSE moves into its next phase, RTI continues tracking R&D activities to inform decision-making processes. There are plans to expand collaboration beyond Florida into the Southeast region and potentially with Central and South American partners due to geographic proximity.
The experience underscores a key point: U.S. competitiveness in semiconductors depends on understanding how diverse regional systems contribute unique strengths within a broader strategy. As stated by RTI International: “Regional evidence does not simplify that landscape. It makes it legible.”
Key takeaways include:
– National goals depend on alignment among regional ecosystems’ research capacity, workforce development efforts, infrastructure investments, and industry capabilities.
– Baseline analyses help clarify complex environments so policymakers can understand roles and gaps.
– Long-term competitiveness comes from integrated systems—including shared facilities and talent pipelines—not isolated investments.
