Oregon Insight: Will push to revive domestic semiconductor industry leave Silicon Forest behind?

Joe Biden

The Biden administration has picked up right where the Trump administration left off in supporting federal aid for domestic chip manufacturers. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)AP

Here is The Oregonian’s weekly look at the numbers behind the state’s economy. View past installments here.

Microchips are big time, again.

Chip manufacturing in the Silicon Forest
Several companies have high-volume semiconductor factories in the Portland area, and there is a constellation of contractors and supplies that employ thousands serving the industry.
Analog Devices: Employs close to 300 at Camas factory making chips for medical, defense, automotive and industrial applications.
Intel: Oregon’s largest corporate employer has 21,000 workers in Washington County. It operates a multibillion-dollar Hillsboro factory complex where it engineers and manufactures each new generation of microprocessor.
Jireh Semiconductor: Small Hillsboro factory makes analog chips for power management.
Maxim Integrated: Employs several hundred near Beaverton making chips for automotive, industrial and healthcare applications. .
Microchip: Employs a few hundred at Gresham factory making chips that serve niche roles in industrial and communications applications.
ON Semiconductor: Employs several hundred in Gresham making analog chips for automotive, industrial, medical and defense products.
Qorvo: Employs around 1,000 making specialized communications chips for iPhones and other smartphones, the defense industry and telecommunications networking gear.
TSMC: Operates WaferTech factory in Camas that uses older, 200-millimeter silicon wafer technology. The factory, built in 1998, sits on 260 acres that could accommodate several more factories.
Additionally, Lam Research, SEH America and Siltronic employ thousands near Portland manufacturing supplies and equipment for local chip manufacturers. Other industry suppliers, among them ASML and Applied Materials, have a large presence near Portland providing services to the manufacturers.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.